“May the Lord bless you and watch over you. May the Lord cause His countenance to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord raise His countenance toward you and grant you peace.” [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
Parsha Naso: The Origin of the Priestly Blessing Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The rich traditions of those other Jewish cultures can be marginalized – or exoticized, if they are included at all. More importantly, the assumption that Jews are Ashkenazi and white can make Jews of color feel unwelcome or unsafe. [Samira Mehta]
Jews Come in Many Different Colors and Ethnicities Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, The Moderate Voice, USAYouth Summer Music Camp (6th-12th grade) with Sharon Katz will be at 1 p.m., Monday, June 17 until Saturday, June 22 (no camp on Wednesday, June 19) at the San Diego Central Public Library. Katz is the founder of The Peace Train Project and Band and will direct this summer camp at the library. [Cailin Acosta]
Shavuot Wishes and Some Fascinating Upcoming Events Read More »
Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Courtesy of Wikipedia Anne Frank (June 12, 1929 – February or March 1945) was a German-born Jewish girl who kept a diary in which she documented life in hiding under Nazi persecution during the German occupation of the Netherlands. She is a celebrated diarist who described everyday life from her family’s hiding place in an Amsterdam attic. One of the most-discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust,
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Anne Frank Read More »
Antisemitism, Holocaust, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
As a senior ranking Jewish chaplain in the U.S. military, Bazer had a three-decades-long career that included both reserve officer and active-duty stints in both the Army and the National Guard. Most recently, he was the deputy director of the National Guard Bureau Office of the Joint Chaplain and simultaneously served, from 2020 to 2022, as chief of religious affairs for the Army National Guard. [Press Release]
Rabbi Laurence Bazer Named as Director of JWB Jewish Chaplains Council Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Press Release, USA
Courtesy of Wikipedia Mordecai Kaplan (June 11, 1881 – November 8, 1983) was a Lithuanian-born American rabbi, writer, Jewish educator, professor, theologian, philosopher, activist, and religious leader who founded the Reconstructionist branch of Judaism along with his son-in-law Ira Eisenstein. He has been described as a “towering figure” in the recent history of Judaism for his influential work in adapting it to modern society, contending that Judaism should be a unifying
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Mordecai Kaplan Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The current holiday called Shavuot is not a biblical holiday. No Jewish holiday is practiced today as the Bible mandates. Shavuot, called Pentecost in English, is a good example. The current observance of the holiday has no relationship to its biblical ancestor and doesn’t even occur at the same time. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Secrets of Shavuot Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors“It’s the final countdown” … of counting the Omer and the celebration of Shavuot starting Tuesday, June 11! This is a busy week around the area with many celebrations for Shavuot but also the last day of school for those in the San Diego Unified School District. A well-deserved break “from the books” should be celebrated with some cheesecake or cooling off with some ice cream, am I right? [Cailin Acosta]
Count Down to Shavuot Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The joke is that my wife has been an unflagging downsizer, in resisting my acquiring new books, but gifts may be different. I thanked my friend, “Never seen Karen so pleased to get a book in an age where she is trying to get them out of the house.” [Oliver B. Pollak]
‘101 Treasures’ from Israel Library is also a Treasure for Home Collections Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Oliver Pollak, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Courtesy of Wikipedia Natalie Portman (June 9, 1981) is an Israeli-born American actress. She has had a prolific film career since her teenage years. She has starred in various blockbusters and independent films, receiving multiple accolades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Portman began her acting career at age twelve when she starred as the
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Natalie Portman Read More »
International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish Religion, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The San Diego County Fair is getting ready to open its gates. Get ready for all the crowds and summertime fun. Does anyone still call it the Del Mar Fair, or is it just me? [Cailin Acosta]
Jewish Groups Head to San Diego County Fair Read More »
Business & Finance, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
In 1942, when Alfred was 8 and Herbert was 5, their parents arranged for the boys to be sent to a summer camp operated by a Jewish rescue organization. Much to the boys’ distress, their safety-minded parents had them stay much longer than the summer. While they were gone, their father, who had been helping the French Resistance, was arrested by the Vichy government. [Donald H. Harrison]
Highly Readable Holocaust Memoir Carefully Delineates Sources Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Published by The Center Square (The Center Square) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost wants to stop the sale of ancient Jewish texts and books at the nation’s first permanent Jewish institution of higher learning in Cincinnati. Yost filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent Hebrew Union College from selling copies of the Talmud
Ohio Attorney General Sues to Stop Potential Sale of Rare Jewish Books, manuscripts Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Nordot, Science, Medicine, & Education
SAN DIEGO – Six gallons of O negative is what I have given the San Diego Blood Bank, sometimes via the mobile trailer that visits Tifereth Israel Synagogue. I also donated with the American Red Cross when I lived in Dallas, so that is more than six gallons, but who is counting? My Dad (of
Please Be Nice to This Editor; Her Blood May Save Your Life Read More »
Byliners, Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion