News Sources

Jewish Political Briefing: Saturday Evening, Dec. 20, 2025

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will discuss with U.S. President Donald Trump the danger posed by Iran’s ballistic missile and renewed nuclear programs. At the two leaders’ upcoming meeting at the end of this month, Netanyahu will suggest joint action to eliminate the threat, according to a story in The Times of Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]

Jewish Political Briefing: Saturday Evening, Dec. 20, 2025 Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘This Ordinary Thing,’ Helping Fellow Humans, was Extraordinary During the Holocaust

French citizen Ivan Beltrami saw a tree planted in his honor at Yad Vashem’s Avenue of the Righteous.  He commented in wonder: “I don’t think I really deserve this.”  The director of Israel’s Holocaust memorial responded: “All the Righteous say the same thing but why didn’t everyone do ‘this ordinary thing?’” [Donald H. Harrison]

‘This Ordinary Thing,’ Helping Fellow Humans, was Extraordinary During the Holocaust Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

OpEd: The Light We Build Ourselves

[O]ver half of American Jews report feeling worried about their personal safety. Perhaps most chilling: 14 percent have developed plans to flee the country if antisemitism continues to worsen. The incidents pile up. The data paints the picture. The isolation intensifies. And unfortunately, Jewish history means this moment feels both urgent and familiar. [Jonathan Greenblatt]

OpEd: The Light We Build Ourselves Read More »

Antisemitism, International, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Political Briefing:  Friday, Dec. 19, 2025

Australia’s Prime Minister attended a ceremony in Sydney’s Great Synagogue memorializing the 15 people slain in the attack on the first night of Chanukah.  All 15 have now been identified as Matilda, 10, and adults Edith Brutman, Dan Elkayam, Boris Gutman, Sofia Gurman, Alex Kleytman, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Peter Meagher, Reuven Morrison, Marika Pogany, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Adam Smyth, Tania Tretiak, Boris Tetleroyd, and Tibor Weitzen. [Donald H. Harrison]

Jewish Political Briefing:  Friday, Dec. 19, 2025 Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Prayers and Cheerful Greetings Should Not Be Confined to This Time of Year

I was surprised the other day when I was attending a doctor’s appointment with a friend and told the checkout staff ‘happy holidays’ as we left. They stared at me and said, “Thank you, you were the first patient to say that to us all day.” I looked at my watch, and it was after 4 p.m. [Cailin Acosta]

Prayers and Cheerful Greetings Should Not Be Confined to This Time of Year Read More »

Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Parsha Mikeitz: Light Needs Someone to Ignite It

Chanukah commemorates two intertwined events: the military victory of the Maccabees in 165 B.C.E. and the miracle of the cruse of oil that burned for eight days in the rededicated Temple. The Sages emphasized the miracle of the oil over the battlefield triumph, teaching that the essence of the holiday is pirsuma d’nisa, publicizing the miracle. Candle lighting and Hallel are therefore central mitzvot, announcing that Hashem is present in history and that His light endures. {Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

Parsha Mikeitz: Light Needs Someone to Ignite It Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Political Briefing:  Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025

By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego We encourage our readers to follow the links below to the stories that attract their interest. INTERNATIONAL The Bondi Beach massacre in which 15 innocents were murdered on the first day of Chanukah has had repercussions in Australia and around the world.  Australian Jewish News reports that Australia’s

Jewish Political Briefing:  Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 Read More »

Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Claims Conference Webcast Focus: Resilience of Holocaust Survivors

Greg Schneider, Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference, told viewers the program had been recorded before the tragic events in Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, and added: “With horror and heartbreak, we mourn with the Jewish community of Australia.” The speaker then pivoted to the evening’s central message of perseverance: “When faced with tragedy, the Jewish people always choose life,” a lesson the speaker said the world learns “especially from Holocaust survivors.” [Shor M. Masori]

Claims Conference Webcast Focus: Resilience of Holocaust Survivors Read More »

Holocaust, International, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Chanukah Receives Exposure in La Mesa Village’s Annual Celebration

I was pleasantly surprised to discover a booth sponsored by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in front of Swami’s Café. Staffed by AJC board members and youth leaders, the booth offered hands-on education about Chanukah, including lessons on how to play dreidel. Regional Director Sara Brown shared that La Mesa Vice Mayor Lauren Cazares personally invited AJC to participate and even stopped by the booth to celebrate with them. [Cailin Acosta]

Chanukah Receives Exposure in La Mesa Village’s Annual Celebration Read More »

Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Heather Marianna: True to the Spirit of Chanukkah

Chanukkah teaches us that authenticity is not negotiable. The miracle did not come from excess, but from purity. That principle lives at the heart of Marianna’s work with Beauty Kitchen. In an industry often driven by trends and shortcuts, she made the difficult decision to turn down a massive opportunity because the formulation did not align with her non-toxic standards. [Michael Adam Cohen]

Heather Marianna: True to the Spirit of Chanukkah Read More »

Business & Finance, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA