Meaning and Customs of the Month of Elul Elucidated

“Elul is the 12th and final month in the Jewish calendar, the sixth month counting from Nisan. Leading up to the High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is a month that connects the past year with the coming year – a time when we reflect on where we stand and where we should be going,” said Rebbetzin Chaya Andrusier to the Jewish Women’s Circle’s “Torah and Tea” on Thursday, August 28. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Leon Lewis Fought American Nazis in Los Angeles

Lewis secretly created a spy network with sympathetic disabled German American World War 1 veterans he knew.  The veterans were horrified by Nazism and how it could turn German Americans into dangerous pariahs in their own country.  They volunteered to penetrate the Bund. [Jerry Klinger]

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Antisemitism, California, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jews are Engaging More and Deepening Involvement in Jewish Life

Here in San Diego, home to one of the largest Jewish communities in North America, this notion of belonging is especially relevant. And yet, despite our size and vibrancy, only 11% of local Jews report feeling a strong sense of belonging to the San Diego Jewish community. This is both a sobering reality and a call to action. [Darren Schwartz]

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Antisemitism, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Sounding the Shofar During the Hebrew Month of Elul

Yesterday, I attended Chabad of East County’s Jewish Women’s Circle “Torah and Tea.” At the end of the lesson, Rabbi Rafi Andrusier emerged from his office and blew the shofar. When I hear its sound, I always close my eyes and imagine myself transported to Israel, joining my ancestors and the generations before me in the shared act of listening, praying, and setting intentions. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘The Boomer Archaeologist’ is UCSD Prof. Thomas Levy’s Very Readable Personal Memoir and Scientific Findings

Illustrated by Lily Almeida, this paperback chronicles Levy’s remarkable five-decade career as a Levantine archaeologist, weaving a rich narrative that blends autobiography with groundbreaking discoveries in the ancient Near East. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, Travel and Food, USA

Approximately 300 Students Attend Hillel’s ‘Welcome Back’ Party

Watching nearly 300 students schmooze, eat, laugh, and celebrate the beginning of the school year at Hillel of San Diego’s Welcome Back BBQ was pretty much on brand for how we do things. Big! Bold! Fun! Connected! [Karen Parry]

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Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Recorded Performances of 12 Great Jewish Violinists to Be Heard

Great Jewish Violinists: the first of this coming season’s “Treasures from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library” presentations, will take place Thursday, Sept. 4, 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the library of the Lawrence Family JCC. I will be introducing the twelve artists who will be heard in recorded selections from the violin repertoire. [Eileen Wingard]

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

An Interview with Judy Collins: 86 Years Young and an Incredibly Talented Songstress

Some conversations feel like pure magic, illuminating, warm, and timeless. Sitting with Judy Collins, the iconic folk legend, is exactly that. She has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a steadfast commitment to social activism. [Michael Adam Cohen]

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Michael Adam Cohen, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Prayer as a Catalyst: Responding to the Annunciation Tragedy

The tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, where 23-year-old Robin Westman allegedly killed two children and injured 17 others during a Mass, has sparked intense debate about the role of prayer in responding to such tragedies. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

ADL San Diego Pledges to Help Create ‘Inclusive and Safe Learning Environments’

The loss of two students and the injury of many others has deeply impacted another faith community and it reminds us why it’s so important to continue showing up against hate with compassion and clarity. We encourage you to check in on your Catholic neighbors, attend local gatherings if you’re able, and help ensure no community faces tragedy in isolation. Read more in ADL’s analysis here. [Fabienne Perlov]

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Antisemitism, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

A Foundation for Nature Lovers in San Diego

We learned that bats are very good for the environment as they devour insects. Some bats can eat up to half their size. Nectar slurping bats also pollinate. Finally, bats disperse seeds that facilitate plant growth. We learned that every bat species has a unique story and value, but sadly, many bat species are endangered. [Mimi Pollack]

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Mimi Pollack, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

Parsha Shoftim: Bash Less, Bless More

Shoftim opens with the words: Shoftim v’shotrim titein lecha, “Appoint judges and officers for yourself.” The word lecha, “for yourself,” points to something deeply personal. Beyond society’s courts, each of us must establish an inner system of judgment. Elul calls us to engage in cheshbon hanefesh, soul-accounting: weighing our choices, acknowledging our strengths, and facing our shortcomings with honesty. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors