San Diego County

Heidi Gantwerk to participate in national hookup about Mideast War

Jewish Federation of San Diego President & CEO Heidi Gantwerk has been invited by Jewish Federations of North America to be featured in a special national briefing tomorrow morning, March 12, on the conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. [Press Release]

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Heidi Gantwerk, International, Israel, Middle East, Press Release, San Diego County, USA

SD Jewish Academy to serve as base camp for Swiss national soccer team

The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams with matches June 11 to July 19, 2026. Competing in its 13th World Cup, Switzerland will be based in San Diego and will play in the group stage against Qatar in Santa Clara on June 13, a UEFA playoff winner in Los Angeles on June 18, and against co-host nation Canada in Vancouver. [Press Release]

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International, Press Release, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, USA

Shakespeare, Hasidic sage Zusya, shared belief in unique purpose of each human being

Shakespeare and Rabbi Zusya lived more than a century apart and in very different worlds, yet together they illuminate a deeply Jewish idea: tafkid, the belief that each soul enters the world with a particular purpose. [Betzy Lynch]

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

Federation mission to India ‘refreshing’ and broadening

For two weeks, we were transported into a place more “foreign” than anywhere else I have visited, yet every encounter was positive, welcoming, and gracious. Through our modern Western lens, we kept asking about antisemitism, historically or today. It simply isn’t there, and I cannot express how refreshing that was to hear. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Antisemitism, Heidi Gantwerk, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Daylight Savings Time comes this Sunday morning

Daylight Saving Time is upon us. I don’t mind when we “fall back” in the Fall since we get more sleep. When we “spring forward” in the Spring, it cuts out an hour of sleep, which can be devastating to teenagers who enjoy sleeping in. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Rabbi Dr. Andrea Weiss, former Provost of HUC, dies at 60

Rabbi Dr. Andrea Weiss passed away on March 3, 2026—the day of Purim—at her home in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, following a year-long battle with cancer. Her passing on a holiday defined by courage and the “reversal of fate” mirrors her own life’s work of transforming the rabbinate. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Thought on the preservation of memory

Recently, I discovered that my name appeared among more than 885,279 selected entries in Grokipedia, Elon Musk’s AI generated encyclopedia competing with Wikipedia. The message came from a machine-scale archive. The number struck me. [Jacqueline Semha Gmach]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The Arts

A serious interview about the National Comedy Theatre in San Diego

Since they started in October 1999, they have performed over 7000 shows in that theater at 3717 India Street. A regular cast member stays with the show for an average of 12 years, so they must be doing something right.  [Sandi Masori]

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San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire

A full schedule of events

Jewish Federation of San Diego invites the community to join Jewish Federations of North America for its webinar “Briefing: Israel and the United States at War with Iran” at noon, Wednesday, March 4. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, California, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

‘Somewhere Over the Border’ is an immigrant’s Wizard of Oz story

Delightful! Adorable! Ear-wormy! Those are the first thoughts that come to mind when I think about Cygnet’s new musical Somewhere Over the Border.  The world premiere written by Brian Quijada and directed by Carlos Mendoza is very loosely based on The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum. [Sandi Masori]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jewish Federation urges ‘situational awareness’ at Purim events

While there is no local threat, global events can have ripple effects. As Purim celebrations and other gatherings approach, we encourage you to participate fully, and to practice heightened situational awareness and adherence to all security protocols. [Press Release)

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Press Release, San Diego County, USA