The holiday of Shavuot starts Sunday night, June 1, and ends Tuesday night, June 3. This is the holiday after Pesach anticipated by the counting of the Omer. It is traditional to eat dairy items and one of those favorites is cheesecake. [Cailin Acosta]
Countywide Shavuot Observances Listed Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Shulamit Reinharz seamlessly melds the scattered pages of her father Max Rothschild’s journals and her own commentary into compelling reading about the experience of hiding during the Holocaust. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Hiding in Holland’ a Compelling Holocaust Memoir Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
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]
OpEd: Trump and the ‘Mad-Man Walk’ Technique Read More »
International, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA, Yakov Nayerman
Idina Menzel (May 30, 1971) is an American actress and singer. Particularly known for her work in musicals on Broadway, she has been nicknamed the “Queen of Broadway” for her commanding stage presence, powerful mezzo-soprano voice, and reputation as one of the most influential stage actors of her generation. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Idina Menzel Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Rashi, with his profound insight, offers a beautiful explanation. He teaches that God counted Israel out of God’s deep love for them, just as one counts their precious possessions. [Barrett Holman Leak]
Contemporary Torah: The Power of Being Counted Read More »
Barrett Holman Leak, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Arendt: “Propaganda provided the foundations for building totalitarian power. The Nazis translated the propaganda lies of the movement into a functioning reality. Totalitarianism replaces all first-rate talents with crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty. The Nazis act as though the world were dominated by the Jews and needed a counter-conspiracy to defend itself.” [Eric George Tauber]
Hannah Arendt Documentary Warns of Totalitarianism Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
This past month, I had the privilege of traveling to Israel with our dear friend and Jewish National Fund-USA partner, Todd Patkin, on his first visit to our homeland since 2016. Together, we traced the past, present, and future of Zionism—not through textbooks or memories, but through blueprints and a bold vision. [Russell Robinson]
JNF-USA Tours Its Projects in Israel’s Negev Read More »
Israel, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Authored by Assemblymembers Rick Chavez Zbur and Dawn Addis, sponsored by the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC), and supported by a coalition of 47 Jewish organizations, the bill continues to gain extraordinary bipartisan momentum in the fight against antisemitism in K-12 schools. [Press Release]
Assembly Adopts Bill Defending against Antisemitism in K-12 Schools Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education
“All Holocaust survivors’ stories are extraordinary and precious because of the improbable odds of outwitting Hitler and escaping the Nazis’ meticulous and murderous rampages,” states Karen A. Frenkel at the beginning of her family’s stories of survival before, during, and after the Nazi invasion of present-day Ukraine. [Cailin Acosta]
Holocaust Memoir Tells of Family’s Strength to Survive Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Was it peaceful protest to attack and injure janitorial employees at Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall a year ago? To seize and occupy the same building? To block traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge, the approach to Chicago’s congested O’Hare International Airport and the jammed southbound lanes of the 110 freeway below the iconic four-level stacked interchange in Los Angeles? [Bruce S. Ticker]
Those who had never seen Neil Diamond perform live must have felt for the first time the excitement of actor Nick Fradiani’s charm and vocal skills doing a dead-on characterization. This wasn’t an interpretation…you closed your eyes and could swear it was Neil Diamond. [Douglas Friedman]
‘A Beautiful Noise’ is a Gem of a Production Portraying Neil Diamond Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Mahler’s Third Symphony, An Ode to Nature, opened with a cloudburst of sound as eight horns intoned the opening theme in faultless unison. This longest of symphonies,100 minutes in duration, with six movements, never lost momentum under the energetic conducting of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director, Rafael Payare. [Eileen Wingard]
Soloists, Chorus, and Choir Shine in Mahler’s ‘Ode to Nature’ Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
It’s a narrative of transition—from dependence to agency, from miracles to management. Within its verses unfold the full drama of collective life: the struggle for leadership and legitimacy, the fear and promise of scarcity and abundance, the frictions of war and fragile peacetimes. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]
Parsha Bamidbar: Navigating Fear with Faith Read More »
Antisemitism, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Ted Levine (May 29, 1957) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Jame Gumb (Buffalo Bill) in the film The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Leland Stottlemeyer in the television series Monk (2002–2009). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Ted Levine Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia