Opinion

Paul Avgerinos and the Gentle Art of Remembering: Listening for the Still, Small Sound

There is a Hasidic teaching that every soul enters the world carrying its own melody, and the task of life is not to invent it, but to remember it. When Averginos speaks of music arriving beyond his conscious knowledge, of harmonies flowing through him that exceeded his formal training, he is describing this remembrance. The self does not lead. It relaxes. And something greater moves through. [Michael Adam Cohen]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Adam Cohen, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Pop Up Bagels: A New Pop Sensation Comes to San Diego

A girl was standing at the one table in the place and ripping a piece off of her bagel and dipping it into the shmear.  What a strange way to eat a bagel I thought.  But once we got inside, I understood, their instructions on how to eat the bagel are to “grip, rip, and dip.” [Sandi Masori]

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Opinion, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Book Traces History and Humor of Jews and Christmas

Many Jewish fathers and mothers take their children to sit on Santa Claus’s lap—just like the author Rabbi Joshua Eli Plaut did, when he was only seven years old. I laughed at the picture because I remember my father, Leo Israel Samuel—a Holocaust survivor from Auschwitz—did the same for me when I was about the same age [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: What If a Film is Made about the Voice of Matilda?

In an opinion piece headlined “The Movie I Was Afraid To See,” Gessen recalls his experience of watching the film The Voice of Hind Rajab, which chronicles the frantic efforts of rescue-center workers at their office in Ramallah to obtain clearance for an ambulance in Gaza to pick up Hind for an eight-minute drive. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jews who Embraced Communism Often Sought to Fit in a Non-Jewish World

I’m used to Soviet Jewish communists who were secret enemies of the Soviet regime. But in P. A., I met a true supporter of communism. A little earlier, I had already listened to speeches by some of my French communist colleagues at the institute where I worked. Their words reminded me of articles from the Soviet newspaper Pravda (truth). P. A. turned out to be a harsh critic of France. [Alex Gordon, Ph.D.]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

OpEd: Lighting Candles While the World Burns

In Australia, a place many of us instinctively associate with openness and safety, violence shattered that illusion. Another attack. Another reminder that antisemitism is not a relic of history but a living, mutating force, one that resurfaces whenever fear is rewarded and lies go unchallenged. [Shahar Masori]

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International, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: The Light We Build Ourselves

[O]ver half of American Jews report feeling worried about their personal safety. Perhaps most chilling: 14 percent have developed plans to flee the country if antisemitism continues to worsen. The incidents pile up. The data paints the picture. The isolation intensifies. And unfortunately, Jewish history means this moment feels both urgent and familiar. [Jonathan Greenblatt]

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Antisemitism, International, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

The Symbolism and Challenges of the Eight Candles of Hanukkah

Did you know that Hanukkah candles are not intended to be used for practical benefit? Jewish tradition suggests that their light exists solely for pirsumei nisa, publicizing the miracle. For this reason, we have been taught that we do not read, work, or otherwise make use of their light. Meditation, however, is permitted when it is understood not as using the light, but as witnessing it. Sitting near the candles in quiet reflection, gratitude, or spiritual awareness allows us to honor the miracle without appropriating the light for our own needs. We do not take from the flame; we allow it to remind us of faith, resilience, and sacred presence. (Betzy Lynch)

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

OpEd: Some Immigrants are More Qualified than Trump for U.S. Citizenship

The Trump Administration has halted naturalization ceremonies for people from 19 countries it deems “high risk.” Given that those affected have been vetted and have met the qualifications for citizenship, there can only be one reason why the President Trump has decided to take this step: he realizes that they are more qualified than he is to be an American citizen. [Laurie Baron]

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International, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: Anti-Israel Protesters Resort to Petty Tactics

bout 20 mezuzahs were snatched from the doorways of Jewish apartment tenants this past Sunday in the North York section of Toronto, where a large Jewish community lives, according to reports from The Times of Israel and Canada’s National Post. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Political Briefing: Saturday Evening, Dec. 6, 2025

More than 200 cultural and public figures have signed a petition urging Israel to release convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti from prison.  Among Jews signing the petition are singer Paul Simon and journalist Peter Beinart. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

When Memory Becomes Action

Moshe teaches us that greatness doesn’t come from good intentions alone- it comes from turning compassion into concrete action. A true leader, and a true member of Klal Yisrael, is someone who shows up, who takes responsibility and asks: “What can I do to help?” Every one of us has daily opportunities to be a “do-er”- to step in, support others, and make a difference. Even small actions, when done with sincerity and courage, can have an everlasting effect. [Ilanit Zakowski]

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California, Ilanit Zakowski, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA