Drawing Inspiration–and a Name–from the Purim Story

Instead of giving my 13-year-old daughter a generational Hebrew name, a few years ago, while attending Hebrew School at Chabad of East County. I gave her the choice and she chose Esther. She said Queen Esther was a courageous woman, stood her ground and saved our people. [Cailin Acosta]

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

Contemporary Torah Interpretation: Ki Tissa

When Moses comes down from Mount Sinai, he’s holding the rules by which they were to live and sees this golden calf party. Dancing and drinking are happening. But the righteous indignation was real—Moses smashed the tablets. Can you imagine the scene? Tablets shattered. Music stopped. People caught in mid-twerk. Silence. It was awkward. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Parsha Ki Tissa: Bend or Break, Adapt to Advance

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. EL CAJON, California — This week’s Torah portion, Ki Tisa, provides us a powerful reflection on human nature, faith, and the psychological challenges we all face in our lives. The events surrounding the creation of the Golden Calf teach us about the consequences of our being impatient, inflexible and lacking

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

A ‘How To’ Book for Activists Pushing a Noble Cause

– For activists pushing a cause, this book offers nine tips for success.  It was written by one of the nation’s foremost advocates for inclusion in all walks of life of people with disabilities. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Ethiopian Jew’s Personal Journey Fascinates San Diego Audience

As a six-year-old child, Samuel went from an agrarian religious life in Ethiopia to urban Israel of 1984.  She reviewed the culture shock that she and her family experienced upon arrival to Israel and the prejudice that still exists towards Ethiopian Jews.  [Robin Dishman]

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International, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

OpEd: Israel Must Be Prickly Like a Porcupine

Israel’s softheartedness is a big problem. I’m not advocating that Israelis copy the inhuman, atrocious behavior of our enemies, but there must be a change from Israel trying to please the UN (won’t happen), the EU (won’t happen), the International Red Cross (won’t happen), and so many other individuals and groups (won’t happen). [Steve Kramer]

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer

List of 60 Universities Under Investigation for Antisemitism

“The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.  [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, California, Press Release, San Diego County, USA

A Tour of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation

The Center is situated overlooking the beach at the point where Jaffa joins Tel-Aviv and where young Shimon Persky (later Peres) disembarked from the ship bringing him from Belorussia to Mandatory Palestine in 1934. After studying agriculture at the Ben Shemen school and helping to found Kibbutz Ma’alot in the Jordan valley, Peres was selected by Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, to acquire arms for the nascent State of Israel. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, Travel and Food

The Soille Family Makes an Impact in San Diego

Rabbi Soille davened at the Beth Jacob synagogue which was located at the time in North Park.  While the synagogue did not have a mechitza, Rabbi Soille would daven in the front area by the bimah which was surrounded by a metal rod iron wall.  Rabbi Soille was very close with the Rabbi of the synagogue, Rabbi Baruch Stern, and they would eat over at each other’s homes on Shabbat. [Avraham Dimenstein]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA