Staff and Bylined Contributors

A professional physicist is an amateur Jewish historian

While writing my books, I decided that the patterns published by Toynbee were incorrect and that, apparently, it was necessary to look for new ones. As a physicist, I initially instinctively tried to find general laws governing historical events, but I did not find them and realized there was nothing to look for. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Pluralistic Jewish stories presented at the Jewish Community Center

This, to me, is the promise of the JCC as a pluralistic town square. We do not ask everyone to practice Judaism the same way or share the same beliefs, nor do we ask people of other faiths or no faith to leave their identities at the door. Instead, we invite them to experience Jewish life in all its richness and discover the traditions, history, values, and cultural expressions that make our people unique. (Betzy Lynch)

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Kristallnacht: The Night of Broken Glass

The immediate pretext for the attacks was the shooting of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath in Paris by Herschel Grynszpan, a 17-year-old Polish Jewish refugee. After vom Rath died on November 9, Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels used the incident to incite violence with Adolf Hitler’s approval. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, News Media, San Diego Calendar, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Were the years of Sarah’s life all good?

Now, pause and think about Sarah’s resume for a moment. She endured famine. She was uprooted from her homeland. She spent decades dealing with infertility. She was abducted by two separate foreign despots—Pharaoh and Abimelech—thanks to Abraham’s rather questionable “tell them you’re my sister” travel policy. She had household friction with Hagar, heartbreak with Ishmael, and capped off her twilight years with the Akedah, the binding of Isaac. (Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel)

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Federation’s CEO visits San Diego Sister City of Sha’ar HaNegev with a double purpose

This past week in Israel has offered a firsthand lesson in hope and community. I am here for two reasons: to plan for The Community Trip to Israel in May (which will be phenomenal—and you should register now!) and to attend a Partnership Gala marking the launch of construction for Assif, the new resilience and cultural center in Sha’ar HaNegev. (Heidi Gantwerk)

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Antisemitism, Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

The post-election declaration of RabbisUnited, a unit of StandWithUs

As leaders of Jewish communities across America, we expect our elected representatives to be accountable for their words and their actions. That includes the vital work of combating antisemitism and maintaining a strong U.S.-Israel alliance that benefits the American people, deters genocidal regimes and terrorist groups that seek Israel’s destruction, and advances peace. (Press Release)

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

Some statistics of the Democratic sweep in the Nov. 3 elections

Democrats are on track to win more than 250 House seats, though it’s estimated to be closer to 259 when all votes are counted, which would mean an 83-seat majority in the House. Democrats flipped seven Senate seats – Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Maine, Iowa, and Kansas – with the possibility of wins in Alaska and Mississippi bringing the total number of Democratic Senate seats to 56. (Halie Soifer)

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Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘The Outsiders,’ inside the Civic Theatre, is a musical about coming of age

Friendship, family, loyalty and the search for belonging take center stage in The Outsiders: A New Musical, the Tony Award-winning production that brings S.E. Hinton’s classic coming-of-age story to life through music, choreography and compelling performances. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Haley Stevens did the right thing by bit endorsing Abdul el-Sayed

Schumer and many of his fellow Democrats were so desperate to retake the majority of the Senate that they passionately stood behind Abdul el-Sayed, arguably the creepiest candidate to ever run as the Democratic nominee for a Senate seat. The Michigan senator-elect has played the religion card when critics assailed him for anti-Israel statements. He even got caught advising donors that to stop a pro-Israel critic, namely Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, to “put one ogre on a pike.” (Bruce S. Ticker)

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Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Former Neo-Nazi describes life that led him to Judaism

Meeink described how a childhood marked by instability and abuse led him to embrace white supremacy, how the kindness of a Jewish employer challenged his beliefs, and how discovering his own Jewish ancestry eventually became a central part of his identity. {Cailin Acosta)

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA