Science, Medicine, & Education

Israel-Diaspora Jewish Unity Showcased with SDJA’s Hosting Sha’ar Hanegev Teens

The past two weeks have been a testament to the spirit of k’lal yisrael that is so powerfully realized here in San Diego, and to the boundless generosity and warmth of our own Jewish community. San Diego had the privilege of hosting 130 courageous teens from Sha’ar HaNegev along with 20 staff members, providing them all with much-needed respite and a home away from home. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Jonathan Sacks

From Sept 1991 through September 2013, he served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. In 1995, he won the Jerusalem Prize for his contribution to diaspora Jewish life. In 2005 he was dubbed a Knight Bachelor for his work in interfaith relations. In 2009, the House of Lords announced that Sacks was recommended for life peerage with a seat in the House of Lords. He took the title of Baron Sacks. He was also the recipient of an honorary doctorate of divinity conferred by the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, to mark his first ten years as Chief Rabbi. [SDJW staff]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday

Counter-Protester Seeks to Press Charges against Assailant at UCSD’s Anti-Israel March

The incident occurred a few hours before the Associated Students adopted a resolution calling upon UC San Diego to divest from companies doing business with Israel – a demand promptly rejected by UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

SDJA Students Bid Emotional Farewell to Peers from Sha’ar Hanegev

“It was the most amazing experience to meet new people,” said Mia Kraus, a student from Kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel near the border with Gaza. “What the families gave us is just incredible. It took us away from the tragedy and pain of the past few months.” [Jacob Kamaras]

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

Large Pro-Palestinian Protest Mostly Peaceful at UC San Diego But Some Isolated Incidents Reported

An estimated crowd of between 800 and 1,000 people demonstrated peacefully Wednesday against Israel and the war in Gaza.  They were monitored by beefed-up security personnel of UC San Diego, students wearing green neon vests and some kaffiyehs, and the San Diego Police Department.  The demonstration was organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, which claimed it had assembled the largest protest crowd on campus ever. [SDJW staff]

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Our Shtetl San Diego County: Rep. Sara Jacobs Brings Home ‘The Pork’

U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) said Wednesday that “bringing home federal dollars to San Diego is one of my biggest responsibilities, so I’m incredibly proud that I secured $13.5 million for local projects across California’s 51st district—especially during such a politically fraught time in Congress.” [SDJW staff]

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Israel, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: UCSD Hillel Girds for Tomorrow’s Anti-Israel Demonstration on Campus

“We’ve been coordinating closely with campus security and administration, Hillel International, our Jewish Federation, ADL, AJC, SWU and other partners to ensure there are strong plans in place, including additional security officers on campus and effective strategies for students.” [SDJW staff]

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What Birds Do When Humans Leave the Vicinity

A new study from Tel Aviv University (TAU) found that when humans are suddenly absent from the urban environment, the activity of the crows and ringneck parakeets that “live” in the area significantly reduces. Conversely, graceful prinias, which are generally considered shy, increased their activity. [Press Release]

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Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share

University of Haifa, Salk Institute Researchers Find Parkinson’s Disease Linkage to Extracellular Matrix in the Brain

“In order to gain a deeper understanding of Parkinson’s disease and make progress in efforts to find a cure for the disease, we need to examine the changes that occur in the extracellular matrix. Until now, most of the studies concerning Parkinson’s have focused on the cells and on synaptic connections….”

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Israel, Press Release, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Charlene Seidle Becomes President and CEO of Leichtag Foundation

Farley said: “This step reflects the overall strategy of the Foundation as we plan for our future as a limited-life foundation and our phased transition to three independent successor organizations, two based in San Diego and one in Israel: Coastal Roots Farm; Impact Cubed, which will assume ownership of Leichtag Commons; and Jerusalem Philanthropy Initiatives.” [SDJW Staff]

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Israeli archaeologists find rare 1,900-year-old coin from Bar Kochba Revolt

Published by ANI News Tel Aviv [Israel], March 4 (ANI/TPS): Archaeologists unearthed a rare coin dating back to the time of the Bar Kochba Revolt against Rome in the Judean Desert, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Monday. The nearly 1,900-year-old coin was unearthed in the Metsoke Ha’Atakim Nature Reserve near the Dead Sea. It

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Israel, Jewish History, Nordot, Science, Medicine, & Education

UC San Diego Warns Personnel about Anti-Israel Demonstration Planned for Wednesday

“We are writing to inform you that a student organization has announced that a demonstration will take place on UC San Diego’s campus on Wednesday afternoon, March 6, near the areas of Sun God Lawn and Library Walk.” [UC San Diego advisory]

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Israel, Press Release, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Arthur Kornberg

From 1953 to 1959 he served as head of the microbiology department at Washington University in St. Louis, isolating the first DNA polymerizing enzyme, now known as DNA polymerase I, with the help of his biochemist wife Sylvy Ruth Levy, whom he had married in 1943. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1957, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1959. [SDJW staff]

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California, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Natalie Shapiro’s Tikkun Olam: Protecting Water Habitats

“In the 1970s, a weir – a small dam – was built across the mouth and at that time it was for flood control. But after a while the water quality got really bad because it trapped all the river runoff in the lagoon, rather than having tides come in and flushing it out. By virtue of being fresh water – because the weir blocked the salt of the ocean from coming in – it became a great place for cattails to flourish and take over. “[Donald H. Harrison]

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