The difficulties we encounter aren’t signs of abandonment. They’re spiritual training. Like a coach who pushes athletes beyond their comfort zones, Hashem invites us to grow past where we thought our limits were. Without that friction, our souls would stay soft, our values underdeveloped. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]
Parsha Eikev: Growing Through Love and Limits Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Herzl Rosenblum (August 14, 1903 – February 1, 1991), was an Israeli journalist and politician. A signatory of the Israeli declaration of independence, he worked as editor of Yedioth Ahronoth for more than 35 years. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthay: Herzl Rosenblum Read More »
Israel, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Recently, the Times of San Diego published an opinion piece, (which was republished by San Diego Jewish World) titled “As a Father, Jew and Councilmember, I’m Appalled by Brutality in Gaza” by Sean Elo-Rivera.
While I respect the sincerity behind that essay and the concern it reflects for the lives of all children, it represents a troubling trend in our public discourse: invoking Jewish identity as a moral credential to justify arguments built on ahistorical comparisons and dangerous false moral equivalence. [Mitch Danzig, Times of San Diego]
OpEd: Jewish Values Demand Moral Clarity–Not Equivalence–in Gaza Read More »
Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, San Diego County, USA
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, adopted three new policy statements: 1) Strengthening Security to Confront and Protect Against Antisemitic Violence; 2) Championing Pluralism Within the Zionist Movement and 3) America at 250: A Call to Celebrate and Strengthen Our Democracy. [Press Release]
Hadassah Promulgates 3 New Policy Statements Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Press Release, USA
Assistant conductor Robert Zelickman led the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO) in a crisp, nuanced and energetic reading of Saint-Saens’ March Militaire Francais to start off the matinee Pops Concert in the Synagogue’s Cohen Social Hall. [Eileen Wingard]
Varied TICO Concert Features Light Classical and Pop Selections Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Two Torahs saved from the Holocaust were obtained, one from the Czech Republic; the other from Hungary. A congregant whose hobby is woodworking built the Holy Ark within which to keep them. Another congregant created a rustic chuppah. Jewish books were donated to the congregational library. Temple Sukkat Shalom (Shelter of Peace) is small, yet compact. [Donald H. Harrison]
Alaskan Synagogue Depends on Volunteers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
Do you know the expression: 2 Jews and 3 opinions? Both sides of an argument are valued in Judaism, even to the point of recording the majority and minority viewpoints in the Talmud (the written commentary of the oral Jewish laws describing customs, ethics, and history). [Steve Kramer]
Bert Lahr (August 13, 1895 – December 4, 1967), was an American actor and comedian. He was best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion, as well as his counterpart Kansas farmworker “Zeke”, in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer adaptation of The Wizard of Oz (1939). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Bert Lahr Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Henna is seen to ward off the evil eye and increase fertility. In recent generations, more Jews with Sephardic roots are incorporating this practice into their nuptials. [Cailin Acosta]
Henna Rituals Growing in Popularity Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
Substantial work remains to effectively fight antisemitism on campus. However, cutting vital federal research funding or imposing a billion-dollar penalty would instead harm students, disrupt life-saving research, threaten economic growth, and undermine one of the nation’s most respected public university systems. [Press Release]
JPAC Opposes Penalizing UCLA $1 Billion for Failing to Protect Jewish Students Read More »
California, Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
This landmark legislation positions Highland Park as the first city in Illinois to enshrine this definition through an ordinance rather than a resolution. The ordinance requires the city manager to incorporate the IHRA working definition and its eleven contemporary examples when implementing employment and anti-discrimination policies. [Press Release]
Illinois City Makes IHRA Definition of Antisemitism an Ordinance Read More »
Antisemitism, Holocaust, Jewish History, Press Release, USA
The biblical portion Ekev begins in Deuteronomy 7:12, saying, “The Lord your God will protect you with the covenant and mercy that He swore to your fathers because you obey these laws and do them.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Religious Significance of Habits Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Having experienced the fear of persecution by executioners, he became the epitome of courage and bravery. Having learned what absolute evil was, he became an absolutely good man. [Alex Gordon]
George Soros (August 12, 1930) is a Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist. As of May 2025, he has a net worth of US$7.2 billion, having donated more than $32 billion to the Open Society Foundations, of which $15 billion has already been distributed, representing 64% of his original fortune. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: George Soros Read More »
Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia