Judaism

A record-breaking term: Over 350 students enrolled in Israel studies classes

With antisemitism and anti-Zionism rising on campus, our Visiting Israeli Professors and Modern Israel Studies classes are doing something vital: providing academic truth. They give students the tools and the context to look past the social media noise and actually engage with the modern state of Israel. [Murray Galinson San Diego Israeli Initiative]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Young woman atheist describes her conversion to Orthodox Judaism

Lobell notes that Judaism did not ask her to believe first, but to learn, to question, and to practice. Where Catholicism had been imposed, Judaism was discovered. Where faith once felt compulsory, it now felt invitational. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]

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

‘Black Power: Jewish Politics:’ A live event with Marc Dollinger, Ilana Kaufman, and Susannah Heshel

Join historian Marc Dollinger for a live conversation on his groundbreaking book “Black Power Jewish Politics”, with an afterword by Ilana Kaufman, the CEO of Jews of Color Initiative. Susannah Heschel, a preeminent scholar and the daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (z’’l), also joins the conversation. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish and African American Joint Justice – Celebrating The NAACP’s 115th Anniversary

On February 12, 1909, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) was founded by a group including W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, Mary White Ovington, and Moorfield Storey. It was on the 100th birthday of former President Abraham Lincoln. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, News Media, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: How did Zionism become a dirty word in San Diego?

What took place before San Diego’s recent Jan. 19 “All Peoples Celebration” to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a startling example of what can happen when a single word that reflects a simple objective can become hijacked. [Marsha Sutton]

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Antisemitism, California, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, News Media, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Our Shtetl: New treatments at Hadassah Medical Org. and Winter Olympics Update

The idea to create the Pediatric Nephrology-Urology Center grew out of the shared vision of the two Hadassah Medical Organization specialists who will be its co-directors, Oded Volovelsky, MD, and Guy Hidas, MD. Dr. Volovelsky heads the hospital system’s Pediatric Nephrology specialty and is President of the Israeli Association for Pediatric Nephrology, while Dr. Hidas heads Pediatric Urology and is President of the Israeli Pediatric Urology Society. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, California, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

We Danced Again

For two years, we’ve carried the words “we will dance again” in our hearts. And to close out FED360, we did just that. We danced. Joyfully, energetically, breathlessly, unapologetically. Together, we celebrated the strength and resilience of our community and the impact of building belonging and connection. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Antisemitism, Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Mishenichnas Adar Marbim B’Simcha

Our sages teach that there are four mitzvot on Purim. We gather to hear the story of Esther and how our people were saved. We give matanot la’evyonim to ensure that those in need can celebrate with dignity. We share in a festive meal filled with joy. And we give mishloach manot—gifts of food to one another. [Rabbi Hanan Leberman]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Parshas Mishpatim – Highlight the Positive & Ignore the Negative

For many years, I would introduce the singing of zemiros and emphasize the spiritual impact and the sanctity of the time as Shabbos ebbs steadily away. During the quarantine period of COVID, I made it a point to open my windows and sing Shalosh Seudos zemiros at the top of my lungs so everyone could hear me and understand that we still need to sing. [Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

OpEd: Selective Jewish support for Republicans

Such frustration can only reflect the feelings of American Jews who fall into the center-left category. We mainly vote for Democrats because they consistently press for social reforms while supporting Israel. This allows for legitimate criticism of the Jewish state. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, News Media, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: Washington’s Promise, America’s Test

It was a promise. A compact between our early nation and its Jewish citizens: equal opportunity and liberty defended for all. I’ve been thinking about this promise as we observe Presidents’ Day this year, especially as antisemitism has intensified these past few years. [Jonathan Greenblatt]

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Antisemitism, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, News Media, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA