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Jewish Book Review: Hitler’s Canary tells of a daring wartime adventure

The year was 1940, and the Germans were starting to invade Denmark, and 10-year-old Bamse was just as confused as all the other Danes.
Bamse is Danish for Teddy. Bamse’s older brother, Orlando, becomes involved in the resistance and eventually goes to jail. As he was in the hospital, Bamse brought him clothes, and he escaped. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Something neither of us could build alone

This brief story captures the heart of the Jewish value of arevut, shared responsibility. In life, we often imagine that we are accountable only for ourselves, that “our seat” is private. Judaism insists otherwise. What we do affects those around us. Our fates are intertwined. We rise or fall together. [Betzy Lynch]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

The Old Canterbury (U.K.) Jewish Cemetery Behind the gate – an entire world

The gate opened.  I chose to go in. Nathaniel Isaacs led me to Alan Barnett, the Chairman of the Canterbury Jewish Historical Society. The gate opened wider. I encountered Henry Hart, Jacob the Jew, and Isaac Nathan in political and social controversy. I encountered P.C. challenges, sadly not overcome, and opportunities to respond to antisemitism by doing what the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation does best: creating and placing permanent Jewish historical markers that affirm Jewish presence, contributions, and commonality. [Jerry Klinger]

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International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Our Shtetl: leaving a legacy

Tuesday, Feb. 3, the La Mesa City Council broke ground on the construction of the La Mesa downtown district sign in the village. I could not attend. But we purchased tiles many years ago, and Ceramic Café at Grossmont Center hosted a tile event for those who purchased tiles to be painted and would be fired for the district sign. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego Calendar, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Chaim Landau, Peace of Mind Director of Partnerships, visiting San Diego to express gratitude to the San Diego Community for its support of IDF soldiers recovering from trauma.

San Diego is proud to have hosted 6 POM units in individual homes, providing a rewarding week for host families to give back to our veterans and a healing week for the veterans receiving therapy as a unit in a supportive, safe environment. [PRESS RELEASE]

Chaim Landau, Peace of Mind Director of Partnerships, visiting San Diego to express gratitude to the San Diego Community for its support of IDF soldiers recovering from trauma. Read More »

Press Release, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Review of Gustav Mahler’s 7th Symphony concert perfomance to a full house

The San Diego Symphony, conducted by its Artistic Director, Raphael Payare, whose contract was just renewed until the 2029-30 season, delivered a stunning performance of Gustav Mahler’s 7th Symphony to a full house on Sunday, February 1, in the newly named Miller Family Theater of the Jacobs Music Center. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Max Newman

Max Newman (February 7, 1897 – February 22, 1984) was a British mathematician and codebreaker. His work in World War II led to the construction of Colossus, the world’s first operational, programmable electronic computer, and he established the Royal Society Computing Machine Laboratory at the University of Manchester, which produced the world’s first working, stored-program electronic computer in 1948, the Manchester Baby. [Wikipedia]

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Science, Medicine, & Education, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

With Support from Adelson Family, Bar-Ilan University Establishes Israel’s First Institute for the Synthesis of Smart Materials

Bar-Ilan University President Prof. Arie Zaban: “Science contains countless dimensions that we have yet to fully grasp—and that is the story we are building here today. The ability to produce multidimensional ‘smart’ materials represents a transformative step forward. [PRESS RELEASE]

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Israel, Jacob Kamaras, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Isidor and Ida Straus

Isidor Straus (February 6, 1845 – April 15, 1912) and Rosalie Ida Straus (née Blün;February 6, 1849 – April 15, 1912) were an American couple who died in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Isidor was a German-Jewish businessman, politician, U.S. congressman and co-owner of Macy’s department store with his brother Nathan. [Wikipedia]

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Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Parshas Yisro – Here Comes the Sunshine

Fast forward fifty years, and our Tu B’Shvat experience is quite different. Here in Eretz Yisrael, not only are the major holidays celebrated throughout the country and across all lines, but even the minor festivals have been transformed into major events. [Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky]

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California, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: Jewish forces are ready to confront the perceived enemy

New York City’s new mayor faces two initiatives aimed at precluding any of his actions that Jewish leaders fear might harm Israel or their fellow Jews in the Big Apple. Predictably, the 34-year-old Mamdani will face a firestorm if he does anything that is perceived as damaging. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Light Amidst the Pyres: A Review of Richard Zimler’s The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon

Richard Zimler’s 1996 debut, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon, is a towering achievement in this genre. It is a work that breathes life into the suffocating atmosphere of 16th-century Portugal, weaving a narrative that is simultaneously a grisly locked-room mystery, a pulse-pounding thriller, and a profound meditation on Jewish mysticism. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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

JPAC reports another victory in the fight for AB 715

Recently, a federal court decisively rejected an effort to block AB 715 from taking effect. In a sweeping ruling, the judge found that the law is constitutional, consistent with the First Amendment, and neither vague nor overbroad. As a result, AB 715 went into effect statewide on January 1. [David Bocarsly]

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Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors