Judaism

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Love for Critters

Animal rescue is an important aspect of the San Diego County Humane Society, according to Gary Weitzmann, its President and CEO. I rescued an Angora rabbit from a depressing living situation and she is living the best life as a “free roam” house rabbit with my family. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA

The Lion’s Trail: Gush Etzion

Looking to the east, from the viewing platform, are the Mountains of Moab; present day Jordan. Moses stood atop one of the Moab Mountains, Mount Nebo, his heart breaking. God permitted Moses to see the “Promised Land” only from afar. Moses was not permitted to enter the “Land” because of the sin he committed, doubting God, in front of the Jewish people.  [Jerry Klinger]

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Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

‘Instead of an Epitaph’: A Yom HaShoah Reflection

The Nazis were defeated in World War II, but Nazism lives on and continues to make up smears about the Jews, including the popular claim that they did not fight in World War II. The blood libel “Jews didn’t fight” coexisted with the official false statement: “It was not Jews who were killed during the occupation, but Soviet citizens.” The places of mass extermination listed “Soviet citizens” as having been murdered. The Holocaust was hushed up in the USSR: Jews in these places were executed not because they were Soviet citizens, but because they were Jews. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Karl Marx

His best-known works are the 1848 pamphlet The Communist Manifesto (with Friedrich Engels) and the three-volume Das Kapital (1867–1894); the latter employs his critical approach of historical materialism in an analysis of capitalism and is the culmination of his intellectual efforts. [Wikipedia]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

She Cried When He Said Her Parents Are in Hell

When Sarah’s parents died within a year of each other, she asked her messianic “rabbi” to say the mourner’s Kaddish prayer for them. Sarah cried when he told her, “There is no reason to say Kaddish since your non-believing parents are burning in hell.” Sarah was devastated by the callousness of this statement, and she started to entertain doubts about Christianity. [Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz]

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Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Michael Jules Schwarz, Former Publisher of San Diego Jewish Times

When Michael retired from accounting, he became the owner and publisher of The San Diego Jewish Times. His passion for print journalism and Jewish life were a joy to him. Michael served on the boards and in leadership positions for the San Diego Jewish Academy (President), Optimist International of San Diego, and the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club (President) along with several other civic and Jewish organizations. [Schwarz family]

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Business & Finance, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, Press Release, San Diego County

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Golda Meir

Golda Meir, 1964

In 1969, Meir assumed the role of prime minister following the death of Levi Eshkol. Early in her tenure, she made multiple diplomatic visits to Western leaders to promote her vision of peace in the region. The outbreak of the Yom Kippur War in 1973 caught Israel off guard and inflicted severe early losses on the army. The resulting public anger damaged Meir’s reputation and led to an inquiry into the failings. [Wikipedia]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA, Wikipedia

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Some Upcoming Worthwhile Events

Many of us have met survivors and have read or heard their stories. The Jewish Federation of San Diego is holding an event from 1 to 4 p.m.,  Sunday, May 5, at the Lawrence Family JCC. In these turbulent times, the theme this year is “Coming Together in Strength and Unity” which is very much needed in our community. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, California, Holocaust, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

600 More Children Who Died in the Holocaust are Memorialized

Overseeing the event was principal Judi Stapleton and eighth-grade history and social science teacher Stacy Salz who traced her ancestors to the Holocaust and said the project was a “compelling lesson in history.” [Marsha Sutton]

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Holocaust, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Theodor Herzl

Confronted with antisemitic events in Vienna, he reached the conclusion that anti-Jewish sentiment would make Jewish assimilation impossible, and that the only solution for Jews was the establishment of a Jewish state. In 1896, Herzl published the pamphlet Der Judenstaat, in which he elaborated his visions of a Jewish homeland. [Wikipedia]

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish History, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Rep. Sara Jacobs Votes Against Antisemitism Awareness Act

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) voted in the minority against a bill on Wednesday, May 1, that is called the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023.  She said the measure “would stifle and restrict free speech in an effort to combat the rise of antisemitism”  The measure passed the House by a vote 320-91. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Getting Away from It All in Cyprus

Even when the news is reported in Greek (though the TV in our room also showed one of the Israeli channels as well as the BBC), it’s impossible to avoid scenes of devastation, clips of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at universities across the USA or recognize the names of Israel’s prime minister and other politicians. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA