Joyce Wadler (January 2, 1948) is a journalist and reporter for The New York Times, as well as a writer and humorist. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Joyce Wadler Read More »
News Media, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
A self-described Muslim who told thousands of well-wishers that he grew up “eating bagels and lox every Sunday” was sworn in twice on New Year’s Day 2026 as New York City’s 112th mayor. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Maimonides describes the three steps that lead to behavioral change. First, recognize that what you are doing is wrong. Second, decide to change the behavior to a proper one. Third, begin practicing the new practice and make it a habit that you continue. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
An excellent New Year’s resolution Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
In an age like ours—saturated with images, data, and instant analysis—we often assume that clarity comes from seeing more. If only we had the full picture, the right dashboard, the right report, we could act wisely. Son of Saul dismantles that fantasy. The blur tells us something uncomfortable: total vision is not neutral. It can be a form of domination. To see everything is to risk turning the world into an object. [Sam Ben-Meir]
What ‘Son of Saul’ can teach us about living at the edge of collapse Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast
We would be naive to think this is only a Sydney story. This past Yom Kippur, London experienced its own attack. The numerous attacks around the globe this past year can be listed here, but there’s no need- we are all very aware. Our history has taught us that Antisemitism is not confined to one place. The challenge is not identifying the next location, but deciding how we respond wherever we are. [Ilanit Zakowski]
OpEd: Our survival is built upon our response Read More »
Antisemitism, Ilanit Zakowski, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion
We often look outward when we want to fix the world, but the wisdom of the Mussar movement, founded by Rabbi Israel Salanter, teaches us a different path. He famously reflected that as a young man, he set out to change the world, only to realize his reach was too small. {Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Parsha Vayechi: Inner influence, humility and Hashem Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Viktor Ullmann (January 1, 1898 – October 18, 1944) was a Silesia-born Austrian composer, conductor and pianist. Viktor Ullmann was born on 1 January 1898 in Cieszyn (Teschen), which belonged then to Austrian Silesia in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Viktor Ullmann Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The six wives of Henry VIII with their commanding voices, humor and high-energy anthems are more than historical casualties. The beheadings, miscarriages, and death in childbirth are woven into each song. In era of struggle between Catholicism and emerging Protestantism in 16th-century England the divide is central to the lives of the queens. [Sherrie Rose]
‘SIX,’ Broadway’s Best Musical in 2022, Back for Limited Run in San Diego Read More »
International, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
David Bocarsly, executive director of the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC), hailed a ruling in federal court on Wednesday upholding the constitutionality of AB 715, California’s law attempting to end antisemitism in the public schools. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, News Media, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Monday’s Bibi-Donald summit in Palm Beach produced hardly any news, but it spotlighted a lovefest for the leaders of Israel and America. [Bruce S. Ticker]
OpEd: Trump’s and Netanyahu’s Mutual Admiration Society Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Jule Styne (December 31, 1905 – September 20, 1994) was an English-American songwriter and composer widely known for a series of Broadway musicals, including several famous frequently-revived shows that also became successful films: Gypsy, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Funny Girl. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Jule Styne Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
At the request of the Los Angeles police department, the public will not see immediately the autopsy reports for actor/ director Rob Reiner and his photographer wife Michele Singer Reiner who allegedly were stabbed to death Dec. 14 by their son Nick Reiner. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025 Read More »
Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, News Media, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA
The streets of Tehran and beyond blaze with righteous fury. On Sunday, December 28, merchants in the Grand Bazaar and major commercial districts shut their shops in protest, marking a historic betrayal by a class once instrumental in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. By Monday and Tuesday, the strikes spread relentlessly: goldsmiths, tech vendors, and wholesalers in areas like Alaeddin Mall, Charsou Commercial Complex, Shush market, and Lalehzar joined the shutdowns. Protesters marched through Jomhuri Street, Naser Khosrow, and Istanbul Intersection, clashing with security forces who unleashed tear gas and batons. Defiant individuals, echoing the iconic “Tank Man” of Tiananmen Square, stood unarmed before armored vehicles and riot police, offering their bodies as living monuments of resistance—often swallowed by the regime’s brutal crackdown. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
OpEd: The Birth Pangs of Freedom in Iran Read More »
International, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Smokey Robinson spoke with reverence and gratitude, his words shaped by decades of friendship and shared purpose. Stevie Wonder sang directly to Berry, offering Happy Birthday and You Are the Sunshine of My Life, transforming performance into offering. Otis Williams stood nearby, a living thread connecting generations of sound, discipline, and excellence. [Michael Adam Cohen]
Going Forward With Intention: Berry Gordy, Legacy, and the Jewish Art of Living Well Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Adam Cohen, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors