San Diego County

Parshat Tetzaveh: The Symbolic Importance of Pure Olive Oil

What is the Torah trying to teach us with this mandate to use the best oil for lighting the Menorah, whereas for the meal-offerings, the Menachot, we are only required to use this secondary oil? (Interestingly, it is noteworthy that the norm is for us to use our best oil for cooking and meal prep, but for lamp fuel, we are ok using subpar oil as long as it lights well – just the opposite!) [Rabbi Daniel Reich]

Parshat Tetzaveh: The Symbolic Importance of Pure Olive Oil Read More »

Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘Chapatti’ at Scripps Ranch Theatre Reaches into Lonely Human Hearts

The dialogue is honest and self-reflective. Dan’s hopelessness has him questioning the value of life without another’s recognition or memory.  For Betty, after a loveless marriage, the middle-aged woman wants to be loved and valued. Both characters know the love and companionship of their respective dog and cats, but each longs for a human’s affection to give them validation and meaning.  [Eva Trieger]

‘Chapatti’ at Scripps Ranch Theatre Reaches into Lonely Human Hearts Read More »

Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Rep. Sara Jacobs Calls for Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza

“…Months of dropping tens of thousands of bombs, munitions, and shells on Gaza have failed to eliminate Hamas – and a ground invasion in a densely packed city would lead to even more civilian casualties, worsen Israel’s reputation on the world stage, and fail to make Israel any safer.” [SDJW Staff Report]

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Rep. Sara Jacobs Calls for Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza Read More »

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

California Legislators Visit Sites of Oct. 7 Massacre

Throughout the trip – a collaboration of JPAC, JCRC Bay Area, and Jewish Federation LA – lawmakers witnessed firsthand the consequences of the horrific atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th and their lasting effect on Israeli civil society. We visited impacted communities on the Gaza border and the surrounding areas, cried with families of hostages, and met with Israeli government officials, including President Isaac Herzog.  [David Bocarsly]

California Legislators Visit Sites of Oct. 7 Massacre Read More »

California, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Permanent Plaque Will Honor Howard Wayne at Hall of Justice

The San Diego County Bar Foundation has notified Mary Lundberg that her late husband, former California Assemblyman Howard Wayne (D-San Diego) will be memorialized with a permanent plaque bearing his likeness in the Hall of Justice of the San Diego Superior Court. [SDJW staff]

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Permanent Plaque Will Honor Howard Wayne at Hall of Justice Read More »

California, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Theodore Bikel’s Songs to Be First in JCC’s ‘Beloved Voices’ Series Feb. 22

I will be hosting the program, and my special guest will be Aimee Ginsburg Bikel, who was Theodore Bikel’s wife during the last years of his life and founder and director of the Theodore Bikel Legacy Project. The songs were selected to illustrate Bikel’s vast range and the large number of his recordings in our Astor Judaica Library.  [Eileen Wingard]

Theodore Bikel’s Songs to Be First in JCC’s ‘Beloved Voices’ Series Feb. 22 Read More »

Eileen Wingard, International, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego Calendar, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Temple Etz Rimon Shares in Interfaith Projects with Pilgrim Church; Both Congregations are Committed to Social Justice, Inclusiveness

Every synagogue has its own personality. Farber said that Temple Etz Rimon’s is that “it is very, very friendly. Warm. You come into the building and you are greeted. You are welcomed at the oneg. They grab you; they love you. People will say, ‘Oh my God, you are so friendly!’ We are. There is no snobbishness in the group. It’s really a nice congregation. Unfortunately, it is getting smaller and smaller.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Temple Etz Rimon Shares in Interfaith Projects with Pilgrim Church; Both Congregations are Committed to Social Justice, Inclusiveness Read More »

Ben Dishman, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Jewish Community Foundation’s Leadership Transition

Beth Sirull completes her tenure as CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego on March 15, when she will be succeeded by Jeremy Pearl, who currently is the foundation’s chief financial officer. [SDJW Staff]

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Jewish Community Foundation’s Leadership Transition Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Israel, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Ukrainian Jewish Asylee Now in San Diego Tells Her Story

Written with humor as well as heart ache, Jane Muschenetz touches in All the Bad Girls Wear Russian Accents on her raw feelings of becoming a refugee during the Russian invasion of her home country, Ukraine, and being transplanted to San Diego. [Pennell Paugh, East County Magazine]

Ukrainian Jewish Asylee Now in San Diego Tells Her Story Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Lifestyles, San Diego County

Love Triangle is Focus of ‘The Age of Innocence’ at Old Globe

The story itself centers on a love triangle between Newland Archer (Callum Adams), Countess Ellen Olenska (Shereen Ahmed), and May Wellend (Delphi Borich).  Countess Olenska returns to America after fleeing her abusive husband in Europe.  She thinks and dresses very differently than the rest of New York society causing her to scandalize some and be idolized by others.  [Sandi Masori]

Love Triangle is Focus of ‘The Age of Innocence’ at Old Globe Read More »

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

Antisemitic Callers Overwhelm La Mesa City Council Meeting with Hate Speech

Words turned ugly during the council’s public comment period on Tuesday when a series of callers, each held to a council-mandated three-minute limit per speaker, used their allotted time to debase and degrade Jews with callous accusations and conspiracy theories. [J.W. August, Times of San Diego]

Antisemitic Callers Overwhelm La Mesa City Council Meeting with Hate Speech Read More »

Antisemitism, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

OpEd: Faulconer Seeks Profit by Driving a Wedge into the Jewish Community

I cannot stay silent when I see former Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s calculating, cunning and opportunistic attempt to fundraise off the hurt and pain our Jewish community is experiencing.  Faulconer’s crass attempt to pad his campaign coffers with cash while pretending to be a friend of our community shall not go unnoticed. [Laurie Black]

OpEd: Faulconer Seeks Profit by Driving a Wedge into the Jewish Community Read More »

Antisemitism, California, Israel, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors