San Diego County

Music Was The Flashlight: A Profile of Yale Strom

Strom is known in the modern Jewish world, and certainly around San Diego, for his accomplishments as a violinist, composer, filmmaker, writer, photographer, and playwright. He’s conducted significant research in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans among the Jewish and Roma communities, as well as toured with his klezmer band Hot Pstromi Trio. They compose their own New Jewish music combining klezmer with Chasidic nigunim, Roma, jazz, classical, Balkan and Sephardic motifs. [Danielle Levsky]

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Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Jewish Federation Women’s Philanthropy Leader to Receive National Award

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Jewish Federation of San Diego County leader Jessica Effress is being honored with the nationally recognized 2022 Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award for her extraordinary involvement in our local community. Jessica Effress has been an instrumental part of the San Diego Jewish Community since settling here with her husband and three children in 2005. She has participated in many

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San Diego County

One Poet Mourns Earth; Others Sing Songs of Immigration

The 14th season of Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices launched last Monday evening with an outstanding program that attracted 70 attendees on Zoom. It opened with poetry read by local psychologist and poet, Richard Alan Schere. A sample of his offerings, Echo, can be read below. It is a poem that should be on the desks of all politicians as they contemplate their actions regarding climate change. Other Schere poems showed a lighter side with a fine-tuned sense of humor. Schere has made recordings and his work is in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. We were fortunate to have such an accomplished poet open our series.  [Eileen Wingard]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego County

Mercury Baron: Our Last Cat (For Now)

Over the past 50 years, my wife Bonnie and I have shared our homes with six cats. The first was a beautiful seal point Siamese paradoxically named Whitey bequeathed to us by friends intent on stopping their baby from playing in her litter box.  In one of her former lives she must have been a dog. She fetched balled up pieces of paper, followed us around like a shadow, and emitted piercing yowls. Siamese are lookers, not singers! [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

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Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, San Diego County, The World We Share

Rep. Sara Jacobs Denounces Anti-Transgender Discrimination

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) spoke on the House floor Wednesday evening on Transgender Awareness Week. Her remarks stressed the persistent threats trans people face, the importance of fighting for trans equality, and the need to honor and uplift trans voices.  Congresswoman Jacobs’ remarks came as part of a Special Order program organized by the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus.  [Sara Jacobs Press Release]

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San Diego County, USA

Humoring the Hernia

While sitting and reading a book about three weeks ago, I felt a sharp pain in my lower abdomen and looked down to see a golf ball size bulge protruding out of it.  Since I had a hernia 25 years ago, I immediately thought it had recurred, though my cinematic imagination made me fear it was the larval form of the creature from Alien beginning to erupt through my skin and scamper around my house.  My quandary was whether to go to urgent care or contact Segourney Weaver. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

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Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Trivia, Humor & Satire

‘She The People’ Comedy Heads West to San Diego

This cutting-edge comedy has been delighting audiences in Toronto, Boston, Washington DC, and Chicago over the past three years, and now the Lyceum will host this group of world-famous comedic stars.  The Washington Post described this show as a “funny, fiercely political comedy-sketch show.” This script is written and performed by an all-female troupe and pokes fun at the female experience, attendant stereotypes, and common experiences. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Psychologist Advocates for Recognition of The Ghost Army

Bert Edelstein elevated his hand one foot above the table at which he was sitting.  “My correspondence file is almost this thick,” he commented. He sent letters to the House of Representatives and the Senate.  After the House adopted legislation to recognize the Ghost Army with a Congressional Gold Medal, the focus turned to the U.S. Senate.  Under the rules, for the measure even to be considered in committee, it must have at least 67 co-sponsors — two-thirds of the full Senate.  The count is getting closer and closer. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA

Five Imaginative Teenagers Win Young Playwrights Honors

While so many dreams were dashed in this crazy pandemic period, Playwrights Project refused to succumb to any hurdles. The 37th consecutive annual California Young Playwrights Contest was held, and held vigorously, with great response! The actual in-person celebration won’t occur until January 22, 2022, but the cat was let out of the bag to a select few (ahem! this reviewer) last Saturday night.  And quite an evening it was. I was made privy to the top five young writers, aged 13-17. I have covered this competition in the past, and I am never left with a sensation anything short of amazed and humbled. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jewish Veterans Swap Favorite Stories of Military Times

After raising the flag and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, military veterans at  Tifereth Israel Synagogue on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, shared some of the happier stories about their time in the military or just afterwards. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA