Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘Eight’ on the cusp of becoming a new winter holiday tradition?

This holiday season, right here in San Diego, families will finally be able to go to the theatre and see a joyful, original musical that celebrates Hanukkah — our traditions, our music, our food, our families, our history and, most importantly, our community. [Becky Cherlin Baird]

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Jewish Fiction, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

The globalization of antisemitism

On October 7, 2023, in the Western world—where reason and moderation in the form of liberal democracy were supposed to prevail—a wave of aggressive protests against Jews erupted: the ideology of tolerance, acceptance of “the other,” and world peace has vanished, replaced by a primitive antisemitic ideology all too familiar in the history of the people of Israel. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Montreal Symphony’s performance in San Diego: Simply brilliant!

The Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, one of the world’s great orchestras and currently sharing its music director, Raphael Payare, with our San Diego Symphony Orchestra, performed brilliantly in their concert October 29 at Jacobs Music Center. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Satire: 5 signs a politician is pandering to Jewish voters

We are getting dangerously close to the November midterm elections, and politicians are coming out in droves to get your vote. But how can you tell the difference between a normal campaign lie and one pandering to Jewish voters? Luckily, America’s Rebbitzman is here to help you see the signs and stop the madness. (Joshua Kail)

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Zionist professionals teach others to become forward-looking professionals

Our purpose cannot be limited to creating meaningful experiences or strengthening our own institution. We must also foster the relationships, confidence, and sense of shared responsibility that enable people to shape Jewish life for themselves and others. (Betzy Lynch)

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California, Israel, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Should Jews celebrate Halloween?

Given its non-Jewish origins, many Jews question whether celebrating Halloween conflicts with Jewish law. Leviticus 18:3 cautions against adopting the customs of other nations, and some rabbinic authorities argue that Halloween’s pagan associations make participation inappropriate. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Firebomber of pro-Israel rally pleads guilty in federal court

With his guilty plea, he admitted to these hate crimes that intentionally targeted victims based on their religion or national origin. In addition to his prior state court sentence of life without parole plus over 2,100 years in prison, he will be sentenced on these federal charges in January 2027. (Jonathan Lev and David Paul]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Israel should permit voting by mail for expatriates

More than a half-million expats are believed to live in America, a great many of them residing in New York and California. Both states have grown more liberal and Democratic in recent decades. If Israeli expats could vote by absentee ballot, wanna bet how that would have affected Tuesday’s election? [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, California, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

The right to be a refugee

My parents were orthodox Jews and adhered to the set of ancient laws and customs that characterize Jews all over the world. Such precepts as ‘thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal’ and ‘thou shalt not bear false witness,’ which also form the basis of Western society, came naturally to them, along with ‘love thy neighbor as thyself.’ This mindset and general attitude fitted in well with the wider non-Jewish society that was England at that time, namely, during and after the Second World War. (Dorothea Shefer-Vanson)

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Parsha Vayeira: Becoming more fully human

It is easy to become so absorbed in our own responsibilities that we overlook opportunities to help others. Do we make time for someone who is lonely? Listen patiently to a struggling friend? Offer help without waiting to be asked? Abraham reminds us that a meaningful life is measured not only by what we accomplish for ourselves, but also by the care we bring into the lives of others. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors