Jacob Kamaras

[caption id="attachment_41393" align="alignright" width="100"] Jacob Kamaras[/caption]

La Jolla, California, based public relations executive Jacob Kamaras is a former editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).  He is an active member at Adat Yeshurun Synagogue.

Sesame Place San Diego Makes Chanukah the Centerpiece of a Day at the Theme Park

By Jacob Kamaras CHULA VISTA, California — How does it feel to be included? Southern California’s Jewish community experienced precisely that feeling December 19 on the first day of Chanukah at Sesame Place San Diego, which hosted a Chanukah celebration that featured a menorah candle lighting ceremony, a dance party with Chanukah music, dreidel playing […]

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Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

How Do You Spell Chanukah? (Hanukkah?)

By Jacob Kamaras After using “Hanukkah” so far this holiday season—as I’ve used throughout my journalistic career, in line with AP style—on Monday I was informed by our founder and editor emeritus, Don Harrison, that we’ve used “Chanukah” over the years.” San Diego Jewish World will now be switching back to Chanukah. But remember, ultimately,

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Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion

Visiting Israelis Witness ‘Integrated’ Educational Experience at San Diego Jewish Academy

By Jacob Kamaras SAN DIEGO — Israeli representatives from the Sha’ar HaNegev region got a firsthand look at the American Jewish day school landscape last Wednesday as part of their six-day visit to San Diego. During a tour of the San Diego Jewish Academy (SDJA), Sha’ar HaNegev delegation member Tzachi Levy said he was struck

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Israel, Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Gold Finch Deli Strikes Artful Balance Between Tradition and Modernity

By Jacob Kamaras SAN DIEGO — San Diegans in search of a unique blend of tradition, modernity, and creativity can find it at Gold Finch, the recently opened quick-service delicatessen and full-service restaurant in Torrey Pines. The menu is a nod to the childhood memories of owner Tracy Borkum, who grew up in London’s Jewish

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Jacob Kamaras, Travel and Food

Abraham Accords-Focused NGO Plans to Combat Jew-Hatred with Holocaust Education

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California (JNS) — On Oct. 27, the fourth anniversary of the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, hatred of Jews was a palpably inescapable reality in America—from the Kanye West scandal, to a series of antisemitic incidents in Los Angeles, to the discourse

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California, Holocaust, Israel, Jacob Kamaras, Middle East, San Diego County

International Diplomat Looks Forward to Celebrating Diversity as ADL’s New Regional Director in San Diego

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — Fabienne Perlov, who on Monday assumes the position of regional director at the Anti-Defamation League’s San Diego office, brings an approach shaped by diplomacy and diversity to a high-profile organization known locally and nationally for combating antisemitism and all forms of hate. In her first media interview pertaining

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Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County

Congregation Adat Yeshurun Grows Through Spiritual Connection, ‘Cohesive Diversity’

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — Amid a return to relative normalcy following two-and-a-half years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congregation Adat Yeshurun of La Jolla is growing its community through what Rabbi Daniel Reich calls the “three Fs” — family, friends, and faith. “People are not feeling connected on a spiritual level and to

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Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

The Dollar Heard ’Round the World Has Finally Changed Hands

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — First, there was the Revolutionary War’s “shot heard ’round the world” in 1775. Then, there was Bobby Thomson’s shot heard ’round the world to win the 1951 National League pennant for the New York Giants. But for San Diego Jewish World this past year, the focus has been

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Jacob Kamaras, Opinion, San Diego County

San Diego Finds Itself at the Center of the Jewish Community Center Universe

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — It’s relatively rare for the top lay leader of a Jewish organization with national or continental reach to be based on the West Coast, let alone in San Diego. That makes the leadership trajectory at the JCC Association of North America all the more unique. In late May,

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Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, USA

San Diego Jewish World to Honor Founding Editor Donald Harrison, Israel Educator Roz Rothstein at July 31 Event

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — San Diego Jewish World will honor its founder and Editor Emeritus Donald Harrison as well as Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO of the influential Israel education organization StandWithUs, at the publication’s inaugural gala on Sunday, July 31, at 4:30 p.m. in La Jolla. Harrison — a veteran journalist

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Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County

Baseball Stars on the Outside, Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden Discuss Recovery on the Inside

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — For the average New York transplant (or any baseball fan) living in San Diego, the first thing that comes to mind upon the mention of outfielder Darryl Strawberry or pitcher Dwight “Doc” Gooden is each player’s time with both the New York Mets and New York Yankees franchises

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Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions

From Jerusalem to Shusha: Jewish and Muslim Allies Can Stand Together

By Jacob Kamaras (JNS) With the latest wave of Palestinian terrorism, the tensions that surround the Temple Mount and the firestorm of unverified allegations against Israel that followed the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, the leadup to this year’s observance of Jerusalem Day on May 28-29 has been tumultuous. Yet as they

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International, Jacob Kamaras, Middle East, Opinion, USA

La Jolla’s Adat Yeshurun Keen on Communal Growth Ahead of ‘Breath of Fresh Aire’ Gala

By Jacob Kamaras L’Chaim Magazine LA JOLLA, California — Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic with renewed energy, Congregation Adat Yeshurun of La Jolla this month will host “Breath of Fresh Aire,” the synagogue’s first in-person gala event since 2019. Long known for its welcoming atmosphere of caring and spiritual growth, one of San Diego’s premier

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Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, San Diego County