San Diego County

Chanukah, Hannukah, Hanukah, Hanukka, Hanuka

Chanukah, Hannukah, Hanukah, Hanukka, Hanuka. Hmm, so many ways the holiday is spelled. Personally, I like the spelling of Chanukah. Some of my non-Jewish friends would pronounce the “ch” sound phonetically saying cha-nukah and I would giggle. When my 12-year-old twins were learning to spell and read they would ask why there is a “ch” but is pronounced as a “huh.” [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, News Media, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Effort Underway to Fire Israel’s Attorney General

Gali Baharav-Miara, Israel’s attorney general, has been accused by Shlomo Karhi, Israel’s communications minister, of “deliberately thwarting government policy for political reasons.” Karhi, with the backing of 12 other ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 33-member Cabinet, has called for Baharav-Miara’s dismissal. [SDJW staff report]

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Antisemitism, Business & Finance, California, Holocaust, Israel, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Stand Up Comedy Features TV Weatherman and New York ‘Yenta’

What does a Southern California weatherman need to know about meteorology? Apparently, that’s the wrong question. The correct question is who does an aspiring weatherman need to know. The answer to this query was discovered by stand up comedian, Fritz Coleman in 1982. [Eva Trieger]

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California, Eva Trieger, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Interfaith Owners of Art Store Tell Their Chanukah/ Christmas Customs

On the counter was a menorah with the shamash and the first night’s candle placed in their holders. Behind the menorah was a small pine tree with decorations. In an interfaith marriage like mine, the Oserins this year will have both a chanukiah and a Christmas tree at home.  The first night of Chanukah will coincide with Christmas. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Counting Our Blessing Every Friday Night

When my kids were very young, we had a Thanksgiving tradition (no doubt like so many other American families) of going around the table and saying what we were thankful for. The answers ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous, depending on the age and mood of the three boys. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Heidi Gantwerk, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jews Divide Along Denominational Lines over Thanksgiving Celebrations

“When can we eat?” Not only do we hear this as we gather for Passover, but I am sure this question was asked in many homes on Thanksgiving. It is always the debate. Do you serve Thanksgiving lunch, something between noon and 6 p.m., or serve as the sun sets for dinner? [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Amos, Zelickman, Schumann Team in All-Mozart Concert at the LFJCC

Assistant Conductor of the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO), Robert Zelickman, opened the matinee All-Mozart Concert at the Garfield Theater of the Lawrence Family JCC Sunday, Nov. 24, conducting, the Overture to “The Impresario,” one of Mozart’s comic operas in which a director is auditioning two singers for a role and each is trying to outdo the other. The wave after wave of sequences in the rapid-fire overture reflected that competition. Zelickman sustained the orchestral energy of the overture throughout the five-minute work. [Eileen Wingard]

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

Are There Jewish Miracles? Yes, 8 Days of Chanukah Among Them

Do Jews believe in miracles? An article on myjewishlearning.com sparked my interest. Miracles appear throughout Jewish texts, from the splitting of the Red Sea to the bush that burned but was not consumed. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

‘That’s The Shul I Don’t Go To?’

Young Israel, Chabad East County, Beth Jacob—each a long-standing wellspring of Torah and inspiration. Together, they could become a beacon of unity, proving that our differences are not barriers but opportunities to strengthen each other. The Torah was given to us as one at Sinai. Let us live that way, too. Let’s do more than sing, “Acheinu Kol Beit Yisroel,” (“Our Brethren, the entire House of Israel”) let’s take visionary action and live this. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Obituary: Rabbi Jonathan Stein, z”l

Rabbi Jonathan Stein passed away on Shabbat, November 22, 2024 with his family at his side. He spent the last 50 years in service to the Jewish community, but his family always came first. He served at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation from 1974 to 1994, at Congregation Beth Israel from 1994-2001, and Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York City from 2001-2014. [Family Statement]

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Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Press Release, San Diego County, USA

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs Discusses Science and Holiday Treats

“Growing up, both of my grandfathers were engineers, and I was always told we needed more women in all areas of STEM,” Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) told 3rd to 8th grade girls who attended the All-Girls STEM Society meeting at the Mission Valley Branch Library on Saturday, Nov. 23. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA