San Diego County

‘The Humans’ speak to all of us

Thanksgiving dinner: A time for families to be thankful for one another even as they bicker about religion, politics and life-choices between forkfuls of turkey and glasses of wine. Brigid Blake and her boyfriend Rich have moved into a garden duplex in Chinatown. There are noises from above and a view of an alley filled with cigarette butts from the only window. The movers haven’t arrived with all of their stuff yet, so furnishings are pretty spare. It’s modestly pleasant by New York City standards. But driving in from the quiet suburb of Scranton, it’s not exactly what Brigid’s parents are used to. [Eric George Tauber]

‘The Humans’ speak to all of us Read More »

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

Two San Diegans on new Kol Yisrael slate

We have previously announced the names of four San Diegans who have been nominated on different slates to serve as delegates to the World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem next October.  San Diego County is also represented on the new Kol Yisrael slate, backed by a variety of organizations, including StandWithUs and the Israel-American Council, two of the fastest growing Zionist organizations in the U.S.. [Donald H. Harrison]

Two San Diegans on new Kol Yisrael slate Read More »

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

Whatever you think of ‘Ulysses,’ ‘Bloomsday’ delights

In playwright Steven Dietz’s Bloomsday, currently in a charming and reflective production at North Coast Repertory Theatre though Feb. 2nd, Robert (Martin Kildare), a handsome and rather distinguished 50-something former professor tells the audience ‘that” Ulysses is the most under-read and over praised piece of doggerel ever hemorrhaged onto the world! Don’t take my word for it.  Ask half the critics and every college sophomore on earth. [Carol Davis]

Whatever you think of ‘Ulysses,’ ‘Bloomsday’ delights Read More »

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

Balloting begins Jan. 21 for World Zionist Congress

Between Jan. 21 and March 11, American Jews may participate in the selection of U.S. delegates to the World Zionist Congress, which will meet in Jerusalem from Oct. 20-22 to help set policy for three major Jewish organizations: the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish National Fund, and the Jewish Agency for Israel.  The Congress’s policy decisions will influence how approximately $1 billion is allocated. [Donald H. Harrison]

Balloting begins Jan. 21 for World Zionist Congress Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Diverse stories at Chula Vista Holocaust exhibit

A span of 31 years separates the late Max Weinstock’s birth from that of Ursula Israelski, but both were profoundly affected by the Holocaust. They are among the featured South Bay residents, living and dead, whose lives are celebrated at the year-long “Project RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust” exhibit now on display at Chula Vista’s main library, 365 F. Street, Chula Vista. [Donald H. Harrison]

Diverse stories at Chula Vista Holocaust exhibit Read More »

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

Gender-bending at San Diego Junior Theatre

Last Friday, I popped into the office of San Diego Junior Theatre (based in Casa del Prado in Balboa Park) to say hello to their Artistic Director, Desha Crownover. She was both excited and exhausted about opening night of their “gender fluid” production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Having written about issues related to gender identity before, I smelled a story. [Eric George Tauber]

Gender-bending at San Diego Junior Theatre Read More »

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

Santee-trained firefighter volunteers in Israel

A couple of days after we started working, rocket fire from Gaza began pouring into Israel. The Station Commander conducted a walkthrough of the in-house bomb shelter. These are not only present in every Fire Station, but in all new residential occupancies. Around 450 rockets were fired toward Israel in the course of about 36 hours. I finally had to silence my “Red Alert – Israel” app if I wanted to try to get some sleep. Two other EVP members (both from Texas) were deployed not far from where I was, and they got a photo of an Iron Dome interception over their Station. Yet the Israeli Firefighters seemed quite calm. They would even change the TV channel to watch soccer, whereas we American Firefighters were staring at the TV watching surveillance camera video of the interceptions, and any rockets which may have passed their missile defenses. Watching the public’s reaction during the missile warning sirens, I couldn’t help but wonder what people in San Diego would say and do if we had continuous barrages of rockets coming across our border. [Dana Ben Kaplan]

Santee-trained firefighter volunteers in Israel Read More »

Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Rivals jab Jacobs, Gomez in 53rd CD debate

In an otherwise peaceful debate Sunday, two Democrats with military backgrounds launched salvos against the front-runners in the race to replace Rep. Susan Davis in the 53rd Congressional District. Their targets: Qualcomm heir Sara Jacobs and San Diego Councilwoman Georgette Gómez (with the local Democratic Party as collateral damage). [Ken Stone, Times of San Diego]

Rivals jab Jacobs, Gomez in 53rd CD debate Read More »

Ken Stone, San Diego County, USA

Chula Vista opens Holocaust exhibit

An eerie moment during the opening of an exhibit on Holocaust survivors who settled in the South Bay occurred when organizer Sandy Scheller, giving a speech at the podium, took a phone call, which she pretended was from her late mother, Ruth Sax, whose first name serves as an acronym for the exhibit’s title: “Project Ruth: Remember Us The Holocaust.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Chula Vista opens Holocaust exhibit Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

SDSU wins plaudits for blocking anti-Semitic speaker

StandWithUs, a national organization combating anti-Semitism on American college campuses, has congratulated San Diego State University for blocking a speaking invitation to Ava Muhammad, who is a spokeswoman for Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan. [Donald H. Harrison]

SDSU wins plaudits for blocking anti-Semitic speaker Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA