His opinions about Australia’s leadership should be given due weight in the wake of the Dec. 14 massacre of 15 celebrants at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on the first night of Chanukah and the Dec. 25 bombing in Melbourne of an unoccupied car toting a mobile billboard that said, “Happy Chanukah.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Collaborations with Tara Kemp and Niki Haris arrived not through strategy, but alignment. In Jewish mysticism, souls recognize each other across lifetimes. These partnerships feel like that. Voices that carry history, strength, and survival. Together, they are not chasing relevance. They are restoring lineage. [Michael Adam Cohen]
The Perry Twins: Rhythm, Resonance, and the Revolution of Joy Read More »
California, Jewish Religion, Michael Adam Cohen, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
A notable shift has emerged among progressive, reformist, and moderate Muslim leaders worldwide. From 2023 onward, these voices have more openly condemned political Islam (or Islamism)—the ideology seeking coercive theocratic governance, supremacism, and authoritarian control—while distinguishing it from Islam as a personal faith. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Global Pushback Against Radical Islamists Read More »
International, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed, “We are blessed to share a nation and a Savior.” Similarly, Defense Secretary Hegseth asserted, “Today, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” The inherent problem with these messages is that they use a collective “we” to describe religious views and beliefs, as if these are views and beliefs that all Americans share. [Halie Soifer]
Trump’s Cabinet Secretaries Send Christian Messages on Federal Websites Read More »
Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-California) and Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) have introduced legislation that, except under extraordinary circumstances, would confine Border Patrol law enforcement activities to 25 miles north of the international border with Mexico. [Donald H. Harrison]
I appreciate you stating clearly in a recent interview that antisemitism has no place in your political movement. However, the notion that our concerns about this bigotry on the right are “overstated by people who want to avoid having a foreign policy conversation about Israel” does not align with facts. [Roz Rothstein, StandWithUs]
StandWithUs CEO Roz Rothstein Sends ‘Open Letter’ to Vice President JD Vance Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Provisioned with a variety of tamales, bañuelos (crispy-thin dough sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, a typical Mexican holiday dessert, muy delicioso!), and my father-in-law’s “famous rum cake,” my family and I are heading back to “somewhat sunny” San Diego from El Paso. (Cailin Acosta)
Our Shtetl: Thoughts on a Drive Back to San Diego Read More »
Cailin Acosta, California, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
Eli Cohen (December 26, 1924 – May 18, 1965) was an Egyptian-born Israeli spy. He is best known for his espionage work in Syria between 1961 and 1965, where he developed close relationships with the Syrian political and military hierarchy. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Eli Cohen Read More »
Jewish History, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Officially, we don’t close the federal government for Christmas, which is a religious holiday. We close federal offices in celebration of December 25th [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
From the first loud toilet flush, audiences knew that All in the Family was
something new. They often tackled Racism, Sexism and Xenophobia. They didn’t just argue about the War in Vietnam, but whether to extend hospitality to a draft dodger one Christmas. [Eric George Tauber]
Rob Reiner, His Name and Memory for a Blessing Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Jewish Celebrities, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
This Yosef is profoundly different from the young man we met years earlier in Vayeishev, the one who brought negative reports about his brothers and spoke without sensitivity. Twenty years later, shaped by betrayal, suffering, responsibility, and faith, Yosef has grown into someone emotionally wise and spiritually grounded. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]
Parsha Vayigash: Joseph’s Story is One of Emotional Growth Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Avraham Mordechai Alter (December 25, 1865 – June 13, 1948), was also known as the Imrei Emes after the works he authored. He was fourth Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Avraham Mordechai Alter Read More »
Jewish History, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
There is a Hasidic teaching that every soul enters the world carrying its own melody, and the task of life is not to invent it, but to remember it. When Averginos speaks of music arriving beyond his conscious knowledge, of harmonies flowing through him that exceeded his formal training, he is describing this remembrance. The self does not lead. It relaxes. And something greater moves through. [Michael Adam Cohen]
Paul Avgerinos and the Gentle Art of Remembering: Listening for the Still, Small Sound Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Adam Cohen, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) and four other Western States senators are calling on Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to delay the scheduled Jan. 1 imposition of new fees for non-U.S. residents to visit national parks and monuments, including the Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego. [Donald H. Harrison]