San Diego County

Lawrence Family JCC Prepares for 2022 JCC Maccabi Games

The leadership of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS is pleased to announce that 2022 will mark the return of the JCC Maccabi Games® after a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. We couldn’t be more excited that in exactly one year from today, the Games will begin. Additionally, we are thrilled to be the pilot site for JCC Maccabi Access – giving Jewish teens with cognitive and developmental disabilities a meaningful and integrated JCC Maccabi experience. The 2022 JCC Maccabi Games® and Access, the largest organized Jewish teen sports experience in North America, will be hosted in San Diego from July 31 to August 5, 2022. [Lawrence Family JCC]

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San Diego County, Sports & Competitions

Ramona’s Rescue, Rehab, and Release Program for Wild Animals

Upon arriving at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, I was greeted by a spitting image of Steve Irwin, the late Australian crocodile hunter.  Andy Blue, the campus director, showed me to his office where we discussed both the history of the center and his career.  His small dog Tug scurried around the room and gave me a scrutinizing sniff before granting his approval with a tail wag.  On the wall behind Andy was a painting of Tug dressed in a Napoleon war suit.  I could tell I was in for a fascinating time! [Teresa Konopka]

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San Diego County, Teresa_Konopka, The World We Share

‘Self and Sound’ Theme for La Jolla Music Society’s Summer Programs

Exploring the theme, Self and Sound, this year’s Summerfest once again bears the stamp of the creative vision of Inon Barnatan, the music director of the La Jolla Music Society.   The concert pianist/head organizer has put together a 16-concert festival, with many ancillary free events, that promises to be pleasurable and challenging for its listeners. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Frankenthaler Foundation Aids Timken Art Gallery’s Environmental Upgrade

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, named for the late Jewish abstract expressionist artist, has granted $100,000 to the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park to upgrade its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system as part of the Foundation’s $5.1 million program to address climate change in behalf of the visual arts. [Timken Art Museum news release]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Is JFest’s Programming Really ‘Jewish’?

This year’s JFest had many unusual highlights. Some events seemed more fitting than others to be part of a Jewish Arts Festival. Although I savored the Hershey Felder offering, Nicholas, Anna, and Sergei –I love Rachmaninoff’s music–( reviewed in the May 19th San Diego Jewish World), I did not understand its place in a Jewish Festival, given that the subjects were all authentic or pretending Russian aristocrats, the class that often helped perpetrate pogroms. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Epsteins to Donate $10 Million for Amphitheater at UC San Diego

Daniel and Phyllis Epstein have committed to provide a $10 million gift to the University of California San Diego in support of a new state-of-the-art amphitheater, signaling a major step in the university’s plan to become a top cultural destination. In recognition of the gift, the 2,850-seat venue will be named the Epstein Family Amphitheater. [UC San Diego news release]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Shana Hazan, 4th Generation Jewish Community Leader, Runs for School Board

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Shana Hazan, Sen. President pro Tem Toni Atkins’ appointment to the First 5 California Commission, former public school teacher, and parent of a San Diego Unified School District student, formally kicked off her campaign today for the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education, District B. The district encompasses Canyon Hills

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San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Judeo-Christian Unity Praised at ‘We Are Israel’ Rally

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised Judeo-Christian values Sunday at a “We Are Israel” rally that drew at least 1,000 supporters and more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters.  The event also attracted a handful of members of fringe groups who tussled with each other, one described as part of the antifa movement; two others  as  right-wing, self-described “patriot” organizations.  At some point, someone sprayed pepper spray, prompting the pro-Palestinian demonstrators to turn back their march.  [Compiled from news sources]

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Middle East, San Diego County, USA

UCSD Student Wins Award for ‘Courage and Leadership’ on Israel Education, Antisemitism

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — University of California, San Diego (UCSD) student Sivan Barashy, a 2020-21 StandWithUs (SWU) Emerson Fellow, has been named the first-place winner of the prestigious Roberta Seid Award for Courage and Leadership. The award is named in honor of SWU’s first Director of Research and Education Dr. Roberta Seid. Sivan is

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San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Chula Vistan Named Maccabi USA’s Head Coach for Girls’ Softball

CHULA VISTA, California  (Press Release) — Michael Gross has been named Head Coach of the Team USA Girls Under 18 Softball Team at the Maccabiah Games in Israel – which will take place during July 2022. The Maccabiah Games, also known as the Jewish Olympics, are the third largest international multi-sport event in the world!

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Middle East, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, USA

Plea Deal Will Keep Chabad of Poway Shooter Behind Bars for Life

ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) San Diego Regional Office welcomed Tuesday’s announcement by San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan that they have reached a plea deal with the accused Poway Chabad synagogue shooter, which will see the suspect spend the rest of his life behind bars. [Anti-Defamation League news release]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA