In San Diego right now, we are in a “thick fog.” When letters of “pain and rage” are weaponized, and when the Jewish community’s response ignores the JOC (Jews of Color) in its own pews, we have entered the Ninth Plague. We have stopped seeing our “brothers” and “sisters.” [Barrett Holman Leak]
Parsha Bo: Blindness and Fire Read More »
Barrett Holman Leak, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Mia Kirshner (January 25, 1975) is a Canadian actress, writer, and social activist. She is known for television roles as Mandy in 24 (2001–2005), as Jenny Schecter in The L Word (2004–2009), as Amanda Grayson in Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2019) and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2023), and as Isobel Flemming in The Vampire Diaries (2010–2011). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Mia Kirshner Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that principals at the first direct meeting among U.S. negotiators and those of warring Russia and Ukraine discussed “possible parameters for ending the war” and went well enough to merit a second meeting next Sunday in host Abu Dhabi, part of the United Arab Emirates. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, were among the U.S. delegation. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the news: Saturday evening, Jan. 24, 2026 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
[O]n Wednesday, January 28, the Board of Supervisors will consider a new proposal by Supervisor Paloma Aguirre and myself to advance a targeted, near-term fix: A temporary pipe extension that keeps sewage below the waterline — instead of crashing against rocks and sending contaminants into the air people breathe. {Terra Lawson-Remer]
County Supervisors to consider temporary fix for air-borne feces Read More »
International, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA
Prolific playwright Ian August wrote Donna Orbits the Moon in 2010. The character, Donna, a middle-aged Midwestern housewife had spoken to him in the middle of the night, and he’d scribbled down notes as they came to him. After a few weeks of this nocturnal internal visitor, August began to figure out her story…and write his one-woman play. [Eva Trieger]
‘Donna Orbits the Moon’ stars Susan Clausen at Scripps Ranch Theatre Read More »
Eva Trieger, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
This week, the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center proudly launches the 36th Annual San Diego International Jewish Film Festival. [Betzy Lynch]
The heart’s pen and the mind’s messenger Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Elliott Abrams (January 24, 1948) is an American politician and lawyer who has served in foreign policy positions for presidents Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump. Abrams is considered to be a neoconservative. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Elliott Abrams Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
With false statements such as California State Senator Scott Wiener’s that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, is it surprising that Alliance San Diego disinvited Rabbi Hanan Leberman to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.? [J. Barry Gurdin]
Opinion: Learning to Hate Yourself or Whence Cometh the Hate? Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, International, Israel, News Media, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
[H]ow ridiculous it was for Trump to smile in the photo of Maria Corina Machado gifting him her Nobel Peace Prize, a gesture which merits her receiving the Brownnose Award for Sycophancy to motivate him to install her as President of Venezuela. There are, however, awards Trump deserves … [Laurie Baron]
Satire: Awards Trump Deserves Read More »
International, Lawrence Baron, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
I recently read Hostage, written by Eli Sharabi, who survived 491 days as a hostage in Hamas tunnels. This was the first published account by a released Israeli hostage and it appeared while the war raged on. A ceasefire was signed months later and Israel now controls 53% of Gaza. [Steve Kramer]
Eli Sharabi’s ‘Hostage’ recounts his will for survival Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer
For most of my life, if you had asked me to describe myself, I would have said I was a glass-half-empty kind of gal. That story took shape early (of course it did). Like many of us, I had a fun adolescence on the outside and a restless inner world on the inside. I sensed there was more to life than partying, jogging, and getting good grades, but I didn’t know what I was searching for or how to find it. Frankly, I was confused and lonely. [Shayna Kaufmann]
The story my mind forgot to update Read More »
Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shayna Kaufmann, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Britain’s Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis welcomed Parliament’s passage and the royal assent for a bill clearing the way to construct a Holocaust Memorial Center in Victoria Tower Gardens. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the news: Friday, Jan. 23, 2026 Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, News Media, San Diego County, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
I am always so humbled and honored to be asked and trusted to carry such a sacred possession through the aisles as people kiss their siddurim (prayer books) or tallits (prayer shawls) and touch them to the Torah. [Cailin Acosta]
Feeling pride as I parade the Torah through my congregation Read More »
Cailin Acosta, California, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Myron Cope (January 23, 1929 – February 27, 2008), was an American sports journalist, radio personality, and sportscaster. He is best known for being “the voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers”. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Myron Cope Read More »
Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia