It’s a story about the unusual alchemy of friendship. Most of the 2-woman show is centered on just a few days in the life of Marie Curie (Rachel Vanwormer) after the French public learned about her affair with Paul Langevin. [Sandi Masori]
‘Half-Life of Marie Curie’ Comes to a Close Read More »
San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Joshua Gad (February 23, 1981) is an American actor. He is known for voicing Olaf in the Frozen franchise and playing Elder Arnold Cunningham in the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon. For his role as Olaf, Gad won two Annie Awards, and for his work in The Book of Mormon, he co-won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical, both shared with Andrew Rannells as one of the two leading artists. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Josh Gad Read More »
Jewish Celebrities, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Rachel Dratch (February 22, 1966) is an American actress and comedian. After she graduated from Dartmouth College, she moved to Chicago to study improvisational theatre at The Second City and ImprovOlympic. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Rachel Dratch Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The behavior exhibited by Hamas should raise alarms for all civilized individuals, demonstrating that such groups and their supporters are unworthy of statehood. When a society revels in human brutality and instills these values in its children, it poses a significant threat to humanity. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Islamic Fanaticism is a Reincarnation of Nazism Read More »
Israel, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
In contrast to Black-Jewish amity, Dumisani Washington said, Arab Muslims have historically enslaved millions of Africans, a practice that still goes on today. The Palestinian Liberation Organization and its political rival, Hamas, have cynically cozied up to Black leaders to portray themselves as interested in civil rights, but “they couldn’t have cared less; they just wanted other people to think that they did,” Washington declared. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews and Blacks are Natural Allies, IBSI Founder Tells Ministers and Rabbis Read More »
Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Seeking the Nobel Peace Prize that eluded him during his first term, Donald Trump hopes to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. When his term is over [if it is ever over] he plans to produce a reality show called The Mediator in which he’ll resolve disputes utilizing his unique approach to making deals. Here’s what the pilot for The Mediator might look like. [Laurie Baron]
Satire: The Mediator Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Devasting this must be for Yarden Bibas, the father, who was released from captivity on Feb. 1. The coffins carrying his children, Kfir and Ariel, were paraded through the streets like it was a festival. So was a coffin that Hamas said contained the remains of Yarden’s wife, Shiri, but which Israeli authorities discovered not to be Shiri, but an unknown Gazan woman. [Cailin Acosta]
Our Twins’ Birthday Celebration Saddened by News of the Bibas Family Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
On Feb. 20, the Argentine Senate approved a bill that incorporates the so called “Trial in Absentia” into Argentina’s criminal procedure law. [Adriana Camisar]
Argentina Adopts ‘Trial in Absentia’ Law Read More »
International, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Jonathan Foer (February 21, 1977) is an American novelist. He is known for his novels Everything Is Illuminated (2002), Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2005), Here I Am (2016), and for his non-fiction works Eating Animals (2009) and We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast (2019). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish World: Jonathan Foer Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
“Especially gut wrenching for so many of us is not only the brutal murders of Shiri and Yarden Bibas’s beautiful boys, Ariel and Kfir, but Hamas’ cruel and downright barbaric return of a body that they claimed to be their mother. Their murder, and this added violation of the hostage agreement, is just another horrific example of the unimaginable cruelty that Hamas has inflicted since October 7, 2023. …” [Press Release]
AJC: That Wasn’t Shiri Bibas’ Body in Coffin Returned by Hamas Read More »
Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
This book has 30 biographical sketches, which are divided into six sections: 4 Healers; 11 Leaders and Ambassadors; 4 academics; 2 artists; 5 innovators; and 4 philanthropists and entrepreneurs. [Donald H. Harrison]
30 Trailblazing Israeli Women Profiled in ‘Beyond Division’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Kemp provided a fascinating historical perspective, revealing that both Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas were KGB agents, each assigned ID numbers and code names. He explained how the concept of ‘Palestinians’ was a Soviet creation, with Russia acting as the mastermind behind the movement. [Miriam Gershenson]
Kemp: Arafat, Abbas Were KGB Agents Read More »
Albert Kreimerman, International, Israel, Jewish History, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The statement “an eye for an eye” is in this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1–24:18). At first glance, this familiar saying appears to promote revenge. However, by carefully studying related biblical passages, we can understand why Judaism never understood this passage literally. Furthermore, to do so would contradict the Torah directive, “Do not seek revenge among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). [Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz]
Self-Defense versus Turning the Other Cheek Read More »
Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Major Jewish organizations on Thursday, Feb. 20, announced that the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought against the school district for introducing ethnic studies courses that were developed in secret and infected with antisemitism. [Press Release]
Antisemitic Ethnic Studies Classes to Cease in Santa Ana Unified School District Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education