Novel probes what an immigrant star did during World War II

This historical novel is loosely inspired by Audrey Hepburn, the Dutch Resistance, and the glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age. It follows two sisters as they reunite after World War II and embark on a journey filled with justice, survival, and long-buried secrets against the backdrop of the Red Scare in Hollywood. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Michael Tilson Thomas and the Yiddish Theater: A Firsthand View

The extraordinary Michael Tilson Thomas (1944–2026), known to his public and colleagues alike as MTT, succumbed in April to an aggressive brain cancer. Conductor, pianist, composer and educator, he was a musicians’ musician, one of dazzling brilliance who was somehow still performing — conducting Mahler symphonies, no less — well beyond anyone’s expectation of what was possible with the grim prognosis he faced. [Ronald Robboy]

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Jewish History, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Write Out Loud to perform three flights of plays to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

As we approach our 250th anniversary, there appears to be a dearth of celebratory events or awareness. It seems to me that we need a boost and reaffirmation now more than ever before. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

JCC presents June 4 musical program in honor of Jerusalem

I will be hosting the program and my guest will be Jerusalem-born Sari Esserman, who will introduce several of the songs and tell us about her early life in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood. Currently a resident of La Jolla, Sari is a respected artist, working in pottery and producing vibrant paintings in oils and pastels. [Eileen Wingard]

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Eileen Wingard, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

NEA accused of antisemitism in federal complaint; Richard Barrera is largest beneficiary of NEA affiliate spending

When the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union with more than 3 million members, is charged with discriminatory practices in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, voters should take notice. [Marsha Sutton]

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California, Jewish History, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA