May regret deepen into wisdom,
failure open us to humility,
and gratitude teach us to notice
the blessings already before us. … (Betzy Lynch)
Memories of Rosh Hashanah 5787 (secular year 2026) Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
We shared moments of joy and celebration. We learned together, moved together, laughed together, and showed up for one another. We gathered around Jewish culture, ideas, music, stories, holidays, and traditions. We watched children grow, friendships deepen, families connect, and people of every age find a place to belong. [Liz Nederlander Coden and Hannah Cohen]
Wonderful feelings of togetherness and learning at JCC Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Rav Nahman of Breslov taught: The whole world is a narrow bridge— and the essential thing is not to be afraid. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
High Holiday wisdom in poetry and prose Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Should you take a nap on Rosh Hashanah? It is a praiseworthy custom not to sleep during the day on Rosh Hashanah, as the day is considered the “New Year” and a time for spiritual preparation. The Talmud notes that if one sleeps at the beginning of the year, “his good fortune also sleeps.” [Cailin Acosta]
It’s a custom to refrain from napping on Rosh Hashanah Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
“…it is inexcusable
to write poetry
as though Auschwitz
never happened …” [Sam Ben-Meir]
Segal said that he has a team of 50+ data scientists and engineers online every day to detect and get ahead of attacks and minimize the impact of hatred. [Robin Dishman]
Educate against hate, urge Catholic priest and senior ADL staff member Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Many of the proposals, while intended to address the Jewish community’s concerns, would also help other groups. Muslim and Hindu families would also benefit from the two calendar proposals. AB 1763 would remove the parental written request and principal approval requirements for religious absences. AB 395 covers scheduling conflicts with holidays including Yom Kippur, Eid and Diwali. [Shor M. Masori]
Jewish California’s six-bill push reaches the governor Read More »
California, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors
This year, and I hope for the next 90, we want to work toward a San Diego where every Jewish person, and everyone connected to our community, can find a place where they feel seen, valued and heard, and where they can come together with others around a shared purpose. {Heidi Gantwerk]
To build our Jewish community, extend an invitation to a stranger Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The Hebrew word ruach can mean wind, spirit or breath. The class connected it to the biblical account of Hashem breathing a soul into humanity and to the uniquely human ability to communicate thoughts through speech. [Cailin Acosta]
Air represents ruach, or confidence, an element of teshuvah Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
In my own lifetime parts of Germany have been ceded to Poland and France as a result of wartime gains, and the borders of several countries in Eastern Europe have changed in accordance with military conquest. (Dorothea Shefer-Vanson)
It’s an insult calling Judea and Samaria the ‘occupied West Bank’ Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
TODAY the shofar
Shook me awake—
From somewhere afar—
With piercing sounds’ quake …. [Jeremy Friedman]
Poetry: Blast of shofar Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
” … teshuvah was never meant to stop at the synagogue door. Some of the most important returning we do is toward the person we married.” [Jené Verchick, Ph.D.]
Teshuvah also is owed to your spouse Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined ContributorsAnti-Defamation League of San Diego announces “Confronting Extremism: Oren Segal in Conversation with Father Brent Kruger” at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9, in Carmel Valley. [Cailin Acosta]
Jewish, Catholic perspectives on extremism to be aired Sept. 9 Read More »
Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
While most women would feel quite self-conscious posing for photos while scantily clad, Annie’s husband said, “The flowers of Yorkshire are like the women of Yorkshire. Every stage of their growth has its own beauty, but the last phase is always the most glorious.” This sentiment enabled the women to create their calendar shielded by skeins of yarn, cinnamon buns, bunches of grapes and other crafty items. [Eva Trieger]
Chutzpah, charm and ‘Calendar Girls’ Read More »
Eva Trieger, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast