Judaism

Two Years Since Oct. 7 Massacre to Be Commemorated Oct. 9

Jewish Federation of San Diego, together with the Lawrence Family JCC and the Israeli American Council, will present an evening of remembrance and resilience marking two years since the October 7 attacks on 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9 at The Sound at Del Mar Fairgrounds. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

Ki Tavo: The Value of Remembering History

Jews are not the only humans who recognize the importance of remembering the past.  Many ancient wise people recognized the role of history as a guide, its ability to illuminate, the responsibility to remember, and the consequences of forgetting history. Cecero advised us, “To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born will keep you always as a child.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Adat Yeshurun’s Blue & White Zone: Where Torah and Longevity Meet

Perhaps the most powerful reminder was that healthy living is not only about diet or exercise, but about how we move through life with meaning, relationships, and balance. Communities that thrive emphasize walking, gardening, social connection, stress reduction, and a shared sense of purpose. It’s striking how closely this mirrors the Torah’s blueprint: Shabbat, family, mitzvot, gratitude. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

‘The Shabbat Effect’: A Weekly Reset to Restore the Soul

As a Rhodes Scholar, anthropologist, filmmaker, and founder of The Mussar Institute—author of acclaimed works like Everyday Holiness and Climbing Jacob’s Ladder—Morinis presents Shabbat not as a burdensome ritual but as a vital, rejuvenating pause amid modern life’s chaos. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Zabar’s

Zabar’s ‍just ‍made ‍another ‍cultural ‍connection ‍outside ‍of ‍the ‍food ‍world ‍in ‍conjunction ‍with ‍the ‍U. ‍S. ‍Open ‍Tennis ‍tournament ‍which ‍just ‍ended ‍in ‍Flushing ‍Meadows, ‍New ‍York. ‍The ‍Upper ‍West ‍Side ‍shoe ‍store ‍West ‍NYC ‍is ‍offering ‍for ‍sale ‍a ‍version ‍of ‍the ‍iconic ‍Adidas ‍Rod ‍Laver ‍sneaker ‍with ‍colors ‍matching ‍the ‍color ‍theme ‍of ‍Zabar’s. ‍[Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Business & Finance, Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Jewish Biography: Jacques Solomon Hadamard, Mathematician

His main research was in number theory, analytic function theory, differential equations of mathematical physics, and mechanics. He developed the set theory. He owns seminal works in the theory of integer analytic functions. In the theory of differential equations, his work on Augustin Cauchy’s problem for hyperbolic equations is particularly important. In classical analysis and function theory, Hadamard’s inequality and his theorem on power series are well known. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Children’s Book Omits Key Details in Story of Interreligious Harmony

Tilly’s Jewish family hosts an Iraqi Muslim family for a week while the community readies an apartment for the refugee family to occupy. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

East County Chabad Celebrates Opening of its Permanent Headquarters

The sounding of the Shofar during the month of Elul, a ribbon cutting, a shot of whiskey to wish everyone l’chaim, and the placing of a mezuzah on the door of 7189 Navajo Road were some of the ceremonies attending the grand opening of Chabad of East County’s permanent home on Sunday, Sept. 7. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Pomegranates and Nine Jewish Facts About Them As Rosh Hashanah Approaches

As I am keeping an eye on a neighbor’s pomegranate tree, I wonder each year if they will be ripe and ready before Rosh Hashanah. For many years, we picked buckets full, and for a few years, it’s been just a couple. Every year, I leave a note in their mailbox asking when or if my kids can come and pick from their trees. I always sign the note, from your friendly neighborhood Jew. Giggle.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, California, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Judaism, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego Calendar, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food

700 Days Too Many which Hostages Have Suffered

Rona Epstein [is] the daughter of the current Sha’ar HaNegev mayor Ori Epstein and the niece of the previous mayor, Ofir Libstein (z”l). She is 20 years old, and a lifelong resident of the kibbutz. She led us on a tour of the worst day of her life, with stops at the spots where two of her uncles, her grandmother, her cousin, and her brother died that day. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Sharon Katz: A Life of Music and Service

South African musician Sharon Katz learned about the importance of giving back to others. This is something her mother instilled in her. In addition, growing up during the period of Apartheid, Katz also learned about racism and social inequalities. [Mimi Pollack]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Contemporary Torah: Ethics Apply Even in Battle

The battlefield is not an ethical vacuum. The Torah commands us to maintain our humanity and our sense of justice even when confronted with the darkest parts of human nature or the most heated arguments. Even when you fight your enemy, you must do the right thing. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Holocaust, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA