The Torah Aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, Aircraft Carrier Moved Closer to Israel

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — When Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean this week in response to the Hamas attack on Israel, it carried a special meaning for my family. The Torah scroll that is currently aboard the […]

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Israel, Middle East, USA

Mayor Gloria ‘Personally Mourning’ Ofir Libstein, Slain Mayor of Sha’ar HaNegev

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria on Monday released the following statement on Ofir Libstein, the mayor of San Diego’s longtime partner region of Sha’ar HaNegev, who was among more than 900 Israelis murdered in the Hamas surprise attack during Simchat Torah. Dear Neighbor, San Diego stands with the people of Israel in the wake of

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Israel, San Diego County

Short Stories to Momentarily Distract Us from the Awful News

At times, you must have a quick break, if only for the reason of your mental sanity, from watching the horror on TV.  I found the short breaks I needed in the clever, refreshing, short stories, of only a few pages each, in this anthology of semi-biographical Feingold pieces. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction

Editor’s Notebook: Navigating an Unforgettable Sense of Limbo on Simchat Torah

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — In San Diego and across the Jewish world, this past Simchat Torah holiday won’t be forgotten anytime soon. While I was on volunteer security duty at Congregation Adat Yeshurun during Shabbat/Shemini Atzeret, bits and pieces of the devastating news in Israel began to emerge. We heard that 100

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Israel, Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, Opinion, San Diego County

Jewish Federation of San Diego Reports on Israel-Gaza War: October 9

By Heidi Gantwerk and David Bark SAN DIEGO — Our thoughts continue to be with the people affected by this crisis, and we remain committed to providing you with accurate and timely information as it becomes available. Here’s what we have learned so far: More than 700 Israelis killed, over 2,300 wounded, and roughly 150

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Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Dianne Feinstein, Z”L

By Mark D. Zimmerman Senator ‍Dianne ‍Feinstein ‍died ‍at ‍the ‍age ‍of ‍90, ‍just ‍hours ‍after ‍casting ‍a ‍vote ‍on ‍the ‍floor ‍of ‍the ‍United ‍States ‍Senate, ‍where ‍she ‍served ‍since ‍1992 ‍as ‍California’s ‍first ‍female ‍senator. ‍Among ‍the ‍issues ‍that ‍Senator ‍Feinstein ‍promoted ‍were ‍HIV/AIDS ‍funding, ‍women’s ‍reproductive ‍health ‍needs, ‍gun ‍control, ‍and ‍support

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California, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Newsom Directs State Funds to Jewish Federations, Other Groups Offering Lifesaving Security Services

SACRAMENTO (Press Release) – On Sunday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 1185, authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D–San Fernando Valley) and a top priority for JPAC (the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California). AB 1185 expands the eligibility for the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP) to include “community connectors,” nonprofits

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California

Prime Minister: Israeli Response to Attacks ‘Will Change the Middle East’

Published by DPA Israel’s response to attacks from Gaza by the Islamist militant group Hamas “will change the Middle East,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday. “What Hamas will face will be harsh and terrible,” Netanyahu told officials from towns in southern Israel, according to a statement. “We are only at the beginning.” Israeli

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Israel

Mayor Gloria Condemns Hamas, Says San Diego ‘Stands With the People of Israel’

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Mayor Todd Gloria issued the following statement condemning the Hamas terrorist attacks and expressing solidarity with the people of Israel and Jews around the world: “San Diego stands with the people of Israel in the wake of today’s horrific terrorist attacks and condemns Hamas in the strongest possible terms. “With

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Israel, San Diego County

Mayor of San Diego’s Israeli Partner Region Killed in Hamas Attack

(SDJW Staff Report) Ofir Libstein, the mayor of San Diego’s longtime partner region of Sha’ar HaNegev, was among more than 700 Israelis murdered in the Hamas surprise attack during Simchat Torah. He was killed while defending his kibbutz. “We were beyond devastated to learn of the death of Mayor Ofir Libstein, who was killed in

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Israel, San Diego County

Netanyahu Vows Vengeance on Hamas

(JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised Israel would take “powerful vengeance for this black day” on the terror group Hamas for its surprise attack during Simchat Torah. “What happened today has not been seen in Israel, and I will make sure that it does not happen again,” he said. “The entire government stands behind

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Israel

From Yom Kippur to Simchat Torah: What Led to the Attack and What Will Happen Next?

By Alex Traiman (JNS) Many questions and few answers abound as Israel has suffered its worst homefront attack, and perhaps its worst security and intelligence failing in the past 50 years. Instead of peacefully celebrating the completion of the yearly Torah-reading cycle, Israelis awoke to sirens and explosions on one of the holiest days of

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Israel, Middle East, Opinion, USA