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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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

AJC Calls for Standing Together, Fighting Antisemitism through Alliances

What spoke loudly throughout the February 2 event was the realization among the American Jewish community that standing strong in the fight against the pervasive antisemitism ravaging American society (including school and university campuses) means standing together with non-Jewish allies. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Trump’s Department of Education to Investigate Antisemitism at 5 Universities

The U.S. Department of Education on Monday, Feb. 3, announced investigations into five institutions of higher education where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported. The investigations are in response to the explosion of antisemitism on American campuses following the Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, 2023.    [Press Release]

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

Janis Ian in ‘Breaking Silence’ Tells of Being an Ugly Girl at 17, Interracial Dating, Her Lesbian Choice

The audience at the Jewish Community Center who attended Breaking Silence: The Story of Janis Ian truly got a special treat, with the singer/ songwriter herself in attendance to answer questions from the crowd. [Sandy Scheller]

Janis Ian in ‘Breaking Silence’ Tells of Being an Ugly Girl at 17, Interracial Dating, Her Lesbian Choice Read More »

Jewish Celebrities, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

OpEd: Why Young People Distrust the Democratic Party

People in my generation (and younger) don’t really trust those in power or our institutions. And we have good reason for that. I was in 7th grade when the September 11th attacks happened, and then I watched the U.S. spend billions of dollars – and deploy millions of servicemembers – to fight endless wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. … (Congresswoman Sara Jacobs)

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International, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Tariffs

As ‍a ‍result ‍of ‍The ‍United ‍States–Israel ‍Free ‍Trade ‍Agreement ‍signed ‍in ‍1985, ‍there ‍are ‍few ‍tariffs ‍or ‍duties ‍on ‍goods ‍traded ‍between ‍the ‍United ‍States ‍and ‍Israel. ‍But ‍there ‍are ‍still ‍some ‍tariffs ‍in ‍effect ‍between ‍the ‍two ‍countries. ‍This ‍includes ‍United ‍States ‍tariffs ‍on ‍Israeli ‍“meat ‍of ‍bovine ‍animals,” ‍and ‍Israeli ‍tariffs ‍on ‍live ‍fish ‍including ‍tilapia, ‍carp, ‍and ‍trout. ‍What ‍tariffs ‍has ‍Israel ‍imposed ‍on ‍other ‍countries? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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International, Israel, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

‘Sabbath Queen’ Tells of an Orthodox Rabbi Who Became a Drag Queen

Sabbath Queen shown Sunday night at the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival documents the life of Amichai Lau-Lavie, the Rabbi and founding spiritual leader of Lab/Shul in NYC.  The documentary combines archival footage, 21 years of filming and animation to tell the story of Lau-Lavie’s spiritual journey. [Robin Dishman]

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Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

San Diego-Based Photographer Specializes in Dog Portraits

Bayer is a pet photographer who comes to you and travels the country. Although San Diego is her home base, she and her husband spend a better part of the year traveling the country in their Airstream, taking photos for both private and commercial clients. [Mimi Pollack]

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Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

An “Interview” with a Groundhog

“I might add that it is quite a puzzling day for me too. You see, I have a little touch of rheumatism and, like everyone else, I want the warmth of spring to come early, too. So every year at about this time I get my sunglasses and consider putting them on. so I won’t see my shadow or be bothered by the snow. But then I start worrying, especially since I can never remember whether I’m supposed to stay outside or go back into my hole – er, house.” [Bruce F. Lowitt]

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Bruce F. Lowitt, Jewish Fiction, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA