San Diego County

An Interview with Judy Collins: 86 Years Young and an Incredibly Talented Songstress

Some conversations feel like pure magic, illuminating, warm, and timeless. Sitting with Judy Collins, the iconic folk legend, is exactly that. She has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a steadfast commitment to social activism. [Michael Adam Cohen]

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Michael Adam Cohen, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

ADL San Diego Pledges to Help Create ‘Inclusive and Safe Learning Environments’

The loss of two students and the injury of many others has deeply impacted another faith community and it reminds us why it’s so important to continue showing up against hate with compassion and clarity. We encourage you to check in on your Catholic neighbors, attend local gatherings if you’re able, and help ensure no community faces tragedy in isolation. Read more in ADL’s analysis here. [Fabienne Perlov]

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Antisemitism, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

A Foundation for Nature Lovers in San Diego

We learned that bats are very good for the environment as they devour insects. Some bats can eat up to half their size. Nectar slurping bats also pollinate. Finally, bats disperse seeds that facilitate plant growth. We learned that every bat species has a unique story and value, but sadly, many bat species are endangered. [Mimi Pollack]

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Mimi Pollack, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

Elul is Here; Numerous Jewish Offerings Before the High Holidays

The month of Elul is upon us and marks the period of soul-searching leading up to the High Holidays. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Final Summerfest 2025 Concert Featured Works by Montgomery, Mendelssohn and Brahms

Opening the concert was Starburst, a short, glistening work by Jessie Montgomery, the festival’s composer-in-residence. Next on the program was the Concerto for Violin and Piano, a rarely programmed composition by 14-year-old Felix Mendelssohn, and concluding the evening was Brahms’ glorious Serenade in D major for Orchestra in its original nonet version. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

LFJCC Board Chair Highlights Past and Future Programs

Wow! We really started off our new San Diego Center for Jewish Culture season with a Blockbuster! Jeffrey Seller, Producer of the most iconic Broadway show, the legendary Hamilton, and Producer of other groundbreaking shows such as Rent, Avenue Q, and In the Heights, really swept our audience off their feet! Winner of 22 Tony Awards, Producer of two Pulitzer Prize winning shows and drawing audiences exceeding 43 million around the globe, Jeffrey shared his personal stories with laughter, candor and humility in a one-on-one conversation with the talented and insightful Barry Edelstein, artistic Director of the Old Globe. [Liz Nederlander Coden]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

LFJCC Open 4,800 Hours A Year for its Activities and Nearly 1,200 More for Its Partners’

Because there is so little downtime, there are almost no true breaks. Instead, what we experience is a shift in energy as we move through the year. This week was one of those shifts. Camp Jaycee marked the close of its 80th summer. The echo of hundreds of children singing camp songs, racing down hallways, splashing in the pool has begun to fade. Camp supplies are sorted and packed away for the future. A fresh coat of paint brightens the walls of the Gotthelf Art Gallery, now hung with new artwork. [Betzy Lynch]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

A Secret Circumcision in the Former Soviet Union Contrasts with How Freely Jews May Practice Our Religion in the U.S., Israel

Every day, when my father left for the factory in the morning, he and my mother were unsure he would return home. Any connection to Judaism could lead to arrest and prison. Circumcision, in particular. But for my grandfathers, a boy not circumcised was as though not yet born as a Jew. [Yakov Nayerman]

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Yakov Nayerman

Brandeis Center Sues UC Berkeley for Anti-Israeli Discrimination

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and the law firm of Olivier & Schreiber PC sued the University of California (UC) Berkeley on Wednesday in California Superior Court, alleging the school violated California anti-discrimination laws when it rejected the teaching application of a professor solely because she is

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Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

iCenter Program Provided San Diegan with Multiple Perspectives on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

“In a world where echo chambers are loud and algorithms reinforce our biases, the COI program offered a rare space to unpack competing narratives, challenge assumptions, and engage with complexity,” [Press Release]

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Israel, Press Release, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA