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Today’s Jewish Birthday: Rudolf Serkin

At the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Serkin instructed generations of pianists and served from 1968 to 1975 as the Institute’s director.  Busch and Serkin founded the Marlboro Music School and Festival in Marlboro, Vermont in 1951. Serkin made numerous classical music recordings on such labels as Columbia Masterworks, RCA Victor, Deutsche Grammophon and Terlac. [SDJW staff]

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday

Recipient Announced for 2024 Peter Chortek Leadership Award

Peter Chortek Leadership Award recipients receive a $9,000 stipend, $540 to establish a Donor Advised Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation, and a professional video made about their project. This year the awards committee, comprised of two generations of the Chortek family and other community leaders, selected Hayden Crocker as the 2024 PCLA recipient. [Press Release, Jewish Community Foundation]

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Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Press Release, San Diego County, USA

A Word From Your Federation: Empowered Jewish Women: Leading the Way with Compassion and Collective Impact

As we near the end of Women’s History Month, I want to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable contributions of Jewish women to our community. For nearly 90 years, Jewish Federation of San Diego has been a beacon of hope, a force for good, and a pillar of support for the Jewish community – both locally and across the globe. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Heidi Gantwerk, International, Israel, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Hounding the Headlines: The Interview

What scares me more is that some condos and independent living communities either ban dogs or require that they weigh no more than 25 pounds.  This is blatant sizeism. At a svelte 50 pounds I don’t want to take Ozempic to get down to the qualifying weight.  Of course, I could go on the canine anorexic diet of eating lots of grass and purging. [“Elona” Baron]

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Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Budd Schulberg

In 1941, Schulberg’s first novel, What Makes Sammy Run?, was an indictment of Hollywood’s studio system. Its cold-blooded, driven protagonist, Sammy Glick, was so obviously Jewish that Schulberg was accused of antisemitism. When a higher-up in the Communist Party of the USA demanded that Schulberg make changes in the novel to conform to Communist dogma, he quit the party. [SDJW staff]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Parsha Tzav: Gratefulness Can Inspire Others

Dr. David DeSteno and his colleagues reveal a profound truth – that gratitude is a powerful force, capable of igniting a radiant chain reaction of goodness and compassion. Perhaps this is what is behind the good Moshe delivers to Aharon…not so much “making” him “feel good,” but rather when one’s heart is filled with gratitude for the blessings received, it becomes a wellspring from which kindness and generosity flow forth. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Viktor Frankl

Shortly after the Holocaust, during which Frankl survived four concentration camps, he wrote Man’s Search for Meaning.  It became an international best seller after it was published in English.  The Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club on the basis of a 1991 survey said it was one of the ten most influential books in the United States.  [SDJW staff]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday

Jewish Public Affairs Committee Sponsoring 10 Bills in California

David Bocarsly, JPAC executive director, said, his organization “is working with the California Legislative Jewish Caucus and our member organizations to sponsor a package of impactful bills that further antisemitism education, enhance secure infrastructure, and respond to violence and harassment in our schools and throughout our society.” [Press Release, Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California]

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Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, Press Release, San Diego County

‘Ordinary People’ Examines Family Members’ Response to Loss

Lucinda Moaney and Stephen Pickens in a therapy session in 'Ordinary People' now playing at the PowPac theatre. (Photo: Steve Murdock)

Each member of the family processes the loss in his/her own way, clearly without being seen, heard or understood by each other. The sense of isolation, guilt, and grief are palpable in each character whether they are withholding or exploding with the overwhelming emotions.  [Eva Triegere]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jewish Biography: Leon Blum, Natural Socialist

Reflecting on the Dreyfus affair, on the aggression of the anti-Dreyfusards, Blum puzzledly asked: “What drove them to do this? What drove them? Even today, 35 years later, when I reflect on the past with a mature, cold rationality, it seems to me that I still do not have some of the elements of an answer to this question.” [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Gloria Steinem

In 1972, she was a co-founder with five other women of the feminist magazine Ms.  That same year, Steinem was the first woman to speak at the National Press Club, and ran a campaign to persuade DC Comics to restore Wonder Woman’s original powers.  In 1976, she attended the first women-only Passover seder in the New York City apartment of Esther M. Broner.  In 1979, she wrote a Ms article on female genital mutilation, bringing international attention to the practice. [SDJW staff]

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Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA