News Sources

Jews in the News: Monday, Jan. 12, 2026

Fourteen Democratic U.S. Senators led by Alex Padilla of California and Ron Wyden of Oregon have filed a friends-of-the-court brief in the mail ballot case of Watson vs. Republican National Committee. That dispute involves the Republican party trying to invalidate a Mississippi law stating that so long as a mail-in ballot is postmarked on Election Day or before, it may be counted for up to five days beyond the election. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, News Media, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, set ablaze

An arsonist set Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, ablaze, approximately at 3 am. Saturday morning when the building was unoccupied, but the damage was extensive. Two Torah scrolls were destroyed, and five others were damaged. A Holocaust Torah on display behind a glass case was still intact. Police said they have detained a suspect, whom they have not yet identified.  [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Today’s Jewish birthday: Jared Kushner

Jared Kushner (January 10, 1981) is an American businessman and investor. He is the son-in-law of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, through his marriage to Ivanka Trump and served as a senior advisor in his father-in-law’s first administration from 2017 to 2021. He was also director of the Office of American Innovation. [Wikipedia]

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Today's Jewish Birthday, USA, Wikipedia

Teri Brown brings ‘Of Mice and Men’ to Lamplighter Theatre

Brown hopes that Lamplighter audiences will gain a new appreciation for the story as they explore the complex friendships, isolation and the desire to make connections. The tale is about loss on many levels, but always about an individual’s desire to be seen and heard. [Eva Trieger]

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

Jews in the news: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026

Brooke Goldstein, founder and executive director of the Lawfare Project, said the settlement that her organization in cooperation with the law firm of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP reached with Cooper Union, also provides a monetary award, a requirement for protesters to carry IDs during protests … [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Non-profit security grants, Holocaust education in Gov. Newsom’s budget proposal

While neither item is fully funded in the January proposal, the Governor commits to working with the Legislature to include funding for both in the May Revision. In prior years, these priorities typically emerged much later in the budget process. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, Press Release

Opinion: Democracy is not a spectator sport

Democracy isn’t a spectator sport, and we must get in the arena and use the tools of our democracy to defend it. The most meaningful action we can take is in the midterm elections. We must ensure Democrats take back control of Congress so they can restore checks and balances and provide oversight on the Executive Branch, given the GOP’s abdication of its authority and acquiescence to Trump. In the meantime, there are additional steps we can take to stand up, speak out, and advocate for our values. The most important thing is to not tune out and accept or normalize Trump’s trampling of our democratic norms and institutions. [Halie Soifer]

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Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

New Programs at JFS: Nourish San Diego and Center for Jewish Wellbeing

We will launch our Center for Jewish Wellbeing, led by Shira Jacobs; expand support for healthy aging, behavioral health for tweens, teens, and young adults; and promote education that strengthens healthy relationships. We will continue to care for more than 500 Holocaust Survivors, ensuring their access to healthy nutrition, housing, home care, and community. [Dana Toppel]

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Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food