Biden’s ‘Complicity’ With Pro-Palestinian Rhetoric

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — “Silence is complicity.” By his own standards, President Biden undermined his expansive project to confront antisemitism in America that he introduced last Wednesday, and 15 days before that he ignored an opportunity to directly take on an act that threatens the Jewish community. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat, […]

Biden’s ‘Complicity’ With Pro-Palestinian Rhetoric Read More »

Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, USA

Parashat Naso: The Blessings Inside of Adversity

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In this week’s parasha, Naso, we are introduced to the Birkat Kohanim, the “Priestly Blessing.” We’re all familiar with it. We’ve heard it said, recited it ourselves, and given it to others, many times: “May the Lord bless you and watch over you. יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֥ יְהוָֹ֖ה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ: May

Parashat Naso: The Blessings Inside of Adversity Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Year-Long Holocaust Exhibition Features Survivors Who Settled in S.D. County

There is much to read in addition to the shelved books at the Rancho San Diego County Library.  From now until next May 21, which will be the one-year anniversary of a Holocaust exhibition curated by Sandra Scheller, visitors can read on standing panels a brief timeline of the Holocaust and the experiences of some victims who suffered through it and later settled in San Diego County. [Donald H. Harrison]

Year-Long Holocaust Exhibition Features Survivors Who Settled in S.D. County Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County

Federation’s Community-Wide Israel Trip is Filled With Poignant Moments

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — For the 219 community members and professionals who traveled to Israel in May on Jewish Federation of San Diego “CommUNITY” trip, the timing of their visit to San Diego’s longtime partner region of Sha’ar HaNegev was unforgettable. Rocket attacks in the area began just hours after the visitors

Federation’s Community-Wide Israel Trip is Filled With Poignant Moments Read More »

Israel, Jacob Kamaras, Middle East, San Diego County

Music of Refugee Composers to Complete 3-Part Holocaust Series

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — “Music of Refugee Composers” is the final program in the three-part Music of the Holocaust series. The recordings from the collection of the Astor Judaica Library will be played in the library at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center on Thursday, June 1, at 2 p.m. Register here:

Music of Refugee Composers to Complete 3-Part Holocaust Series Read More »

Eileen Wingard, Holocaust, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Turkey

By Mark D. Zimmerman President ‍Recep ‍Tayyip ‍Erdogan ‍of ‍Turkey ‍won ‍reelection ‍yesterday ‍against ‍opposition ‍candidate ‍Kemal ‍Kilicdaroglu. ‍Erdogan ‍has ‍served ‍as ‍prime ‍minister, ‍and ‍then ‍president ‍of ‍Turkey ‍for ‍two ‍decades. ‍He ‍had ‍been ‍seen ‍as ‍a ‍moderate ‍ruler ‍who ‍promoted ‍religious ‍freedoms. ‍But ‍in ‍recent ‍years ‍he ‍has ‍moved ‍to ‍the ‍right, ‍including

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Turkey Read More »

Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Eagle Scout Builds an Aron Kodesh for Chabad Congregation

At the dedication on Sunday, considerable symbolism was found in a Cohen (believed to be descended from the priests of ancient Judaism) to have built an Ark at a synagogue named after “Betzalel,” which in addition to being the name of Rabbi Trestman’s father also was the name of the person identified in the Book of Exodus as the man who built the Ark of the Covenant, with the help of Oholiab. [Donald H. Harrison]

Eagle Scout Builds an Aron Kodesh for Chabad Congregation Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

JPlate: SHIVA

Here is a Jewish-interest license plate that puzzled Harry Jacobson-Beyer of Louisville, Kentucky, and frankly puzzles us too.  A shiva is the seven-day mourning period following the burial of a loved one.  If that is what “shiva” on this license plate refers to, then we offer the owner of the car bearing this license plate our condolences. We are used to license plates being more celebratory in nature, but people grieve in their own ways.  If on the other hand, the car owner sought to convey some other message, well, he or she is likely to notice now and then some confused Jewish drivers in the rear-view mirror.

JPlate: SHIVA Read More »

Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Jewish Philanthropist Mandell Weiss Gave Famed La Jolla Playhouse Its Home

It is a playhouse with good yichus.  It was started in 1947 by three movie stars – Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer—with the financial backing of movie producer David D. Selznick, who was then best known for his 1939 blockbuster Gone With the Wind. [Donald H. Harrison]

Jewish Philanthropist Mandell Weiss Gave Famed La Jolla Playhouse Its Home Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Of Robots, Banned Books, Dying, and Abortions

Elkins was one of three presenters at a Tikun Leil Shavuot, a Shavuot night study session at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. The others were Marcia Tatz Wollner, who spoke about book banning and burning through the ages, and Dr. Seth Krosner, M.D., a critical care surgery specialist, who discussed what Jewish texts have to say about decisions concerning end of life and abortions. [Donald H. Harrison]

Of Robots, Banned Books, Dying, and Abortions Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Technology