Staff and Bylined Contributors

JNF San Diego Luncheon Hears of War in Gaza, Reconstruction in Southern Israel

“If they impose a ceasefire on us, guess what, Hamas wins!” he said. “Hamas gets away with mass murder. Those 200,000 Israelis (who have been relocated from towns and communities near the Lebanese and Gaza borders) will not be able to come back to their homes. Our enemies in the region will internalize that they can hit us with impunity and…we will not be able to strike back because we will be slapped with a ceasefire.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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

OpEd: House Republicans Stunned by Suozzi’s Victory in Long Island

Suozzi’s victory inspired confidence that Democrats can prevail next Nov. 5 in the presidential and congressional elections, and Fitzpatrick’s legislation appears to be a sign that many Republicans feel so vulnerable that they are terrified. Most of Fitzpatrick’s seven co-sponsors, like himself, represent swing districts. Fitzpatrick’s district, mostly Bucks County, borders Northeast Philadelphia, which is one mile north of my residence. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Parshat Tetzaveh: The Symbolic Importance of Pure Olive Oil

What is the Torah trying to teach us with this mandate to use the best oil for lighting the Menorah, whereas for the meal-offerings, the Menachot, we are only required to use this secondary oil? (Interestingly, it is noteworthy that the norm is for us to use our best oil for cooking and meal prep, but for lamp fuel, we are ok using subpar oil as long as it lights well – just the opposite!) [Rabbi Daniel Reich]

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Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

The Matzo Chronicles: Northern Lights, Familial Sights

I knew that even if we didn’t see the lights, I won’t be “too” disappointed. The truth is I had already seen them years ago — through my father’s eyes and words, written eight decades before  in magnificent wonder to my mother from blistering cold southeastern Newfoundland. [Karen Galatz]

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Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Maurycy Gottlieb

His painting “Shylock and Jessica” won the Gold Medal at the Munich Academy. Later, he returned to Vienna to study under Heinrich von Angeli, and produced paintings on biblical themes. Meeting in Rome, Matejko urged him to return to Krakow to work on a series of monumental paintings including scenes depicting the history of the Jews in Poland. [SDJW staff]

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International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday

Schiff, Garvey Prove to Be the Pro-Israel Candidates in California’s Race for U.S. Senate

Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff and Republican candidate Steve Garvey proved themselves the most pro-Israel candidates of the four who debated on NBC and Telemundo television stations Tuesday evening, Feb. 20.  Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee was the most pro-Palestinian, and Democratic Rep. Katie Porter occupied middle ground. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Chapatti’ at Scripps Ranch Theatre Reaches into Lonely Human Hearts

The dialogue is honest and self-reflective. Dan’s hopelessness has him questioning the value of life without another’s recognition or memory.  For Betty, after a loveless marriage, the middle-aged woman wants to be loved and valued. Both characters know the love and companionship of their respective dog and cats, but each longs for a human’s affection to give them validation and meaning.  [Eva Trieger]

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

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Rep. Sara Jacobs Calls for Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza

“…Months of dropping tens of thousands of bombs, munitions, and shells on Gaza have failed to eliminate Hamas – and a ground invasion in a densely packed city would lead to even more civilian casualties, worsen Israel’s reputation on the world stage, and fail to make Israel any safer.” [SDJW Staff Report]

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Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Rashi: Marvelous but Irrational

Rashi’s commentaries are not original ideas. He drew fascinating stories from Midrashim and placed them into his commentary. Midrashim are books that collected fanciful, engaging stories written as parables and teaching aids − enjoyable and sometimes even exciting accounts − that, for the most part, were not originally intended to be understood as true history, or the true meaning of scriptural passages. However, Rashi and others, such as Nachmanides in the thirteenth century, took these tales as facts and used them to explain the Bible. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

California Legislators Visit Sites of Oct. 7 Massacre

Throughout the trip – a collaboration of JPAC, JCRC Bay Area, and Jewish Federation LA – lawmakers witnessed firsthand the consequences of the horrific atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th and their lasting effect on Israeli civil society. We visited impacted communities on the Gaza border and the surrounding areas, cried with families of hostages, and met with Israeli government officials, including President Isaac Herzog.  [David Bocarsly]

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California, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Israeli Composer Forwards ‘Jewish Tunes from Haifa’

I completed a fantasy piece about the songs of the Jewish people a few days before their tragedy broke on the day of their great and joyous holiday, the Joy of Torah. I titled the piece I Hear a Scream. On the “Black Sabbath” of October 7, I heard the screams of Jews, victims of a pogrom that happened where there could have been no pogrom – in the territory of the Jewish state. [Boris Levenberg]

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Alex Gordon, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Permanent Plaque Will Honor Howard Wayne at Hall of Justice

The San Diego County Bar Foundation has notified Mary Lundberg that her late husband, former California Assemblyman Howard Wayne (D-San Diego) will be memorialized with a permanent plaque bearing his likeness in the Hall of Justice of the San Diego Superior Court. [SDJW staff]

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California, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA