Federation CEO Heidi Gantwerk Among Leading Edge’s Second Cohort of Leading Executives

(Press Release) Leading Edge has announced 20 senior-most executives leading Jewish nonprofits who will participate in the second cohort of Leading Executives. From February through June 2023, these leaders will receive leadership training, coaching, and opportunities for connection and mutual support. When the program ends, they will join the growing alumni network of Jewish nonprofit […]

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San Diego County, USA

County Supervisors Approve & Help Finance Holocaust Remembrance Exhibit

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Jan. 24, declared that day to be Holocaust Remembrance Day in San Diego County – three days before this coming Friday’s commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, coinciding with the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in 1945. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA

Reps. Jacobs and Eshoo Introduce Act to Protect Abortion Privacy

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Democratic Congresswomen Sara Jacobs (CA-51) and Anna Eshoo (CA-16) today introduced the Secure Access for Essential Reproductive (SAFER) Health Act to strengthen the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the post-Roe era. The legislation would prohibit medical providers from disclosing personal health information related to pregnancy termination or loss without patient consent. [Press Release]

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Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Anti-Jewish Threats to School Administrator Prompts His Resignation

After nine days as dean of students at a middle school, Michael Woodberg resigned. The offense? Being Jewish. His bosses are not antisemitic. Nor is there evidence of rampant antisemitism among the students. In early January, the Richmond Community Schools received frightening threats directed at Woodberg and other staff at the middle school. The school district serves a rural area 45 miles northeast of Detroit. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Jewish History, Opinion, USA

Parashat Bo: Overcoming Your Fears

When Hashem directs Moses, “come to Pharaoh,” He is saying “come to Me.” The Ba’al Shem Tov teaches in a parable that He is saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am here behind the screen. All the tests are just from me. With everything you do, you’re getting closer to Me. I am the good found in all the struggle. Come to Me and I will take you high above the darkness of this world, and then I will show you how I was really with you the whole time.” In essence he is suggesting the famous FEAR acronym “Face Everything and Rise,” rather than “Forget Everything and Run.” [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Middle Eastern Studies Association Honors Anti-Israel Professor at S.F. State

The naming of Professor Rabab Abdulhadi, director of the SFSU’s Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies (AMED) program, for MESA’s 2022 award reveals both the pathological animus against Israel harbored by the group and also its willingness to reward Abdulhadi for her execrable record of radical anti-Israel, antisemitic campus activism at San Francisco State University. [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]

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California, Israel, Opinion, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Albert Einstein’s Special Relationship with Israel

In October 2022, the Israeli government approved the establishment of a museum in honor of Albert Einstein, to be located on The Hebrew University’s Safra Campus in Givat Ram, Jerusalem. In addition to the new museum, Albert Einstein’s name is prevalent in Israel, as it adorns street signs in Lod, Petach Tikva, and Haifa. These cities have honored Einstein because, in addition to being arguably the most brilliant scientific mind in the twentieth century, and a Jew, he was also a devoted supporter of the State of Israel.    [Gedaliah Borvick]

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Gedaliah Borvick, Israel

Holocaust Refuge at Fort Ontario, New York, Recalled

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was too concerned about negative public opinion to take the leadership on finding refuge in the United States for European Jewry during the early years of the Holocaust, scholar Lawrence Baron told a bruncheon audience at Tifereth Israel Synagogue on Sunday. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA

Three Jewish Poets Share Their Creativity at the JCC

Julie Potiker, Robert Nejmias, and Lisa Schwartz were the featured poets for the second evening of Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices’ 15th season on January 17 at the Astor Judaica Library in the Lawrence Family JCC.  They all read their own works and the audience was totally engaged by the creativity and beauty of their poems, as well as their self-assured presentations.  Examples from each are at the end of this article. [Eileen Wingard]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard

Sunday Soundoff: Transgendered Women, Christening Ceremonies, and Israel

Having been “retired” as editor and publisher of San Diego Jewish World for more than a year, I find myself wanting to write occasional opinion columns in addition to the book reviews and features which I’ve continued to submit to our publication’s new leader Jacob Kamaras. So, with the indulgence of you readers, I’m going to sound off periodically on issues of concern to me as a Jew. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, USA

‘The Ferryman’ Warns What Can Occur When Peoples are Divided

New Village Arts is continuing its groundbreaking mission with the West Coast premiere of Jez Butterworth’s The Ferryman. Kristianne Kurner will direct this show for its first foray in the US outside of Broadway, where the show earned the 2019 Tony Award for Best Play.  This epic piece of theatre will serve as the debut show for the newly renamed Conrad Prebys Theatre at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast