San Diego County

San Diegan Wins Poetry Award from National Federation of Press Women

San Diego poet Jane Muschenetz, a mother of two and Jewish refugee from Soviet Ukraine, has been awarded first place in the 2025 National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Professional Communications Contest for her poetry collection, Power Point. {Press Release}

San Diegan Wins Poetry Award from National Federation of Press Women Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Press Release, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

JFS CEO Sees Both Fragility and Strength in Our Community

In our community, we see both fragility and strength, vulnerability and resilience, need and generosity. At Jewish Family Service, we hold these truths each day—walking alongside individuals and families as they navigate life’s hardships, while also planting seeds of hope, renewal, and possibility. [Dana Toppel]

JFS CEO Sees Both Fragility and Strength in Our Community Read More »

Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

OpEd: Passage of $25 Minimum Wage Ordinance for Hospitality Workers is a Victory over Corporate Greed

It is a modest but necessary step forward in a city where the cost of housing, childcare, and groceries have soared while too many workers’ wages have remained stagnant. [Sean Elo-Rivera]

OpEd: Passage of $25 Minimum Wage Ordinance for Hospitality Workers is a Victory over Corporate Greed Read More »

Business & Finance, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Couple Underwrites Scholarships for Financially Challenged Jewish San Diegans

“I think that people who don’t give in some way or another of their time or of their funds are missing a big part of life,” Rubenstein, a real estate investor and retired ophthalmologist reflected during an interview Monday at the JFS headquarters on Balboa Avenue. “They’re missing satisfaction and enjoying other people’s success.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Couple Underwrites Scholarships for Financially Challenged Jewish San Diegans Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘Follies,’ with Marvelous Singing, First Offering at the Joan in Liberty Station

Leigh Scarritt and Kaia Bugler in 'Follies,' now playing at the Joan. (Karli Cadel Photography)

The middle age- senior women are looking at the ghosts of their younger selves and reminiscing about who they were and what they had hoped to be when they were in their heyday and comparing it to where they are now. {Sandi Masori]

‘Follies,’ with Marvelous Singing, First Offering at the Joan in Liberty Station Read More »

San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

No Histrionics from Violinist Asi Matathias, Just Superb Playing

There were no histrionics or choreography in his playing, only sincere, concentrated musical beauty, performed with the confidence of a seasoned artist. Matathias injected these qualities into all four movements of the Cesar Franck Sonata which followed. [Eileen Wingard]

No Histrionics from Violinist Asi Matathias, Just Superb Playing Read More »

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

A Rose by any other Name is a ‘Thorn & Petal’: Dramedy Depicts Early San Diego

The story follows German-Jewish immigrant Rose’s arrival in San Diego in the mid- 1800s, and his experience being an integral part of the early days of San Diego. He faced plenty of antisemitism in the process, but thanks to his geniality he was elected to myriad public offices including the presidency of the city’s board of trustees and the county’s board of supervisors. [Sandi Masori]

A Rose by any other Name is a ‘Thorn & Petal’: Dramedy Depicts Early San Diego Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Sha’ar HaNegev and San Diego Crossing a Metaphoric Bridge Together

This journey was part of a program created nearly five years ago by the San Diego Jewish Federation to strengthen our nearly 25-year relationship with our sister region in Israel, Sha’ar HaNegev. Federation’s CEO, Heidi Gantwerk, had the vision to ensure this sacred partnership wasn’t held by Federation alone, but shared and nurtured across all our Jewish organizations. Out of that vision, the Gesher Project, “gesher” meaning bridge in Hebrew, was born. [Betzy Lynch]

Sha’ar HaNegev and San Diego Crossing a Metaphoric Bridge Together Read More »

Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Apples for Rosh Hashana Grown Locally

his past weekend was opening day of apple picking in Julian, located in the picturesque Cuyamaca Mountains in San Diego County. Although it was a very warm afternoon in the mountains and not much wind was blowing, we picked our crop of varieties of apples, ranging from Jonathan’s, Empire, Gala, and Golden Delicious from Volcan Valley Apple Farm. They do not need any honey since they are just so wonderful by themselves. [Cailin Acosta]

Apples for Rosh Hashana Grown Locally Read More »

Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, Travel and Food

City, County Lawmakers Announce Legislation to Put Constraints on Federal Immigration Raids

The Due Process and Safety Ordinance [is] a landmark policy aimed at protecting civil liberties, restoring public trust, and drawing firm legal boundaries against discriminatory and warrantless federal activity. [Press Release]

City, County Lawmakers Announce Legislation to Put Constraints on Federal Immigration Raids Read More »

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