Yakov Nayerman

The mystery of an old statuette

“I recently discovered that I am about twenty-five percent Sephardic Jewish,” she said. “During World War II, that could have been enough to send me to a ghetto or a death camp. Today, it could make me eligible to apply for Israeli citizenship.” {Yakov Nayerman}

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International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA, Yakov Nayerman

Becoming a Russian Jew

On Friday, September 13, 1991, a couple of days before Yom Kippur, it suddenly hit me: next Monday, September 16, was the Day of Atonement. I don’t observe most religious holidays or rules, but on Yom Kippur I don’t eat, I don’t work, and I go to the synagogue for the Yizkor memorial prayer. Even back in the Soviet Union, I was Jewish twice a year: on Passover and Yom Kippur. [Yakov Nayerman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA, Yakov Nayerman

The Mamdani Victory: A Stubborn Optimist’s Hypothesis

When Zohran Mamdani — a demagogue, antisemite, pro-Hamas agitator, and militant social democrat — won by a wide margin in New York, everyone immediately turned to me: “Well? What do you say now? Even such a stubborn optimist as you can’t possibly find a bright side this time! Because there isn’t one!” [Yakov Nayerman]

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA, Yakov Nayerman

My Mother’s Avinu Malkeinu

When she returned to Moscow in 1947, just after the war, she had no doubt where she wanted to study. She wanted to sing. And where had her beloved singer, Nadezhda Obukhova, graduated from? The Moscow Conservatory. That’s where my mother applied. [Yakov Nayerman]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA, Yakov Nayerman

A Secret Circumcision in the Former Soviet Union Contrasts with How Freely Jews May Practice Our Religion in the U.S., Israel

Every day, when my father left for the factory in the morning, he and my mother were unsure he would return home. Any connection to Judaism could lead to arrest and prison. Circumcision, in particular. But for my grandfathers, a boy not circumcised was as though not yet born as a Jew. [Yakov Nayerman]

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Yakov Nayerman

Iran Must Desist from its Attempts to Wipe Israel off the Map

The ideologues of Iran’s Islamic Revolution believe that the return of the Mahdi is tied to Israel’s destruction. The Mahdi, in Shia Islam, is a messianic figure—roughly comparable to the Messiah in Jewish and Christian traditions. According to belief, he disappeared in the 9th century and will return at the end of time to bring justice and defeat evil. [Yakov Nayerman]

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Yakov Nayerman

OpEd: Israel Missed a Public Relations Opportunity Responding to Greta Thunberg’s Gaza Stunt

I had hoped Israel would seize the opportunity and turn it into an effective counter-move. Especially when these self-proclaimed “truth-seekers” refused to watch a documentary on the Hamas-led October 7 massacre, making their bias painfully clear. This could have been the perfect moment for Israel to show the world that it supports humanitarian aid to Gaza—so long as it doesn’t go through Hamas. {Yakov Nayerman}

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International, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA, Yakov Nayerman

OpEd: Trump and the ‘Mad-Man Walk’ Technique

Trump demanded that Hamas release all hostages—warning that if they didn’t, “all hell will break out.” Now the U.S. is pushing Israel toward a ceasefire after only a partial release of a few hostages. There was massive bombing in Yemen, followed by a ceasefire with the Houthis that didn’t even require them to stop attacking Israel. There were threats against Qatar for financing Hamas and supporting pro-Hamas groups in the U.S.—and then trillion-dollar deals, warm hugs, and even acceptance of a $400 million luxury jet as a gift. [Yakov Nayerman]

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International, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA, Yakov Nayerman

A Serious Discussion about Israel Between an American Jew and a Pakistani Muslim

“…In Pakistan, a person can be killed not just for converting, but even for behaving outside religious norms—not by the government, but by mobs of extremists. Very few countries are like Pakistan in this regard. Still, we’re an open nation. If someone doesn’t want to follow our laws, they’re free to leave for any country—except Israel.”

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International, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA, Yakov Nayerman

Fiction Writer Capsulizes Sacrifices by Israelis on Both Sides of Hostage Debate

I took them along my favorite one-day guest route: the sandy cliffs and beaches of Torrey Pines, the seal lairs in La Jolla, and the Spanish-style facades in Balboa Park. My guests were thrilled and kept saying how much San Diego reminded them of Haifa. I was the one doing most of the talking and guiding. [Yakov Nayerman]

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Israel, Jewish Fiction, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Yakov Nayerman