Jewish History

Jewish Political Briefing: Monday, Dec. 15, 2025

Actor/ Director Rob Reiner. 78, and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were stabbed to death on Sunday in their Brentwood, California home.  Police booked his son Nick Reiner, 32, on suspicion of murder. Nick, who has struggled with drug addiction, was held without the possibility of bail. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Political Briefing: Chanukah Massacre in Australia, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025

Two gunmen with automatic weapons opened fire, killing at least 11 people and wounding at least 29 others at a celebration of the first night of Chanukah at the beach in the Bondi neighborhood of Sydney, Australia. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

OpEd: Anti-Israel Protesters Resort to Petty Tactics

bout 20 mezuzahs were snatched from the doorways of Jewish apartment tenants this past Sunday in the North York section of Toronto, where a large Jewish community lives, according to reports from The Times of Israel and Canada’s National Post. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Political Briefing: Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025

Entertainers Barbra Streisand, Billy Crystal, Rob Reiner, Debra Messing, Jason Alexander, Julianna Margulies, Mayim Bialik, Steve Guttenberg, Adam Arkin, Shulem Lemmer, Tovah Feldshuh, Barry Manilow, and CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer will participate. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, News Media, Press Release, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jewish Political Briefing: Saturday Evening, Dec. 6, 2025

More than 200 cultural and public figures have signed a petition urging Israel to release convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti from prison.  Among Jews signing the petition are singer Paul Simon and journalist Peter Beinart. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Political Briefing, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025

Although not all information at a closed-door meeting was disclosed, U.S. Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley on Thursday told select senators and congressmen that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not issue explicit “kill them all” orders prior to the second-strike Sept. 2 on an alleged drug-running boat off the Venezuelan coast. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

When Memory Becomes Action

Moshe teaches us that greatness doesn’t come from good intentions alone- it comes from turning compassion into concrete action. A true leader, and a true member of Klal Yisrael, is someone who shows up, who takes responsibility and asks: “What can I do to help?” Every one of us has daily opportunities to be a “do-er”- to step in, support others, and make a difference. Even small actions, when done with sincerity and courage, can have an everlasting effect. [Ilanit Zakowski]

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California, Ilanit Zakowski, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Stalin’s Postwar Terror Targeted Soviet Jews in the Name of ‘Anti-Cosmopolitanism’

“Rootless cosmopolitan” became code for “Jewish,” and dismissals swept the arts, sciences and media. The Ministry of State Security arrested Jewish industrial leaders for sabotage and, in 1953, fabricated “the Doctor’s Plot,” which accused a group of predominately Jewish doctors who treated Kremlin officials of trying to assassinate Stalin and other party leaders. [Wendy Z. Goldman]

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Antisemitism, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors