San Diego County

Congratulations Encinitas City Council, JFS & Leichtag Foundation

I think we all should congratulate Mayor Catherine Blakespear and three other members of the Encinitas City Council who voted their hearts, and not their fears, in the recent battle over providing safe overnight parking spaces to 25 homeless families who are forced to sleep in their cars. [Donald H. Harrison]

Congratulations Encinitas City Council, JFS & Leichtag Foundation Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

‘Matilda The Musical’ hits high notes

Coronado Playhouse is presenting through Feb. 23 Broadway’s Matilda The Musical with book by Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. It is certain to be one of the all-time family entertainment productions here as it hits all the high notes while pointing out that wisdom is not necessarily reserved for “adults only.” [Carol Davis]

‘Matilda The Musical’ hits high notes Read More »

Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Clearing up confusion between JNF-USA and KKL

Dr. Sol Lizerbram, the Rancho Sante Fe resident who serves as the national president of Jewish National Fund-USA, says that many people are unaware that Keren Kayemet LeIsrael (KKL) and JNF-USA are totally separate organizations, even though in the past, they were one and the same.
[Donald H. Harrison]

Clearing up confusion between JNF-USA and KKL Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

‘Avodah’ Jewish Service Corps commits to San Diego

The Jewish service corps known as “Avodah” – Hebrew for “work” – has announced that San Diego will be the fifth city in the nation where its fellows will spend a year volunteering to combat poverty, help the homeless, and work with immigrants and asylum seekers, among other projects. [Donald H. Harrison]

‘Avodah’ Jewish Service Corps commits to San Diego Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
https://youtu.be/JZVvQ-_C6Ns

Jewish astronaut lectures SD students from space

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir taught a middle school class from space on Monday, speaking via a video link from the International Space Station to San Diego students. Meir, who has been on the station since September, spoke to 150 students from Fulton Middle School and Memorial Preparatory for Scholars and Athletes at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. [Times of San Diego]

Jewish astronaut lectures SD students from space Read More »

International, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

The world according to 11-year-olds

some of the ‘stuff’ said by character’s ‘A’ -Timothy L. Cabal and ‘M’ – Nancy Ross (the two adults playing the eleven-year olds in the West Coast Premiere of “Red Bike” at Moxie Theatre through Feb. 16th) , brought me back to an old TV Show -“Kids Say The Darndest Things.” … But these kids are not saying just the darndest things. They are looking at their world and their decaying community/low wage-earning parents, and the old bus driver who will one-day die on the job, through a different lens than those who are living the American Dream. [Carol Davis]

The world according to 11-year-olds Read More »

Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

China jumps into basketball in ‘The Great Leap’

When I first read the premise for The Great Leap, I imagined an errant ball hitting a patron in the third row. No need to worry. Even though there is a hoop hanging over the middle of the house, they only mime those shots. Projection Designer Blake McCarty presents a flowing river of images of basketball games, newsreel footage and stills of party propaganda that sweep us into playwright Lauren Yee’s complex, bi-cultural world. [Eric George Tauber]

China jumps into basketball in ‘The Great Leap’ Read More »

Eric George Tauber, International, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

How you can help keep democracy strong

“Hear-ye, hear-ye, the polls are now open.” These seven words are one of the foundations of our democracy. In October 2016 I heard a public service announcement on KPBS Midday Edition asking for volunteers to become a poll worker for the 2016 Presidential Election. Little did I know that it would be the start of an incredibly important, interesting, and fulfilling journey. [Ron Marx]

How you can help keep democracy strong Read More »

San Diego County, USA

Mayoral candidates discuss anti-Semitism

Anti-semitism?  City Councilwoman Barbara Bry blames President Donald Trump.  City Councilman Scott Sherman points his finger at the Internet.  And Tasha Williamson says it’s the fault of domestic terrorists, who ought to be prosecuted with the same tenacity as are terrorists from foreign countries. The three candidates made their comments Sunday night at a forum at Temple Emanu-El skipped by Assemblyman Todd Gloria, who polls show to be the frontrunner in their race to be San Diego’s next mayor. [Donald H. Harrison]

Mayoral candidates discuss anti-Semitism Read More »

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

‘Jitney’ evokes laughter, suspense

Their patter and body language have an expressive musicality that’s really fun to watch and listen to. They enjoy the playful camaraderie of old friends who don’t need to be polite. Raised in the Black church, their patter is peppered with Biblical allusions such as the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, the stolen birthright of Esau and Daniel in the Lions’ Den. [Eric George Tauber]

‘Jitney’ evokes laughter, suspense Read More »

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

Conductor Yoav Talmi a classical composer

As Yoav Talmi continues to receive accolades for his guest conducting throughout the world and his inspiring teaching at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Tel Aviv University, the internationally acclaimed maestro is also garnering increased recognition as a world class composer. His recent CD, Yoav Talmi COMPOSITIONS, released by the Israel Music Institute and produced with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sport, contains three of his large compositions, De Profundis, a four movement work for mixed choir and orchestra; Animi Motus, a four movement work for orchestra with children’s or women’s choir; and Elegy for strings, timpani and accordion (Dachau Reflections). [Eileen Wingard]

Conductor Yoav Talmi a classical composer Read More »

Eileen Wingard, International, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Crying and laughing with a Holocaust survivor

Only a few moments after her audience had sat in stunned silence hearing about how the mother of Fanny Krasner Lebovits sacrificed her life so her youngest child should not have to go alone to her death, a cell phone tinkled from somewhere in the front of the audience. [Donald H. Harrison]

Crying and laughing with a Holocaust survivor Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Behind the byline: Jerry Klinger

Though he lives in Boynton Beach, Florida, Jerry Klinger writes stories for this publication from all over the United States and the globe.
Klinger is president of the Jewish American Society of Historic Preservation, an organization which he largely funds. It has erected more than 100 historic markers honoring Jewish-American contributions in this country, Europe, and Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]

Behind the byline: Jerry Klinger Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA