San Diego County

On being Black and Jewish

Being of mixed racial background and also Jewish often feels like no matter what group you are with, you are perceived as the “other,” sometimes prompting doubts if there is any group with which you truly belong.  Such was the thrust of comments made by Jessica Lemoine and Jenni Asher during an Internet forum on Sunday sponsored by the San Diego Outreach Synagogue and moderated by Rabbi/ Cantor Cheri Weiss and her husband Dan Weiss. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Barry Jagoda recalls life at the Carter White House

Barry Jagoda, a retired communications director for UC San Diego, has had a storied media career. He was a producer at various times for CBS and NBC, coordinating coverage for such historic events as Neil Armstrong’s landing on the moon; and the unfolding Watergate crisis and resignation of Richard M. Nixon. With his media savvy, he went on to become a special assistant to Jimmy Carter, initially on the campaign trail and later in the White House.  Many of the stars of his era in television media — Walter Cronkite, Ed Bradley, Dan Rather, for example — were on first-name basis with him.  As you might imagine, Jagoda has a lot of stories to tell. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

How the Arts are changing during the pandemic

During the time of coronavirus pandemic, the people can’t go to theatre, symphonic, or opera performances, or even to an art museum because of the need for social distancing.  So, instead, the performing and visual arts are coming to the people, via Zoom, Facebook, and other Internet channels.  While art organizations are doing so, they are becoming increasingly innovative. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Barbara Bry: San Diego must re-imagine its future

As Mayor, my priorities will be to restore and re-invent our local economy and get our people back to work, while addressing historic inequities and protecting our most vulnerable residents. We will accomplish this by re-imagining our future, laying the foundation for a more resilient way of living and working, developing effective public-private partnerships, and ensuring that our strategic decisions are based on facts, not fantasies. [Barbara Bry]

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San Diego County

Three Jewish Women of Valor

What does being Jewish mean to you? Is it keeping up the practices of an ancient religion? Are the values separate from the prayers or are they symbiotic? Do we wear a Star of David as a symbol of pride or does it make us a target? Ask two Jews and you’ll get three opinions. And we can’t really say that one answer is more valid than another because each one speaks from her own point of view based on her own life. Each of this year’s Women of Valor were interviewed and then had their stories turned into monologues read by actors for the 27th Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival. [Eric George Tauber]

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

Congressional candidate tells racial justice positions

In order for us to move forward, we must grapple with our past. It is long overdue that the United States has a truth and reconciliation process. I strongly support Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s proposal to establish the first United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation. This Commission will not only acknowledge and memorialize our nation’s brutal history, but also examine the effects of slavery, institutional racism, and discrimination against people of color, and how our history impacts laws and policies today. [Sara Jacobs]

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San Diego County, USA

Quick, I say ‘peanut butter and …’ What do you say?

Anila Ali, the Pakistani-born leader of the American Muslims Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) on Wednesday moderated a panel that brought together officeholders, law enforcement officers, educators, and Rabbi Peter Levi, Orange County regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, to discuss how communities can overcome biases, bridge gaps, and forge unity. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Listening to uncomfortable theatre conversations

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations against systemic racism and police brutality, San Diego Repertory Theatre decided to ask itself a hard question. How can we do better? Theatre folk are generally progressive, but we all have cultural blind spots. And there’s always room for improvement. [Eric George Tauber]

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

S.D. City Council considers Commission on Police Practices

Judging by the names San Diegans for Justice lists as supporters of its call for an Independent Commission on Police Practices, tomorrow’s hearing before the San Diego City Council “to end meet-and-confer with the police union and to pass a resolution of intent to move forward with our proposal” ought to be a slam dunk. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA