When Rabbi Leberman asked whether another rabbi might step in to offer the benediction in his place, that request too was denied. With the exclusion of Rabbi Leberman, so too came the elimination of any Jewish clergy from the All People’s Celebration. [Rabbi Jason Nevarez]
Open Letter from the San Diego Board of Rabbis and Cantors Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
American-Israeli Rabbi Hanan Leberman of Tifereth Israel Synagogue was disinvited from delivering a closing message at the All People’s Breakfast in Balboa Park that will honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King on Monday, Jan. 19, causing shock, outrage, and protest from San Diego’s Jewish community. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the news: Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
Later that day, as I was setting up for a Shine a Light Shabbat at Immaculate Conception Church in Old Town, I began to imagine what it might be like to sit at a Shabbat table with Rabbi Salanter and Dr. King. [Betzy Lynch]
An imaginary meeting between MLK and Rabbi Salanter Read More »
Antisemitism, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Nikolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian diplomat, who had served as the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, now will serve as the High Representative of the Board of Peace, the Board’s day-to-day representative on the ground. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the News: Saturday evening, Jan. 17, 2026 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
He founded Beit T’Shuvah in Los Angeles, a pioneering recovery center that fuses Jewish spirituality with addiction treatment. Residents don’t just talk recovery; they live it through Torah study, Shabbat observance, and honest confrontation with their souls. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Walking through a year of your life with two rabbis Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Within a month after passage, a complaint seeking to halt the Jan. 1 implementation of the bill was filed against Newsom, Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. The complaint claimed the law restricts teachers’ free speech rights, is vague and ambiguous, and denies students full learning opportunities. [Marsha Sutton, Times of San Diego]
AB 715, abolishing antisemitism in K-12 classrooms, ruled constitutional Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, Israel, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
This moment of raw courage—ordinary Iranians facing murder squads, risking torture and death for dignity, women’s rights, and an end to clerical tyranny—deserves global attention. Yet, much of the Western liberal establishment, academia, mainstream media, and progressive circles have responded with disturbing silence or minimal engagement. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
The apathetic West needs to wake up! Read More »
International, Israel, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
A day of national mourning for the 15 slain victims of the Bondi Beach massacre will be observed in Australia on Thursday, Jan. 22. The preceding Monday at 9:30 a.m. Australian time (2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, San Diego time) the federal Parliament will consider a condolence motion. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the news: Thursday, Jan. 15. 2025 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Police have not acted quickly enough, and they have not prosecuted to the max, if at all. Forceful enforcement of the law is the only way to deter these lawbreakers. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Opinion: Anti-Israel rhetoric, demonstrations get a free pass Read More »
Bruce Ticker, International, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Domestic terrorists carry cell phones to video ICE operations [operations in the literal sense of removing cancerous dissenters)). Since you can never be sure if their cell phones aren’t lasers or tasers, you should incapacitate the people holding them, confiscate their phones, and stomp on them. [Laurie Baron]
Satire: The ICE handbook Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
“Today, on behalf of President Trump, we are announcing the launch of Phase Two of the President’s 20-Point Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the news: Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Because multiple bystanders were exercising their First Amendment rights by filming ICE’s actions on their cell phones, we all saw her brutal murder with our own eyes — which makes the Trump administration’s immediate and ongoing attempts to gaslight the public and cruelly twist the truth even more outrageous. [Sara Jacobs]
Rep. Sara Jacobs: Renee Nicole Good murdered by ICE agent Read More »
Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Peter Wertheim, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, welcomed the proposed legislation as a first step toward creating a safer, more unified Australia. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the news: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Yeah, some people won. And some people un-won. The victorious had a wonderful evening and a step-up in their respective careers. The mere nominees, a little less so; but merely to be nominated is a huge compliment and boon. [John E. Finley-Weaver]
Opinion: A few thoughts on the Golden Globes Read More »
Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA