The Baal Shem Tov and modern-day visitors from Sha’ar HaNegev

Before the Baal Shem Tov, Judaism was often centered on texts, scholarship, and institutions. The Baal Shem Tov shifted the focus toward people. He taught that G-d could be found not only in study halls, but also in conversations, melodies, shared meals, acts of kindness, and human connection. [Betzy Lynch]

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Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Spider-Noir’s’ deep Jewish and San Diego roots

Tthe premiere of Amazon Prime Video’s new live-action series “Spider-Noir” proves that the two are inextricably linked. Dropping its entire eight-episode first season on Wednesday May 27, 2026, the series arrived as a cinematic triumph that can be watched in standard color or a gorgeous, authentic, high-contrast black-and-white film noir cut that honors the golden age of cinema. (Barrett Holman Leak)

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Barrett Holman Leak, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Satire: Truth in advertising for presidential products

The U.S. Treasury Department is designing a $250 bill that will feature Donald Trump’s face to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Since I’ve grown accustomed to Trump putting his name and picture on everything, all I ask is for truth in advertising for currency and merchandise. [Laurie Baron]

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Business & Finance, Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Supervisor Lawson-Remer hails vote to supplement funding for First 5 services

I’ve been focused on protecting First 5 San Diego’s Healthy Development Services program, which over nearly two decades has helped more than 352,000 San Diego children and families. It fills a gap too many families know well: your child needs help, but the delay may not be severe enough to qualify for school-based services or other programs. So families are told to wait. But when you’re talking about a child’s brain development, waiting is not neutral. Waiting can mean falling further behind. [Terra Lawson-Remer]

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Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

JDCA works to restore Jewish trust in the Democratic party

Trump’s blatant corruption and abuse of power, enabled by the Supreme Court’s elimination of guardrails on the presidency, have created unprecedented threats to our democracy and freedom. A Democratic win in 2026 is essential to restoring checks and balances, transparency, and accountability in government. [Halie Soifer]

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Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Without a book to read, author mulls eight novels she wrote

(I) could not contemplate any journey without having a book to read. But last week I had to endure that half-hour journey without proper reading matter, a predicament I hope never to have to repeat. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Tchotchkes: Why we cling to the things with no use

Psychologists who study material culture suggest that tchotchkes function as “externalized memory drives.” In a fast-moving world, our brains are notoriously unreliable narrators. We forget the exact smell of the salt air on a vacation from 2012; we forget the specific cadence of a late-night conversation with an old friend. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Enjoy ‘The Sound of Music,’ but please don’t break out in song

If you are one of the people, like my son, who has never seen either the 1965 movie starring Julie Andrews or the play, which has long been a high-school musical favorite, here’s a quick run-down. [Sandi Masori]

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Suicide in Miami; Boycott of Israeli products in Brooklyn

I have heard scattered reports of suicides by Israeli soldiers and grieving relatives, but until this JTA article was published on Wednesday I was not aware that 22 active-duty IDF soldiers died by suicide, which was the highest number since 2010. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Business & Finance, Israel, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Flotilla passengers accuse Ben-Gvir of treating them like terrorists

Much of the Western world’s media is in a tizzy over the inhospitable, “uncivilized” treatment that participants in a recent flotilla suffered at the hands of Israeli authorities. (See Times of Israel story) Some of those arrested claimed that they were treated like terrorists. [Steve Kramer]

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer