San Diego County

New Kosher Bakery in La Jolla Offers an Authentic Taste of France

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — “Why don’t we have kosher restaurants?!?!?” That’s the desperate plea — often reaching a primal scream — issued by San Diegans who strictly observe kosher dietary laws. For those consumers, the recent opening of Parisien Gourmandises at 7643 Girard Avenue in La Jolla is certainly a reason to

New Kosher Bakery in La Jolla Offers an Authentic Taste of France Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County

‘Artists for Good’ Donate Works to Aid Non-Profits

What if immersing yourself in art could create ripples that would beautify someone else’s world?  Imagine simply indulging your inner aesthete and at the same time providing aid and support to a worthy charity. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of local artist, Tanya Abel, you can do just that. [Eva Trieger]

‘Artists for Good’ Donate Works to Aid Non-Profits Read More »

Eva Trieger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Memorial Service for Former Federation CEO Michael Jeser to be Held August 26

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Heidi Gantwerk, Interim President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, and Jack Maizel, Board Chair of the Federation, today issued the following announcement regarding an upcoming memorial service for former Federation CEO Michael Jeser, who died July 24: Friends, In observance of the conclusion of Sheloshim

Memorial Service for Former Federation CEO Michael Jeser to be Held August 26 Read More »

Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County

‘Word Up’ Brings People Together

Let those who are hungry for live performance come and dine at the table of Word Up! These events are part improvised performance, part workshop and part conversation. They are held periodically at the Copley Plaza at the Old Globe in Balboa Park. Feeling homesick and needing to tie up some loose ends, I made aliyah back to my favorite city from Cincinnati and was fortunate enough to catch one performance last Friday. [Eric George Tauber]

‘Word Up’ Brings People Together Read More »

Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Neurotypical and neurodiverse performers team in ‘Stellaluna’

In 1993, Janell Cannon published a children’s book, Stellaluna, about a baby fruit bat who was inadvertently separated from her mother, and subsequently raised by birds. Stellaluna adapted to her new environs, but through happenstance, found herself back with her natal family,  and was overjoyed to learn that her ineptitude as a bird isn’t cause for disappointment or frustration. The young fruit bat gains an understanding that she is unique and can adapt to new situations while retaining her own true identity. It is with this in mind that two brilliant and compassionate teachers created a neurodiverse theater group at New Village Arts.  [Eva Trieger]

Neurotypical and neurodiverse performers team in ‘Stellaluna’ Read More »

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

JFS Names Shreya Sasaki as Family and Community Services Director

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) has appointed Shreya Sasaki as its new senior director of family and community services to oversee a breadth of JFS initiatives, including refugee resettlement, positive parenting training and other JFS programs that strengthen families. Sasaki will integrate her background in public health with the nonprofit’s social service programs, aiming to improve community health and client outcomes. [Jewish Family Service news release]

JFS Names Shreya Sasaki as Family and Community Services Director Read More »

San Diego County

Allen Glick Dies; Trapped by Mobsters Till He Testified Against Them

Allen Glick lived a “full and wonderful life enjoying many global adventures,” said a death notice Thursday in The San Diego Union-Tribune, noting the longtime La Jollan’s Bronze Star from Vietnam as a helicopter pilot and role in special operations. Not mentioned in the 670-word paid obituary: Glick being a formative figure in the Mafia takeover of Las Vegas. [Ken Stone, Times of San Diego]

Allen Glick Dies; Trapped by Mobsters Till He Testified Against Them Read More »

San Diego County, USA

San Diego Rep’s ‘57 Chevy:’ A True Celebration of Immigration

By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — What a sweet ride! San Diego Rep’s end-of-summer offering, 57 Chevy, provides not only a cruise down Memory Lane, but reveals the immigrant experience of one man’s family as they assimilated to life in the United States. Cris Franco and co-writer Valerie Dunlap’s story vrooms to life in this one-man

San Diego Rep’s ‘57 Chevy:’ A True Celebration of Immigration Read More »

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

Philippines’ Rescue of the Jews Presentation Set for August 18

One of the lesser known stories of Holocaust rescue is that of the Philippines, which welcomed refugees from Nazi Germany during the 1930s.  The story is told in the documentary An Open Door: Holocaust Haven in the Philippines produced and directed by Noel “Sonny” Izon and SDSU history lecturer Bonnie Harris, Ph.D. [Beth Israel Men’s Club news release]

Philippines’ Rescue of the Jews Presentation Set for August 18 Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, San Diego Calendar

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]

Lawrence Family JCC Prepares for 2022 JCC Maccabi Games Read More »

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]

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

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]

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

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]

Frankenthaler Foundation Aids Timken Art Gallery’s Environmental Upgrade Read More »

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]

Is JFest’s Programming Really ‘Jewish’? Read More »

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