This is the only Yom HaShoah event dedicated annually to commemorating the heroism of Jews who endangered their own lives to rescue fellow Jews during the Holocaust. [Press Release]
Holocaust ceremony scheduled to honor 4 Jewish rescuers Read More »
Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Press Release
Barry Levinson (April 6, 1942) is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Levinson won the Academy Award for Best Director for Rain Man (1988). His other best-known works are Diner (1982), The Natural (1984), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Bugsy (1991), and Wag the Dog (1997). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Barry Levinson Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
In the USSR, the main character of jokes that mocked the Jews was Rabinovich. This surname came to embody the typical Soviet Jew. [Alex Gordon]
The burden and delight of carrying the name ‘Rabinovich’ Read More »
Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Liberating the groaning is to make the caging groan again and once more and with added horrid measure.
But the newly freed in their embarking,
heading out, moving on, turning, arriving, and decamping,
shoulder their cage steel trap every freedom step forward. … [Yossef Ben-Meir]
Passover poetry: ‘Leaping Frogs’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Yossef Ben-Meir
Judith Resnik (April 5, 1949 – January 28, 1986) was an American electrical engineer, software engineer, biomedical engineer, pilot and NASA astronaut who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. She was the fourth woman, the second American woman and the first Jewish woman of any nationality to fly in space, logging 145 hours in orbit. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Judith Resnik Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Its daily rhythm offers 49 opportunities to pause, reflect, and notice the sacred within ordinary life. It doesn’t require deep knowledge, only intention and curiosity. [Betzy Lynch]
Counting the Omer: a menu of meditations Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors
David Blaine (April 4, 1973) is an American magician, mentalist, and endurance performer. Born in New York City, Blaine became interested in magic at a very young age. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: David Blaine Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
As leaders committed to protecting the safety and dignity of the Black and Jewish communities in San Diego, we have been in constant conversation about the troubling rise of antisemitism and racism over the past three years. [Fabienne Perlov & Al Abdallah]
Black and Jewish communities must work together to combat hate Read More »
Antisemitism, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The San Diego Jewish Arts Festival (JFest) announces its 2026 season, marking a major milestone as the festival presents its first year as an independent arts organization. (It previously was produced in association with the Lyceum Theatre.)
May 12-July 14 JFest schedule announced Read More »
International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Press Release, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
One, Two … forty-nine. Counting the Omer. Last night, we began the first day of counting the Omer. This leads up to the night before Shavuot, when the Jewish people received the Torah and celebrated freedom from Egypt. I have an app that I download every year, which reminds me to say the blessing, so I don’t miss a day. [Cailin Acosta]
Seven weeks of counting starts now Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
Instead, Bruno notices his friend Julie and his younger sister Martha carrying a baby in a basket. Curious, he follows them rather than boarding the train. Earlier that morning, the baby had been left on the steps of the Belle Beach Library during the dedication of the new children’s library. [Cailin Acosta]
A mystery at Belle Beach Library Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Jonathan Lynn (April 3, 1943) is a British-American film director, screenwriter, and actor. He directed the comedy films Clue, Nuns on the Run, My Cousin Vinny, and The Whole Nine Yards [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Jonathan Lynn Read More »
Wikipedia
Linda Moskovics is a retired former head librarian at the Benjamin branch of the San Diego City Library system. She has now written a children’s book, for ages 4-14, inveighing against “too much screen time [that] can quietly steal joy, focus, sleep, and connection. It can increase anxiety, harm social skills, impact brain development and crowd out important life experiences.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Children’s lives enriched by screen time alternatives Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA
Every element on our Seder plate speaks. Every drop of wine we spill teaches us something. The matzah in our hands, the bitter herbs on our tongues, the salt water that tastes like memory, these are not illustrations of the story. They are the story, and we are invited to step inside it once more. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]
Pesach itself is this week’s D’var Torah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell