Jewish Public Affairs Committee Sponsoring 10 Bills in California

David Bocarsly, JPAC executive director, said, his organization “is working with the California Legislative Jewish Caucus and our member organizations to sponsor a package of impactful bills that further antisemitism education, enhance secure infrastructure, and respond to violence and harassment in our schools and throughout our society.” [Press Release, Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California]

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Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, Press Release, San Diego County

KPBS Receives $3 Million Gift from Irwin and Joan Jacobs

KPBS, San Diego’s public broadcasting TV and radio station, has announced it has received a $3 million gift from Irwin and Joan Jacobs to fund the KPBS Democracy Project, which will include a new journalism team focusing on election coverage and local government reporting, ranging from school boards to city councils, over the next three years. [Rick Griffin, Times of San Diego]

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News Media, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Netanyahu cancels delegation’s US trip over UN Security Council vote

Published by DPA Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cancelled the planned trip of an Israeli delegation to the United States after the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza war, his office said on Monday. Israel’s minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, and national security advisor, Zachi

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International, Israel, USA

UN Security Council passes resolution demanding immediate Gaza ceasefire

Published by ANI News New York [US], March 25 (ANI): The United Nations Security Council on Monday approved the resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and the “unconditional” release of all hostages held by Hamas following the October 7 attack on Israel, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. He asserted that the resolution

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International, Israel, Middle East, Nordot, USA

‘Ordinary People’ Examines Family Members’ Response to Loss

Lucinda Moaney and Stephen Pickens in a therapy session in 'Ordinary People' now playing at the PowPac theatre. (Photo: Steve Murdock)

Each member of the family processes the loss in his/her own way, clearly without being seen, heard or understood by each other. The sense of isolation, guilt, and grief are palpable in each character whether they are withholding or exploding with the overwhelming emotions.  [Eva Triegere]

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

Jewish Biography: Leon Blum, Natural Socialist

Reflecting on the Dreyfus affair, on the aggression of the anti-Dreyfusards, Blum puzzledly asked: “What drove them to do this? What drove them? Even today, 35 years later, when I reflect on the past with a mature, cold rationality, it seems to me that I still do not have some of the elements of an answer to this question.” [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Gloria Steinem

In 1972, she was a co-founder with five other women of the feminist magazine Ms.  That same year, Steinem was the first woman to speak at the National Press Club, and ran a campaign to persuade DC Comics to restore Wonder Woman’s original powers.  In 1976, she attended the first women-only Passover seder in the New York City apartment of Esther M. Broner.  In 1979, she wrote a Ms article on female genital mutilation, bringing international attention to the practice. [SDJW staff]

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Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

What are the Messages of Purim?

The story, with its depictions of grand feasts and complex administrative structures, resonates with the grandeur of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Yet, elements of legend, such as the exaggerated descriptions of beauty treatments and gallows, interweave history with myth, painting a captivating picture that blurs the lines between reality and folklore. [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]

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Israel, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Antisemites threaten to boycott next James Bond movie if Aaron Taylor-Johnson lands role over Jewish background

Published by GB News James Bond fans have threatened to stay away from the upcoming set of films in the franchise and made racist threats if Aaron Taylor-Johnson lands the role. According to The Sun, a source said: “Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it. The formal offer is on the table

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Antisemitism, International, Jewish Celebrities, Nordot, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Harris says US not ruling out consequences in case of Rafah offensive

Published by DPA International The US government is not ruling out consequences for Israel if it goes ahead with plans for a ground offensive in Rafah, plans that the White House, Israel’s main backer, strongly opposes. “I am ruling out nothing,” US Vice President Kamala Harris said in an interview broadcast on Sunday when asked

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Israel, Nordot, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Congresswoman Jacobs ‘Outraged’ By Aid Cutoff to UNRWA

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) says that she is “outraged” that a global assistance program recently approved by the House of Representative “excludes funding for UNRWA, which is delivering irreplaceable, life-saving aid to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.  Palestinian children are starving and need relief and cutting off U.S. support for UNRWA will worsen their suffering.” [SDJW staff]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Yom Kippur War Vet Compares Its Causes to Those of War in Gaza

I was a battalion physician in Sinai during the Yom Kippur War. Those who fought and survived the 1973 Yom Kippur War hoped that the bitter lessons of that war had been learned and that Israel would never experience a similar catastrophe. Tragically, one day after the 50th anniversary of that war, history repeated itself with the devastating Hamas attack of October 7. The similarities between these events are chillingly striking. [Itzhak Brook, M.D.]

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Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

An American Firefighter’s Gaza War Diary

We’re responding to a common call – kipat barzel interception – so we’re told to wear “flaks and Kevlars.” After parking the engine, we move quickly as a group toward the home which has been hit; it’s us firefighters, police, ambulance personnel (Magen David Adom), and IDF Homefront Command. Needless to say, as we enter, we overwhelm the residents of the apartment. [Dana Ben Kaplan]

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Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA