Lifestyles

OpEd: Why Young People Distrust the Democratic Party

People in my generation (and younger) don’t really trust those in power or our institutions. And we have good reason for that. I was in 7th grade when the September 11th attacks happened, and then I watched the U.S. spend billions of dollars – and deploy millions of servicemembers – to fight endless wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. … (Congresswoman Sara Jacobs)

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International, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

San Diego-Based Photographer Specializes in Dog Portraits

Bayer is a pet photographer who comes to you and travels the country. Although San Diego is her home base, she and her husband spend a better part of the year traveling the country in their Airstream, taking photos for both private and commercial clients. [Mimi Pollack]

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Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Times of San Diego, Trivia, Humor & Satire, 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]

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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

Threatened by Fire, Neighbors and Strangers Pull Together

Wednesday morning, Jan. 22, was supposed to be routine. After our daily Minyan at Chabad RB, I buckled my son into his car seat and headed out for the familiar drive to school. The morning commute usually offered a few quiet minutes to myself, but that morning, something broke the peaceful routine. As I crested a hill, I saw it. A massive pillar of smoke rose in the distance, dark and thick against the clear blue sky. My stomach dropped. This wasn’t a barbecue gone wrong or a brush fire far from home. It was close—too close. [Rabbi Hershy Weinstein]

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Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Winds Have Everyone Nervous About Wildfires; Thank You’s Due to First Responders

First Responders can’t be thanked enough for putting their lives on the line to save others. It is the true example of either being a mensch or someone practicing tikkun olam daily. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

OpEd: ‘Protecting My Peace,’ Part 2

So, here I stand at the intersection, in my skin, in my culture, in my community, as a human being who is African American, Jewish American and female. I always recognize quite clearly when one of those components is being left out of a conversation or consideration. I am very aware that collaboration between Black and Jewish communities can create a powerful alliance to combat hate, promote mutual understanding, and protect the peace and well-being of all. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Good Deeds, Even Little Ones, Change the World for the Better

In a big city, a little girl notices that a swing has become unhooked on one side so that it hangs limply.  Another swing has some off both hooks and is lying on the ground. She wants to fix them. With the help of her grandmother, she rehooks the swings. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Repairing the World for Animals and Pet Owners

Since I retired, I have been exploring places to volunteer and along the way have met some incredible people working with various organizations. People who practice Tikkun Olam by volunteering. One of these volunteers, Janna Leoff, volunteers at the Helen Woodward Animal Center (HW). [Mimi Pollack]

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Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

A Dispute Between an Israeli Writer and a British Journal

Yes, there is a war going on, and every day we swallow the bitter pill of news about another soldier who has fallen in battle and watch on the nightly TV news the heart-wrenching funerals and eulogies for these brave young men. But normal life does go on. The sun shines and people go about their daily business. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Seeing What Author Tom Lamont Imagines in ‘Going Home’

The plot of this delightfully written, dreamlike narrative revolves around Joel, a preschooler whose mother Lea committed suicide after asking Teo, a male friend who admired her from afar, to look after him.  The life of Teo’s elderly father, Vic, apparently is resuscitated after Joel enters their lives. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors

New Year’s Resolutions Are Kept for an Average of Two Weeks

I read somewhere that people stick to their New Year’s Resolutions for only two weeks. Two weeks after New Years Day, people give up. I found that a little sad.[Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Matzo Chronicles: Halal and Back

Alas, the best-laid plans of mice, men, and holiday hostesses often go awry! This I recently learned. We were scheduled to host eight Algerian exchange visitors for a “traditional” Thanksgiving meal. The group was in town for a few days as part of a multi-state tourism education program sponsored by the U.S. State Department. [Karen Galatz]

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Karen Galatz, Lifestyles, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA