Ruth Gikow (January 6, 1915 – April 2, 1982) was an American visual artist known primarily for her work as a genre painter. Her paintings often depict human figures interacting with an urban environment. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Ruth Gikow Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded innocent in the New York federal court of Judge Alvin Hellerstein to charges of drug and arms trafficking. Attorney Barry Pollack represented Maduro at the arraignment. The next court date was set for March 17. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political briefing: Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Imagine opening a book that doesn’t just sit on your shelf gathering dust—it walks with you through the chaos of everyday life, whispering (and sometimes shouting) that holiness isn’t reserved for mountaintops or monasteries. It’s right here, in the messy, miraculous grind of being human. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Rabbi Heschel as interpreted by an ex-con turned rabbi Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
I sat down with British actress, podcaster, and philanthropist Eve Richards in Beverly Hills where she moved through the world like a conductor guiding a symphony. Every gesture, every word, every project is deliberate, intentional, and charged with meaning. [Michael Adam Cohen]
Eve Richards: Living with intention Read More »
Michael Adam Cohen, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The word “demonization” has earned a place in political science dictionaries. Unfavorable politicians and country leaders are demonized. The troubles and failures that have befallen countries are attributed to one person, the head of state or the head of government. [Alex Gordon]
Politics in Israel have devolved into ‘Netanyahu, for or against him?’ Read More »
Alex Gordon, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Erika Morini (January 5, 1904 – October 31 or November 1, 1995) was an Austrian and American violinist.
Morini was born in Vienna, and received her first instruction from her father, Oscar Morini (originally spelled Oser or Ojser, family name Moritz), who was the director of his own music school in Vienna, and from Rosa Hochmann. She completed her studies at the Vienna Conservatory under Otakar Ševčík, who was also the teacher of Jan Kubelik. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Erika Morini Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The Times of Israel translated Rodríguez’s quotes this way: “The governments of the world are simply shocked that it is the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela which is the victim and subject of an attack of this nature, which has, without a doubt, a Zionist tint.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish political briefing: Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
I wrote following the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk, our kids are watching, and current events transpire more quickly than we can sufficiently explain them to our children. In this case, having seen images of the U.S. military operation in Venezuela on television, my tween boys concluded it’s like “Conquer the World,” which is a game on Roblox. [Halie Soifer]
What’s going on? Our children want to know! Read More »
International, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
This weighty tome comprising almost 1,500 pages of closely-printed text, is in fact four novels combined, and took the author some 17 years to write before it was first published in German in 1944. The translation into English by John E. Woods, reads fluently and convincingly, presumably mirroring the original German. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Thomas Mann’s ‘Joseph and His Brothers’ well worth the long time it takes to read Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
May the Epstein files be forgot,
And never brought to mind.
Winning wars to get oil.
Renders the public blind. … (Laurie Baron]
Satire: Happy new diversion Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Lawrence Baron, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
David Berman (January 4, 1967 – August 7, 2019) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and poet who founded – and was the only constant member of – the indie rock band Silver Jews with Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: David Berman Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
This idea connects loosely to the value of kavod hatzibbur (respect for the community). Our personal choices matter not only because they shape who we become, but because they affect the dignity, strength, and wholeness of the collective. [Betzy Lynch]
There’s an empty chair at the Lawrence Family JCC Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Gilbert Seldes (January 3, 1893 – September 29, 1970) was an American writer and cultural critic. Seldes served as the editor and drama critic of the seminal modernist magazine The Dial and hosted the NBC television program The Subject is Jazz (1958). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Gilbert Seldes Read More »
News Media, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The United States’ surprise capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores early Saturday morning generated both negative and supportive statements from Jewish officeholders around the world. The Maduros were put aboard the amphibius assault ship USS Iwo Jima and then an airplane for a trip to New York where they will face charges of trafficking drugs, especially cocaine and fentanyl, to the United States. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish political briefing: Saturday evening, Jan. 3, 2026 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA