Its daily rhythm offers 49 opportunities to pause, reflect, and notice the sacred within ordinary life. It doesn’t require deep knowledge, only intention and curiosity. [Betzy Lynch]
Counting the Omer: a menu of meditations Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors
As leaders committed to protecting the safety and dignity of the Black and Jewish communities in San Diego, we have been in constant conversation about the troubling rise of antisemitism and racism over the past three years. [Fabienne Perlov & Al Abdallah]
Black and Jewish communities must work together to combat hate Read More »
Antisemitism, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
One, Two … forty-nine. Counting the Omer. Last night, we began the first day of counting the Omer. This leads up to the night before Shavuot, when the Jewish people received the Torah and celebrated freedom from Egypt. I have an app that I download every year, which reminds me to say the blessing, so I don’t miss a day. [Cailin Acosta]
Seven weeks of counting starts now Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
Instead, Bruno notices his friend Julie and his younger sister Martha carrying a baby in a basket. Curious, he follows them rather than boarding the train. Earlier that morning, the baby had been left on the steps of the Belle Beach Library during the dedication of the new children’s library. [Cailin Acosta]
A mystery at Belle Beach Library Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Linda Moskovics is a retired former head librarian at the Benjamin branch of the San Diego City Library system. She has now written a children’s book, for ages 4-14, inveighing against “too much screen time [that] can quietly steal joy, focus, sleep, and connection. It can increase anxiety, harm social skills, impact brain development and crowd out important life experiences.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Children’s lives enriched by screen time alternatives Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USAThe Seder plate and its meanings: Typically, the Seder plate contains six symbolic items that represent the Passover story.
Meaning of the foods on the seder plate Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
In the face of threats from Iran and its proxies, and the worldwide scourge of antisemitism, the resilience of the Jewish people continues to show itself in ways both big and small. It is in how we support one another, how we show up, and how we hold on to hope. [Mark Levenson]
Keeping the faith, performing acts of kindness, in the face of antisemitism Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Passover reminds us that freedom is not only about leaving Egypt. It is about refusing to accept a world in which dehumanization becomes routine. It is about recognizing that what is tolerated today can become something far more dangerous tomorrow. [Rabbi Jason Nevarez]
Passover brings with it the necessity of fighting antisemitism Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish Religion, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Rabbi Amnon Bazak’s second volume on the biblical book of Samuel is superb, far better than the many classical commentators he frequently mentions. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Bazak keeps to literal interpretation of Torah in II Samuel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Which country is the staunchest ally of the US? Is it Britain, Canada, or Australia? No, it’s Israel! [Steve Kramer]
U.S. has its reasons for opposing Iranian hegemony in Middle East Read More »
International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer, USA
Passover reminds us freedom does not come easily. It’s something we move toward—through purpose, through connection, and through the belief that change is still possible, even when the path forward isn’t clear. [Dana Toppel]
Passover: A time for meaning and Jewish connection Read More »
Jewish Religion, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
However, after spending time at Heather Marianna’s pre-Oscar’s celebrity gifting suite, “A Toast to Hollywood,” I came away with the sense that the event is also very much about connection, strategy, and giving brands a shot at being seen in a crowded world. [Sandi Masori]
Hollywood celebrity gifting suite is about more than just swag Read More »
Business & Finance, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
The youngest guest is 75. Since I’m only 8, I’m expecting to be asked to bark the Four Questions. Since I want to make them relevant to my canine buddies, I’ll not only bark the questions but also comment on them. [Elona Baron as barked to Laurie Baron]
The meaning of the four questions to a dog Read More »
animals, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & SatirePassover calls us not only to remember the Exodus, but to see ourselves within it, and to imagine what redemption can look like in our own time. [Rabbi Jason Nevarez]
More suggested questions for discussion at your seders Read More »
Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors