Judaism

Curator of ‘RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust’ A Guest of Honor at Surprise Luncheon

Holocaust Survivors and staffers for the Jewish Federation of San Diego conspired with Ron Cohn of the Cohn Restaurant Group on Friday, Jan. 31, to surprise Sandy Scheller, curator of the exhibit RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust, now being shown at the La Jolla Library. [Mike Wallenfels]

Curator of ‘RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust’ A Guest of Honor at Surprise Luncheon Read More »

Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Gymnast Survived Nazis; Went on to Become Gold Medalist in Olympics

This book, written in simple language for children between the ages of 5 and 9, tells of Ágnes being banned from the national gymnasium because she was Jewish.  In response, she secretly practiced early in the morning at an unlit, unheated high school gym with her friend Istvan Sarkany. [Donald H. Harrison]

Gymnast Survived Nazis; Went on to Become Gold Medalist in Olympics Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Biography: Fromental Halévy, Composer of Operas and Jewish Sacred Music

Halévy’s seminal work is the opera The Jewess (La Juive), which became one of the cornerstones of the French repertoire for a century. It was a grand opera in five acts, including ballet, choruses, spectacular processions and festivities. The premiere of the opera, based on a libretto by the famous French playwright Eugène Scribe, was a colossal success at the Grand Opera House in Paris on February 23, 1835. [Alex Gordon]

Jewish Biography: Fromental Halévy, Composer of Operas and Jewish Sacred Music Read More »

Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘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]

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

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

Mishnah Anticipated Scientific Understanding of Whispering, Digestion, Combustion

What particularly fascinates me is how the book reveals the Mishnah’s sophisticated understanding of physical and psychological phenomena that we’ve only recently begun to explain through modern scientific frameworks. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

Mishnah Anticipated Scientific Understanding of Whispering, Digestion, Combustion Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Biography Explains the Holocaust to Children Ages 8 to 12

It augments the narrative with supplemental pages explaining such terms and concepts as World War II, antisemitism, ghettos, partisans, the Holocaust, collaborators, the righteous among the nations, the camps, and resistance. [Donald H. Harrison]

Biography Explains the Holocaust to Children Ages 8 to 12 Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Taking in the Movies at the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival

The San Diego International Jewish Film Festival is being held at the Lawrence Family JCC. I love going to the movies but since having twins, those typical date nights with my husband are not very common anymore. [Cailin Acosta]

Taking in the Movies at the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival Read More »

Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, California, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Ben Midler, Holocaust Survivor, Imparts Unwavering Positivity at Chabad at UCSD Event

More than 60 students gathered in Price Center to hear the extraordinary story of Holocaust survivor Benjamin Midler. The event, organized by Chabad at UCSD, led by my husband Rabbi Shmulie Cunin and me, was co-hosted by AEPi, the Jewish fraternity. [Mushka Cunin]

Ben Midler, Holocaust Survivor, Imparts Unwavering Positivity at Chabad at UCSD Event Read More »

Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Grace Church Pastors Tell Why They Choose to Stand with Us Jews

I began my intervention by stating that I did not choose to be Jewish, that I was born in Santa Barbara, Chihuahua, to Jewish parents, and that I was not asked for my opinion on religion when I was born, nor was I consulted about being circumcised at 8 days old. So, I suppose it was God’s will that determined my religion and, in part, my destiny. This automatically connected me with the audience because, like all religious people, they believe in God’s will, which allowed them to empathize with me. [José Galicot]

Grace Church Pastors Tell Why They Choose to Stand with Us Jews Read More »

International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Jose Galicot, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Book Traces History of the Anne Frank House from Its Construction in 1635

The house at 263 Prinsengracht (Prince’s Canal) in Amsterdam was built in 1635, more than three centuries before its most famous resident—Anne Frank–lived and hid there from the Nazi occupiers. [Donald H. Harrison]

Book Traces History of the Anne Frank House from Its Construction in 1635 Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘Sallah Shabati’: A Story of Satire, Stereotypes, and My Family’s Reality

Watching Sallah Shabati at the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival at the Lawrence Familiy JCC — accompanied by Professor Laurie Baron’s insightful historical context — left me reflecting deeply not only on the film’s satirical brilliance but also on how it portrays Mizrahi immigrants, particularly those from Yemen. [Shahar Masori]

‘Sallah Shabati’: A Story of Satire, Stereotypes, and My Family’s Reality Read More »

Israel, Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Israel’s and UNRWA’S Relationship Reaches the Breaking Point

The relationship between Israel and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has reached a breaking point following staff involvement in the October 7 terrorist attacks and longstanding criticisms of its operations. These events have resulted in Israel’s decision to ban UNRWA from operating within its territories. [Miriam Gershenson]

Israel’s and UNRWA’S Relationship Reaches the Breaking Point Read More »

International, Israel, Jewish History, Miriam Gershenson, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Rain, Human Kindness Give Hope Amid Wildfires

We all breathed a sigh of relief with the little bit of rain that came in over the weekend to help  extinguish the fires in Los Angeles and around San Diego County. As I checked my alerts on my phone, these fires are still not 100% contained. They are still active. [Cailin Acosta]

Rain, Human Kindness Give Hope Amid Wildfires Read More »

Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire