You spoke in a way that disconnected you? Learn to speak differently.
You carried yourself with unexamined certainty? Practice humility.
You became disconnected? Relearn how to re-enter. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]
Parshiot Tazria-Metzora: Path to spiritual renewal Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
For years, Israel operated with restraint – responding, containing, managing. But over time, restraint was too often read as weakness. And when that happens, the calculus doesn’t just shift – it demands to be rewritten. [Rabbi Jason Nevarez]
Israel’s changed paradigm Read More »
Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Roni Breite spotted this one in Fallbrook. “Ruach” is the Hebrew word for spirit. “LV” is anyone’s guess. The driver’s initials? Las Vegas? Love?
We have strong reason to be concerned about Israel’s military response to Oct. 7. Thousands of civilians were killed in bombing in large part because Hamas built its operations where the people of Gaza live, attend school and receive medical care, so civilian deaths were all but guaranteed. However, it very much appears that Israel went way too far with its attacks, and in the current war American planes killed an estimated 160 schoolgirls, presumably by mistake. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Blame for civilian deaths shared by all belligerents in Middle East war Read More »
Bruce Ticker, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The board of Shaarei Tfiloh begged Dad to allow the synagogue to move uptown, but Dad said it was wrong; it was immoral and disrespectful. By the early 1960s, after many Jews fled to the suburbs, there were only about 500 congregants on the High Holidays, down from 1500. Dad’s salary was severely reduced, but he still refused to move. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
My Dad, Nathan Drazin, was a Hero Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
It’s that time of year again with the many Yom observances. Jewish Federation of San Diego has a few coming up that are always meaningful. [Cailin Acosta]
‘Tis the time of the Yoms Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
A small square sticker had been placed in the center of the box: “ZIONISM IS FACISM.”
My mind started to spin, my arms moved in slow motion as I tapped my card and walked out of the store. After sitting outside for a few minutes, I went back in, still holding the box, now damp from my tears. I found the manager, a young woman wearing a large gold cross around her neck. I didn’t know exactly what to say, so I just showed her. She gasped and was immediately apologetic …” [Karen Klein]
Anti-Israel protester stickered matzah box at grocery store Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
Is it possible for a sandwich to be “sinus and soul clearing”? The meal in question, a gefilte fish bagel sandwich from Pacific Beach’s Mission Bagel, earned that high praise at BagelFest West as one of the standouts at the Los Angeles competition to crown the best bagel makers “west of the Rockies.” [Noah Perkins]
Pacific Beach has ‘rising star’ in Mission Bagel – an award-winning sandwich too Read More »
Business & Finance, California, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
Otherwise Known as Judy the Great: A Poetic Ode to Judy Blume by Selina Alko; New York: Christy Ottaviano Books, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company; © 2026; ISBN 9780316-570633; 42 pages; $18.99. By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego Children’s author Judy Blume (née Sussman) was born in 1938 and through her 7th
Childhood of Judy Blume reimagined in poetry Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors
There are two fighters in the ring. One is bound to follow all the rules of boxing. For the other, there are no rules: he hits below the belt, uses his head, and when his opponent is down, he tries to finish him off with his feet. The referee pretends not to notice. [Yakov Nayerman]
Israel, Ukraine follow the rules in their respective wars Read More »
Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Yakov Nayerman
Maimonides composed his landmark philosophical work, The Guide for the Perplexed (Moreh Nevukhim in Hebrew), in Judeo-Arabic, written in Fustat (Old Cairo), Egypt. The treatise aimed to reconcile Jewish theology with Aristotelian philosophy and was addressed to his student, Rabbi Joseph ben Judah of Ceuta. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
An excellent book about Maimonides Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
I was not born carrying hatred; it was placed gently in my hands, like an heirloom no one thinks to question. As a child in Morocco, I inherited stories about Jews long before I ever met one. They were shadows in conversations, warnings disguised as wisdom, conclusions handed to me without evidence. I accepted them the way a child accepts the horizon, distant, unquestioned, and always there. [Mustapha Ezzarghani]
I’ve seen this before: When old hatreds find new voices Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Troy and Rose tell the story of how they met and the audience gives Rose a big spontaneous round of applause after Troy says that he told her when they first met that he wasn’t the marrying kind, and she responded that she told him if he wasn’t the marrying kind, he better step out of the way so he doesn’t block the view for the man that is the marrying kind. [Sandi Masori]
August Wilson’s ‘Fences’: A tear-jerking masterpiece Read More »
Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
“Let not the believers take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Whoever does so will have no relationship with Allah – unless you take precautions against them”. (Quran 3:28; 2:173; 2:185; 4:29; 22:78; 40:28.) [Alex Gordon]
Shiite Islam practices taqiyya (deception) when dealing with non-believers Read More »
Alex Gordon, Israel, Lifestyles, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA