State Senate Committee Approves Bill to Combat Antisemitism in Schools

“AB 715 delivers the tools, accountability, and urgency needed to make sure every student feels safe in the classroom. Today’s vote affirms that the California Legislature is serious about combating hate and ensuring every child is afforded a safe and supportive learning environment. …” (Press Release)

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Antisemitism, California, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education

Two Years Since Oct. 7 Massacre to Be Commemorated Oct. 9

Jewish Federation of San Diego, together with the Lawrence Family JCC and the Israeli American Council, will present an evening of remembrance and resilience marking two years since the October 7 attacks on 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9 at The Sound at Del Mar Fairgrounds. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

The Mob Takes on American Nazis in This Mystery Novel

Nazis wanted to recruit the baby’s father, aviator Charles Lindbergh, to their cause and figured Hauptmann’s German origins might dissuade Lindbergh from becoming a pro-German, America-First spokesperson who’d argue against American support for Great Britain and its Allies.  (Lindbergh later filled that role.) [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Survey: Fellow Faculty, Staff Ostracizing Many Jewish Professors

In the survey, Jewish-identifying faculty reported facing targeted boycott, smear, and doxxing campaigns from fellow faculty, administrators, or staff on campus. The respondents noted that these antisemitic actions often came with serious professional consequences, both on campus and within professional academic organizations. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

OpEd: Mamdani’s Anti-Israel Rhetoric May Alienate New York’s Jewish Voters

A Mayor Mamdani who crosses Jewish New Yorkers or any other ethnic group will make it all that harder to achieve his reforms, which are wrapped together under a package he dubs “affordability.” That is a fundamental need. Any citizen should be able to afford rent, food, health whether they live in New York City or Dayton, Ohio. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, Israel, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Ki Tavo: The Value of Remembering History

Jews are not the only humans who recognize the importance of remembering the past.  Many ancient wise people recognized the role of history as a guide, its ability to illuminate, the responsibility to remember, and the consequences of forgetting history. Cecero advised us, “To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born will keep you always as a child.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Adat Yeshurun’s Blue & White Zone: Where Torah and Longevity Meet

Perhaps the most powerful reminder was that healthy living is not only about diet or exercise, but about how we move through life with meaning, relationships, and balance. Communities that thrive emphasize walking, gardening, social connection, stress reduction, and a shared sense of purpose. It’s striking how closely this mirrors the Torah’s blueprint: Shabbat, family, mitzvot, gratitude. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

‘The Shabbat Effect’: A Weekly Reset to Restore the Soul

As a Rhodes Scholar, anthropologist, filmmaker, and founder of The Mussar Institute—author of acclaimed works like Everyday Holiness and Climbing Jacob’s Ladder—Morinis presents Shabbat not as a burdensome ritual but as a vital, rejuvenating pause amid modern life’s chaos. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Israeli Violinist Asi Matathias to Give Recital Sept. 11 at the JCC

The native Israeli has traveled the globe performing to great acclaim. The Beijing Music Weekly wrote, “his audience was enraptured;” the Kolner Stadt Anzeiger reported that he “created magic with an immense richness of sound and color;” and Ha’aretz called his performance, “wonderous playing.” [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, International, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘The Heart’ Has the Rhythm of a Broadway-Bound Musical

You might say “how on earth are they going to do a musical about organ donation and make it entertaining?”  But they did that and more. And once you know that it’s by the same director as another surprising musical, Come From Away (Christopher Ashley,) it doesn’t seem that far-fetched.   [Sandi Masori]

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Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast