San Diego County

Pacific Beach has ‘rising star’ in Mission Bagel – an award-winning sandwich too

Is it possible for a sandwich to be “sinus and soul clearing”? The meal in question, a gefilte fish bagel sandwich from Pacific Beach’s Mission Bagel, earned that high praise at BagelFest West as one of the standouts at the Los Angeles competition to crown the best bagel makers “west of the Rockies.” [Noah Perkins]

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Business & Finance, California, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Mideast War report: April 13, 2026

Israel & the United States at War with Iran Special Update from Israel Prepared by and sent from Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel Office Ceasefire between Iran and Israel + the US holding, even as negotiations break down Fighting with Hezbollah continues as talks between Israel and the Lebanese Government begin Unrelenting rocket attacks

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

Two diplomats who defied Hitler to be spotlighted at Sunday’s Yom HaShoah commemoration

Jason Abranches, great-grandson of Portuguese Consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes, and Arturo Levin, whose mother and grandmother were saved by Japanese Consul Chiune Sugihara, will share how ordinary diplomats risked everything to become extraordinary rescuers. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

The importance of San Diego’s Holocaust commemoration this Sunday

This Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center | JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, members of our community will come together to commemorate Yom HaShoah. I urge you to join us for this moving and meaningful event. Many of San Diego’s remaining Holocaust survivors will be there, and I cannot overstate what an honor it is to be in the room with these precious souls. To be in their presence is a privilege we will only have for a short time longer. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Antisemitism, Heidi Gantwerk, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Lawrence Family JCC to play 13 curated songs about the impact of Israel’s early wars

At the Thursday, April 16, 2:00 p.m. program of Treasures from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library: Music of Yom Hazikaron, my guest, Guri Stark, and I will introduce a playlist of 13 recorded songs. [Eileen Wingard]

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

Finding beauty in nature at the Cardiff Library

Cali notes that his photographs are meant to be lived with. They are not asking for interpretation or explanation. Instead, they offer a space to slow your breath, rest your eyes, and feel a sense of connection. In searching for beauty, he is really seeking moments that feel honest and true. [Cailin Acosta]

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

Black/ Jewish solidarity required to defeat racism, antisemitism

While the national media often treats the intersection of Black and Jewish identities as a modern novelty, the history of Jews of Color in the Americas is centuries deep. Long before the term “bridge-building” became a social justice buzzword, individuals were living at this intersection, weaving together the traditions of two resilient peoples. I am one of them. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Jewish History, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

From the female perspective: ‘Lend Me a Soprano’

Flipping gender perspectives, Ludwig switched up his previous play, Lend Me a Tenor, to tell the story of The Cleveland Grand Opera and their one-night production of Carmen. Lucille Wiley (Wendy Waddell), manager of the company, is elated to welcome the arrival of opera diva of global renown, Elena Firenzi (Britania Cortez). [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘Matt and Ben’: A gender-bending production at the New Village Arts Theatre

Right before the curtain goes up, there is a voice that tells us that the actors bear an uncanny resemblance to the real Matt and Ben, and they think so too. But once the curtain goes up, you realize the interesting casting choice made by director Maria Patrice Amon, using two women for the parts of both Matt and Ben.  [Sandi Masori]

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