[E]very single actor inhabited his role. Brown’s choices were perfect and I can’t imagine John Steinbeck having a quarrel with any of them. The leads, George (John Carroll) and Lennie (Knight Padilla) are truly some of the most gifted actors I’ve seen on our local stages and anywhere else. [Eva Trieger]
‘Of Mice and Men’ — A Must See Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Later that day, as I was setting up for a Shine a Light Shabbat at Immaculate Conception Church in Old Town, I began to imagine what it might be like to sit at a Shabbat table with Rabbi Salanter and Dr. King. [Betzy Lynch]
An imaginary meeting between MLK and Rabbi Salanter Read More »
Antisemitism, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The play’s subject and the incident it depicts are based on true events. In 1983, beloved children’s author, the 6’6” Roald Dahl, reviewed a book about the siege of West Beirut by the Israeli army during the 1982 Lebanon War. That review was widely viewed as antisemitic. [Karen Galatz, The Matzo Chronicles]
Tackling a legend and antisemitism, ‘Giant’ comes to Broadway Read More »
Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish History, Karen Galatz, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Nikolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian diplomat, who had served as the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, now will serve as the High Representative of the Board of Peace, the Board’s day-to-day representative on the ground. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the News: Saturday evening, Jan. 17, 2026 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Daniel Gilbert (January 17, 1962) is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is the co-founder, majority owner, and chairman of Rocket Mortgage, and founder of Rock Ventures. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Dan Gilbert Read More »
Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
He founded Beit T’Shuvah in Los Angeles, a pioneering recovery center that fuses Jewish spirituality with addiction treatment. Residents don’t just talk recovery; they live it through Torah study, Shabbat observance, and honest confrontation with their souls. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Walking through a year of your life with two rabbis Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California I attended the funeral Friday morning of my second cousin, Russ Christensen, and learned so much about him from all the speakers. When I was a child, he was more like an uncle to me. My husband had to work, but said he enjoyed all the computer programming
A cousin’s funeral has her wondering about her own legacy Read More »
Travel and Food
Within a month after passage, a complaint seeking to halt the Jan. 1 implementation of the bill was filed against Newsom, Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. The complaint claimed the law restricts teachers’ free speech rights, is vague and ambiguous, and denies students full learning opportunities. [Marsha Sutton, Times of San Diego]
AB 715, abolishing antisemitism in K-12 classrooms, ruled constitutional Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, Israel, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Efrat Sopher, head of the World Jewish Congress’s International Task Force on Iran and Islamic Extremism, said Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi may have the experience and the experience of the team around him, as well as widespread support in Iran, to lead the country which overthrew his father, the Shah, in 1979. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the news: Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Wikipedia
This moment of raw courage—ordinary Iranians facing murder squads, risking torture and death for dignity, women’s rights, and an end to clerical tyranny—deserves global attention. Yet, much of the Western liberal establishment, academia, mainstream media, and progressive circles have responded with disturbing silence or minimal engagement. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
The apathetic West needs to wake up! Read More »
International, Israel, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Susan Sontag (January 16, 1933 – December 28, 2004) was an American writer and critic. She mostly wrote essays, but also published novels; she published her first major work, the essay “Notes on ‘Camp’ ”, in 1964. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Susan Sontag Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
A day of national mourning for the 15 slain victims of the Bondi Beach massacre will be observed in Australia on Thursday, Jan. 22. The preceding Monday at 9:30 a.m. Australian time (2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, San Diego time) the federal Parliament will consider a condolence motion. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the news: Thursday, Jan. 15. 2025 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The question many readers are asking is not whether Gaza deserves coverage; it is why this conflict receives such singular, repetitive attention while other humanitarian catastrophes are treated as footnotes or ignored altogether. [Helene Ziman]
An open letter to the editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune Read More »
International, Israel, News Media, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Police have not acted quickly enough, and they have not prosecuted to the max, if at all. Forceful enforcement of the law is the only way to deter these lawbreakers. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Opinion: Anti-Israel rhetoric, demonstrations get a free pass Read More »
Bruce Ticker, International, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA