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Today’s Jewish Birthday: Sasha Cohen

Courtesy of Wikipedia Sasha Cohen (October 26, 1984) is a retired American figure skater. She is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World Championship medalist, the 2003 Grand Prix Final Champion, and the 2006 U.S. Champion. She is known for her artistry, flexibility and body lines, and musical interpretation. As of 2024, Cohen is the most recent American woman

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Jewish Celebrities, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Suspicious Device, Not a Bomb, Forces Evacuation of International Cottages

Numerous international cottages of Balboa Park’s House of Pacific Relations were shuttered Saturday, Oct. 26, as police and the FBI investigated a suspicious package that had been hoisted on the flagpole of the House of Israel. [Donald H. Harrison and Miriam Gershenson]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Miriam Gershenson, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Jewish Religion, Traditions, and Animals

Recently I was reading that in Halakhah (Jewish law), animals are to be fed before humans. I had to laugh since if I tried to make my coffee before giving my angora rabbit, Freckles, a snack, she is right there with her paws on my legs and letting me know, she comes first. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

Emanuel Ax Flawlessly Performs Mozart in San Diego Symphony Concert

Ax is a no-nonsense player, performing flawlessly, with elegance and grace. There were no histrionics, no dramatic gestures, there was just honest perfection.  And the orchestra, with reduced strings, one timpani, one flute and pairs of oboes, bassoons, trumpets and horns, provided beautiful, nuanced support under Raphael Payare s direction. [Eileen Wingard]

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

An Israeli-American Perspective: The War in Israel and Its Ripple Effect

In Israel, the war is about survival.  In the U.S., it becomes a question of diplomacy, alliances, and public opinion.  And for those of us with a foot in both places, it’s a balancing act between these two realities, one where we are trying to protect what we hold dear and the other where we’re trying to make sense of how it fits into the broader global narrative. [Shahar Masori]

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Israel, Opinion, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Harold Brodkey

Courtesy of Wikipedia Harold Brodkey (October 25, 1930 – January 26, 1996), was an American short-story writer and novelist. Aaron Weintraub was the second child to his Jewish parents Max Weintraub and Celia Glazer Weintraub (1899-1932), born in Staunton, Illinois. Samuel Weintraub (1928-2017) was their oldest child. When their mother died, Samuel was four and old

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Wikipedia

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Drake

Courtesy of Wikipedia Drake Graham (October 24, 1986), known mononymously as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer, and actor. An influential figure in popular music, he has been credited with popularizing R&B sensibilities in hip-hop artists. Gaining recognition by starring as Jimmy Brooks in the CTV teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–2008), Drake began his recording career in 2006 with the release of his

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Jewish Celebrities, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Parsha Bereishit: Humans Were Created Last for a Reason

For an answer to grow with, investigate the Talmud, Sanhedrin 38a. Here we are told that if we came first, as some might haughtily believe we “should,” we and our children might erroneously believe that the creation of the world was NOT entirely Hashem’s doing, that somehow, we humans were co-architects, co-authors, of the world with Him. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Stories of Oct. 7, 2023 Losses and Resilience at San Diego Event

These stories, spoken with raw emotion and courage, offered a window into the profound loss and resilience of a community forever changed by the tragedy. As voices broke and tears were shed, the room was united not only in grief but also in the hope that these memories would ensure the lives taken would never be forgotten. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Albert Kreimerman, Israel, Jewish History, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at Historic Church in Abu Ghosh a Welcome Respite from War’s Impact

Suddenly this year, in the midst of the war and tragedy that has befallen us, there was a beam of light. The Israel Barrocada Ensemble, which plays on period instruments and has been giving concerts in Tel Aviv, announced that it was returning to Abu Ghosh, and would start with a performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah.’ The sublime music, using texts taken from Isaiah, Psalms and other books of the Bible, has always inspired me and uplifted my spirit. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors