San Diego Jewish Community Counts the Omer

The days between Passover and Shavout include counting the Omer. The countdown represents the time between our ancestors’ liberation and the time they accepted the responsibility of becoming Torah-observing Jews. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Aaron, Job, and Holocaust Survivors Wrestled with Spiritual Pain

On Yom HaShoah, we pause to remember the millions whose lives were extinguished in the Holocaust, their voices silenced by unimaginable atrocities. Their suffering, and the silence that often followed, echoes the biblical narratives of Aaron and Job … [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson Novels Now Available on Audio

A few weeks ago, Dorothea received at her home office in Mevasseret Zion, Israel, an email from ‘Customer Support’ of KDP, the arm of Amazon which publishes books, telling her that she had been selected to produce the audiobook version of her books using virtual voice narration. [SDJW staff]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Memoir Combines Career in TV News with LGBTQ Memories

Glaser believes he was the first on-air news personality to publicly identify as gay, commenting during a 1994 broadcast on KNBC: “As a gay man who’s lost more than a few friends to the virus, I am grateful to Elizabeth Glaser [no relation] for helping to heighten awareness of AIDS outside the ga and lesbian community.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Lifestyles, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Yom HaShoah Remembrance: Miriam Samuel, My Aunt, z”l

Oh, Marijke, that scene is etched in my mind,
As friends turned to foes, oh, how cruel and unkind.
Neighbors swooped in like vultures in flight,
“Let me take this; I’ll claim it,” they’d bite. … {Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors

OpEd: ‘Project Esther’ Will Not Save Us; Just the Reverse

Under Project Esther, the cause of fighting antisemitism will be used as cover to attack and take funds away from American universities and colleges, state educational programs, local schools, and online academia, among other entities. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Netflix Documentary Tells of 7 Jewish Siblings who Survived Nazi Germany

‘Unbroken’ is based on the true story of the Weber family that escaped Nazi Germany and immigrated to America. The World War II documentary by Beth Lane explores the areas in Germany where her mother’s family lived and re-traces her family’s stories of survival. This documentary is streamed on Netflix as of April 23 in honor of Yom HaShoah. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Yom HaShoah Remembrance: Leo Samuel, My Father, z”l

Religion shaped our lives every single day,
My father was faithful, guiding in his way.
With Rabbi skills, though he chose business,
His heart stayed true, despite the stress. … [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors