Federation Extols 5-Year ‘Bridge’ Program for Jewish Teens

The BRIDGE Initiative—Building Resilient Identity & Deep Global Engagement—honors that [Chortek family] legacy by investing in the next generation. Over the next five years, the initiative will house a portfolio of high-impact programs at Federation … (Heidi Gantwerk)

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Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Hindus in Israel

One of the major holidays in Hinduism is Krishna Janmashtami, which Israeli Hindus will celebrate next year on September 3 and 4, including the offering of 108 vegetarian meals in honor of the birth of Lord Krishna. What are people who follow both Jewish and Hindu traditions called? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

’31 Candles’ is a Comedy about a Man’s Bar Mitzvah at 31

The movie 31 Candles stars Jonah Feingold as 30-year-old Leo Kadner, who is short and dyslexic, and the woman of his romantic fantasies, Eva Shapiro (Sarah Coffey), who at 6’ 1 ½ is too tall for most male partners as well as for the roles she seeks on Broadway. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Columnist Divulges Contents of His 12th Book: 120 Biographical Essays of Wrestlers with Their Jewish Identities

The manuscript of the book Homelandless Patriots is dedicated to the history of individuals who made history. They made history in their professional fields: science, music, literature, art, philosophy, politics. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Lion Sculpture Sited at Common Border of Israel, Gaza and Egypt

The Kerem Shalom Lion, at the well-publicized Southern Gaza border crossing, was sited recently.  Hundreds of trucks per day, an unknown number of people, and “officialdom” pass within touching distance of the Lion as they enter and leave Gaza. [Jerry Klinger]

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International, Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: David Schwimmer

David Schwimmer (November 2, 1966) is an American actor, director and producer. He gained worldwide recognition for portraying Ross Geller in the sitcom Friends (1994–2004), for which he received a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1995. [Wikipedia]

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Halloween Costumes Also Serve Well During Purim

Jewish Mom hack: If you do not celebrate “Halloween,” think of Purim. Costumes at certain places and online go on sale and can be used in the late Winter/Spring of Purim. In 2026 (can you believe we are even mentioning 2026?), Purim lands on Monday, March 2. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

3,000 Attend JNF-USA Global Conference

One of the most moving stories we heard at our Global Conference for Israel was from the Shem Tov family. Omer Shem Tov, who had been held hostage by Hamas for 505 days, explained the harrowing conditions and sadistic methodologies used by the terrorist group. Yet, he also shared how being there with the other hostages, all of whom came from different backgrounds—religious, secular, right-wing, left-wing, and everything in between—made him realize a profound truth: they were 95% the same. Their shared love for Israel and their courage in the face of adversity brought them together in ways they never imagined possible. [Russell F. Robinson]

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Israel, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Jews Especially are Weighing Mamdani’s Rhetoric

He does not support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. He’s repeatedly accused Israel of “genocide,” and failed to unequivocally condemn Hamas for its horrific campaign of terror on October 7. He has threatened to arrest the Israeli Prime Minister should he visit New York, and he supports the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement… (Halie Soifer]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors