USA

‘Song of Ascent’ Brings Hope to Oct. 7 Survivors

Song of Ascent shown Wednesday night, Feb. 5, at the San Diego International Film Festival is a documentary film directed by Shlomo Weprin in which he follows reggae/rapper Matisyahu’s live concerts and meetings with Oct. 7 survivors in Israel. [Cailin Acosta]

‘Song of Ascent’ Brings Hope to Oct. 7 Survivors Read More »

Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Black and Jewish Civil Rights Alliance Recalled in ‘Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round’

For almost 60 years, Glen Echo Amusement Park was the wholesome, beloved playground of White metropolitan Washington, DC. Every summer, tens of thousands enjoyed its Crystal Pool, wooden rollercoaster, Spanish Ballroom, Tunnel of Love and Carousel. However, the African American children living nearby could only watch all the fun from a distance, along the nearby roadway. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Resolving Gaza’s ‘Custody Battle’–the Capstone of Trump’s Mideast Peace Negotiations?

Within hours of the jubilant press conference to announce the US “takeover” of Gaza and the potential of turning this war ravaged region into the crown jewel of the Middle East, Saudi Arabia publicly affirmed their support for a Palestinian state as sine qua non to any normalization of relations with Israel. [Amy Neustein, Ph.D]

Resolving Gaza’s ‘Custody Battle’–the Capstone of Trump’s Mideast Peace Negotiations? Read More »

Amy Neustein, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Elsa’s Chessboard’ Brings the Royal Board Game to Children’s Attention

This book serves a double purpose: it is a tribute to the author’s Austrian Jewish grandmother and an introduction for children ages 4 to 8 to the exciting world of chess. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Satire: Marketable American Gaza Annexation (MAGA)

Given his priorities of avoiding foreign wars and troop deployments abroad, Donald Trump surprised the world when he announced that the United States will “take over” Gaza, relocate its Palestinian residents in Egypt and Jordan, and oversee but not pay for its reconstruction. [Laurie Baron]

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Lawrence Baron, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Trump is Israel’s Good Friend– and He Proved It Again While Meeting Netanyahu

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Donald Trump has enacted several policies that have significantly strengthened the U.S.-Israel alliance. Even before he officially took office, Trump played a crucial role in mediating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This agreement led to the release of numerous hostages, including children, women, and elderly men who had been abducted during the October 2023 attacks. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Trump Disengages with 2 UN Agencies in Meeting with Israel’s Netanyahu

The first executive order ends the United States’ engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council, notorious for its extreme anti-Israel bias.  The second prohibits U.S. funding for UNRWA, the U.N. agency whose employees participated in the October 7 attacks. [Jake Braunstein, AIPAC}

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Barrett Holman Leak Seeks to Build Bridges Between Jewish and African American Communities

Barrett Holman Leak has dedicated her life to being a bridge builder. With that in mind, it was no surprise that she noticed a gap between the Jewish and African American Jewish communities. Recognizing the need for connection, she decided to organize a shared Shabbat dinner. [Miriam Gershenson]

Barrett Holman Leak Seeks to Build Bridges Between Jewish and African American Communities Read More »

Barrett Holman Leak, Judaism, Miriam Gershenson, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Identifying Antisemitic Foreign Students May Be Problematic for Trump’s Administration

An associate professor here who questions how authorities will acquire information to deport anti-Israel foreign students may well be right. Therein lies the main rub with President Trump’s executive order to crush antisemitic activity when and where possible. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Immune System Triggers Brain’s Learning, U of Haifa Researchers Find

The findings demonstrate that the brain and the immune system collaborate to prepare for future challenges and reveal how they “learn” to activate the immune system based solely on sensory information and brain activity. This process involves the “representation” of the immune system in the brain and the integration of this information with sensory inputs, such as taste. [Press Release]

Immune System Triggers Brain’s Learning, U of Haifa Researchers Find Read More »

Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

‘The Accusation’ at SD International Jewish Film Festival Tells Story of a Rape Trial

Rape survivors are questioned about their mental health, their ability to tell reality, their veracity and their recollection of events. Their dignity is diminished and they are accused of nefarious motives for reporting a crime. In The Accusation the blurry, dark hinterlands between “he said” and “she said” are vivid in this entry in the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival. [Barrett Holman Leak]

‘The Accusation’ at SD International Jewish Film Festival Tells Story of a Rape Trial Read More »

Barrett Holman Leak, International, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

‘Avenue of the Giants’ Connects Younger Generation with Older Ones

Avenue of the Giants shown Monday morning at the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival describes the unlikely friendship of Herbet Heller and teenager Abbey.  The drama is directed by Finn Taylor.  [Cailin Acosta]

‘Avenue of the Giants’ Connects Younger Generation with Older Ones Read More »

Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA