Sukkot is here! Living in San Diego, we are a bit spoiled by the nice, cool-to-warm temperatures when the holiday rolls around. [Cailin Acosta]
Sukkot is upon us! Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
The bills signed, Assembly Bill (AB) 2664 and AB 1836, will strengthen protections for houses of worship and help communities safely gather in the face of rising threats of hate-motivated violence. (Press Release)
Newsom signs 2 bills to protect congregants and sites Read More »
California, Press Release, San Diego County
An important question: whether showing antisemitic imagery provides enough educational benefit to justify the potential harm of displaying it to students. For me, this was a reminder that the technology can help generate ideas, but the educator still has to make the final decision about what students should see and how a difficult subject should be introduced. (Cai;in Acosta)
ADL’s version of Ai helpful in classrooms–but with guard rails Read More »
Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, California, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
In this week’s Torah reading, we are commanded: “You shall dwell in sukkot for seven days…so that your generations may know” (Vayikra 23:42–43). We are those generations. (Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.)
Into our sukkot: Part of a continuing chain Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Shel Silverstein (September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) was an American writer, cartoonist, songwriter, and musician. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Silverstein briefly attended college before being drafted into the United States Army. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Shel Silverstein Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
I first heard the story of Jonah in the library at Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School from our librarian, the late Nomi Levy. The kids’ version got the main beats but took out much of the punch. I knew Jonah didn’t want to deliver a message. I thought it was neat that he got swallowed by a big fish, like Pinocchio. But I never questioned why he’d refuse when God was directly telling him to go. Now I can appreciate the philosophical struggle: a prophet sent to help his enemies atone who can’t allow himself to forgive them. (Shor M. Masori)
Jonah and the possibility of forgiveness Read More »
Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The Murray Galinson San Diego-Israel initiative (MGSDII) and the Joan B. Kroc School for Peace Studies will collaborate in bringing two Hebrew University faculty members — a Palestinian and a Jew — to the University of San Diego campus to jointly teach a course in conflict resolution. (SDJW staff report)
The fight against terrorism and antisemitism: Sept. 24, 2026 Read More »
Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
If Macklemore wants to continue calling the situation in Gaza a genocide and turning music concerts into political rallies, he’s free to do so. But Kraft, who is a proud Jew, does not have to give him the platform. (Pearce Alexander)
Macklemore’s free speech was never the issue. His Israel rhetoric was Read More »
Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Prosecutors initially filed aggravated charges of what they described as serious vilification or a hate crime, but they decided that religious animosity was not a motivating factor, according to a news report in Australia’s J-Wire over the weekend. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Drugs made his client slam into gate of Brisbane synagogue, lawyer claims Read More »
Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Yes, do everything you can to heal yourself with doctors, diet and exercise. But then surrender yourself to Gd. Trust in His goodness, and by doing so you allow healing to enter. [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg]
Explanations for why there is illness in the world Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
Linda McCartney (September 24, 1941 – April 17, 1998) was an American photographer, musician, cookbook author, and activist. She was the keyboardist and harmony vocalist in the band Wings, which she had formed with her husband Paul McCartney of the Beatles. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Linda McCartney Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, WikipediaPerhaps that is the deeper journey: first we look inward, then we step outward. First we recognize what needs to change, then we begin living differently. The goal is not to become a perfect person. It is to become a more aware one—a person who can tolerate vulnerability, appreciate what is here, repair what can be repaired, and live with greater intention. (Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]
From Yom Kippur to Sukkot: From teshuvah to transformation Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributorsthe West demanded that Israel dismantle a deeply embedded terrorist army tightly woven into a dense, labyrinthine urban maze, but denied them the chronological timeline required to do it manually. (SDJW staff report)
The fight against terrorism and antisemitism: September 23, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
The West demanded that Israel dismantle a deeply embedded terrorist army tightly woven into a dense, labyrinthine urban maze, but denied them the chronological timeline required to do it manually. [Amy Neustein, Ph,D.]