Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Political Briefing: Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025

ZAKA’s CEO, Dubi Weissenstern, commented “Tonight is more than a milestone; it is a living testament to the holy work our volunteers do every day.  Our teams run toward pain so others can find comfort. They bring dignity and light where there is chaos and loss. Our concert honor their courage and the supporters who make it possible.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Political Briefing: Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025

The Defense Department’s probe into Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) for making a video with five other members of Congress reminding military and intelligence employees it’s their duty to refuse illegal orders drew a rebuke from Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York). He said President Trump was “attempting to use the Pentagon as his personal attack dog.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

California Adventures Celebrates Chanukah with Tchotchkes, Clothing and Food

From November through January, California Adventures transforms into a full-blown celebration of the winter holidays. Not just Christmas, but Diwali, Chanukah, and Navidad as well. The Festival of Holidays brings live performances, specialty food booths, and seasonal drinks. Guests can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass to sample a variety of offerings or buy items à la carte. [Cailin Acosta]

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Business & Finance, Cailin Acosta, California, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Kosher Beer

Many national, regional, and local craft beers will no longer be acceptable after January 1, including Sierra Nevada and Dos Equis. What is one of the ingredients that is occasionally added to some craft beers that would render the drink unkosher if not certified? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA, Wikipedia

Did Jewry Abandon the Fight for Racial Justice?

Dollinger challenges the standard narrative that Jews were simply “kicked out” of the Civil Rights movement by radical Black activists. Instead, he argues that Jews actively made choices to prioritize their own newfound status and ethnic identity over the continued struggle for racial justice. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: The Islamization of Europe

Under the guise of fighting Israeli “colonization” and “genocide,” crowds of pro-Palestinian ‘colonizers’ of Europe, in parallel with proclaiming the destruction of Israel “from the river to the sea, we will liberate Palestine,” are seeking to drive European Jews out of European countries. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Disneyland Pays Tribute to Jewish Composers of ‘It’s a Small World (After All)”

In 1960, Walt Disney hired them to create scores at the Walt Disney Studios. They created the song “It’s a Small World (After All)” for the New York World’s Fair and has become one of the most performed songs of all time. {Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, California, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Political Briefing: Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, assisted by a delegation that included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and the President’s son-in-law Jared Kushner along with Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, said Sunday that progress had been made in negotiations with Ukraine and its European allies on revising President Trump’s 28-point pro-Russian peace plan. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Rosenwald School Marker Dedicated in Natchez, Mississippi

Bobby Dennis is the Executive Director of the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture. A year and a half ago, I reached out to him about placing a historical interpretive marker in Adams County, Mississippi, to interpret, remember, and honor the struggle for Black American educational opportunity and the Rosenwald Schools in Adams. [Jerry Klinger]

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Jerry Klinger, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

The Misunderstood Origin of Chanukah

1 Maccabees is more chronological and focuses on the military fight and initial victory. In contrast, 2 Maccabees addresses the religious aspects. It focuses on martyrdom, divine intervention, and the purification of the temple. Both show that there was more than a fight against the Seleucid Empire. It was also a Civil War—Jews against Jews, Cains against Abels. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors