Drumatix Performance Features Percussion and Improvisation

The ensemble consisted of seven members, one being a male. Each one had a unique style and “voice” in their way of dancing, interacting with the audience, and the general presence on stage. While each was different, together they created a cohesive experience for the viewers that was incredibly engaging. The performance was full of surprising props that one would not consider instruments such as spoons and bubble wrap as well as traditional instruments such as drums, and a keyboard. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Albert Kreimerman, Israel, Miriam Gershenson, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

AJC Calls for Standing Together, Fighting Antisemitism through Alliances

What spoke loudly throughout the February 2 event was the realization among the American Jewish community that standing strong in the fight against the pervasive antisemitism ravaging American society (including school and university campuses) means standing together with non-Jewish allies. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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

Trump’s Department of Education to Investigate Antisemitism at 5 Universities

The U.S. Department of Education on Monday, Feb. 3, announced investigations into five institutions of higher education where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported. The investigations are in response to the explosion of antisemitism on American campuses following the Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, 2023.    [Press Release]

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

Curator of ‘RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust’ A Guest of Honor at Surprise Luncheon

Holocaust Survivors and staffers for the Jewish Federation of San Diego conspired with Ron Cohn of the Cohn Restaurant Group on Friday, Jan. 31, to surprise Sandy Scheller, curator of the exhibit RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust, now being shown at the La Jolla Library. [Mike Wallenfels]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Janis Ian in ‘Breaking Silence’ Tells of Being an Ugly Girl at 17, Interracial Dating, Her Lesbian Choice

The audience at the Jewish Community Center who attended Breaking Silence: The Story of Janis Ian truly got a special treat, with the singer/ songwriter herself in attendance to answer questions from the crowd. [Sandy Scheller]

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Jewish Celebrities, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

OpEd: Why Young People Distrust the Democratic Party

People in my generation (and younger) don’t really trust those in power or our institutions. And we have good reason for that. I was in 7th grade when the September 11th attacks happened, and then I watched the U.S. spend billions of dollars – and deploy millions of servicemembers – to fight endless wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. … (Congresswoman Sara Jacobs)

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International, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Tariffs

As ‍a ‍result ‍of ‍The ‍United ‍States–Israel ‍Free ‍Trade ‍Agreement ‍signed ‍in ‍1985, ‍there ‍are ‍few ‍tariffs ‍or ‍duties ‍on ‍goods ‍traded ‍between ‍the ‍United ‍States ‍and ‍Israel. ‍But ‍there ‍are ‍still ‍some ‍tariffs ‍in ‍effect ‍between ‍the ‍two ‍countries. ‍This ‍includes ‍United ‍States ‍tariffs ‍on ‍Israeli ‍“meat ‍of ‍bovine ‍animals,” ‍and ‍Israeli ‍tariffs ‍on ‍live ‍fish ‍including ‍tilapia, ‍carp, ‍and ‍trout. ‍What ‍tariffs ‍has ‍Israel ‍imposed ‍on ‍other ‍countries? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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International, Israel, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Gymnast Survived Nazis; Went on to Become Gold Medalist in Olympics

This book, written in simple language for children between the ages of 5 and 9, tells of Ágnes being banned from the national gymnasium because she was Jewish.  In response, she secretly practiced early in the morning at an unlit, unheated high school gym with her friend Istvan Sarkany. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Biography: Fromental Halévy, Composer of Operas and Jewish Sacred Music

Halévy’s seminal work is the opera The Jewess (La Juive), which became one of the cornerstones of the French repertoire for a century. It was a grand opera in five acts, including ballet, choruses, spectacular processions and festivities. The premiere of the opera, based on a libretto by the famous French playwright Eugène Scribe, was a colossal success at the Grand Opera House in Paris on February 23, 1835. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘Sabbath Queen’ Tells of an Orthodox Rabbi Who Became a Drag Queen

Sabbath Queen shown Sunday night at the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival documents the life of Amichai Lau-Lavie, the Rabbi and founding spiritual leader of Lab/Shul in NYC.  The documentary combines archival footage, 21 years of filming and animation to tell the story of Lau-Lavie’s spiritual journey. [Robin Dishman]

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Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

San Diego-Based Photographer Specializes in Dog Portraits

Bayer is a pet photographer who comes to you and travels the country. Although San Diego is her home base, she and her husband spend a better part of the year traveling the country in their Airstream, taking photos for both private and commercial clients. [Mimi Pollack]

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Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

An “Interview” with a Groundhog

“I might add that it is quite a puzzling day for me too. You see, I have a little touch of rheumatism and, like everyone else, I want the warmth of spring to come early, too. So every year at about this time I get my sunglasses and consider putting them on. so I won’t see my shadow or be bothered by the snow. But then I start worrying, especially since I can never remember whether I’m supposed to stay outside or go back into my hole – er, house.” [Bruce F. Lowitt]

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Bruce F. Lowitt, Jewish Fiction, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Israeli Researchers Warn of a Pandemic in the Oceans

An international team of researchers led by scientists from Tel Aviv University (TAU) has discovered that the pathogen responsible for the mass deaths of sea urchins along the Red Sea coast is the same one responsible for mass mortality events among sea urchins off the coast of Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. [Press Release]

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International, Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education