County Supervisors to Vote Jan. 24 on Funding Holocaust Exhibit

“The exhibit … aims to combat bigotry and hate by investing in greater education and understanding of the history of hate and racism towards the Jewish community and other victims of the Holocaust,” Fletcher continued.  “The United States Institute of Peace emphasizes the role that memorialization plays in reconstructing social fabric and relations following conflict.  It is important that the initiative is led by those with personal connections to the Holocaust, as well as with the San Diego community, to encourage authentic representation and meaningful engagement.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Obscure Items in Parasaha Va-ayra (Exodus 6:2-9:35)

The Bible commentator Don Isaac Abarbanel (1437-1508) suggests that God wanted the Israelites to borrow objects from Egyptians to give the Egyptians an additional reason to pursue the Israelites when they realized they were trying to escape. God, according to Abarbanel, wanted the Egyptians to rush into the water to catch the Israelites, where they would be punished by drowning. They killed Israelite male children and tossed the carcasses in the river. Now they will be thrown. Is this how we want to picture God acting? [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Six Remaining Holocaust Presentations in UCSD Library Series

Beginning at 5 p.m. tonight, there will be six presentations in UCSD Library’s Holocaust Living History Workshop series, an education and outreach program cosponsored by the Jewish Studies program that aims to preserve the memories of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.   [Press Release]

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California, Holocaust, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Santos, the ‘Jew-ish’ Congressman: How Perilous is He?

Until Tuesday, our first “Jew-ish” Congressman established himself as a serial liar, a possible criminal suspect and a punchline. Now it is far worse: George Santos is scary, and maybe dangerous. The Washington Post reports a web of connections that begs questions as to what he is capable of, in or out of Congress. It compounds other disturbing elements of the controversy. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, International, Opinion, USA

Archaeologists Find Evidence of Asian Trade Route Through Israel in 8th Century

“Our findings seem to provide the first evidence that there was also an ‘Israeli Silk Road’ used by merchants along the international trading routes. This route branched off from the traditional Silk Route that passed to the north of Israel, crossing the Arava and connecting to the main historical trade routes that crossed the country, as well as to the main ports of Gaza and Ashkelon that served a major gateways to the Mediterranean world.”

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Travel and Food

Parashat Va’eira: Facing Life’s Challenges

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Oy gevalt! Evictions, pleading to “let My people go,” magic staffs, plagues, hardened hearts…read all this and enjoy a peaceful Shabbat? By now we’ve learned that whatever happens in our lives always happens for our benefits. Let’s look at the lessons in this week’s Torah reading, the 14th

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Books and Films – Paul Newman, Steven Spielberg, and the Second World War

By Oliver B. Pollak TETON VILLAGE, Wyoming — I watched The Fabelmans, Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film on Amazon Prime. There were four of us in the living room, that cut it down to $5 each. I had no intention of writing about it. I got a birthday gift in November, Paul Newman, The Extraordinary Life

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Celebrities, Oliver Pollak, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Netanyahu Predicts Massive Increase in Western Aliyah

(JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told cabinet ministers that Israel will experience a massive increase in Aliyah (immigration) from Western countries, including the U.S. Netanyahu said that Israel’s future entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, combined with Israel’s strengthening economy, will attract more Jewish American immigrants. “Israel’s economy is getting stronger; we will

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Israel, USA

Woke Intolerance and the Canceling of the Father of the Georgia Peach Industry

By Jerry Klinger National Public Radio reported a story that was frankly, flabbergasting, a big word meaning — you have got to be kidding. An office within the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work says it is removing the term “field” from its curriculum because it may have racist connotations related to slavery.

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Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion, USA

UCSD Jewish Students ‘Finally Getting Their Due’ as Long-Awaited Hillel Opens

By Chris Jennewein Times of San Diego LA JOLLA, California — Top lawmakers and Jewish community leaders celebrated the official opening Sunday of a Hillel center adjacent to UC San Diego following 23 years of struggle. The $18.7 million Beverly and Joseph Glickman Hillel Center, built on previously vacant land across La Jolla Village Drive

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Chris Jennewein, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Classified Documents

By Mark D. Zimmerman Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the classified documents found in Joe Biden’s garage and office. While there are significant differences between this situation and that of Donald Trump and the documents found at Mar a Lago, at the very least this has created

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

The Angry Voices of the Right-Wing Ideologues

By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Key members of Israel’s establishment have taken aim at reforms indicated by ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. According to the Times of Israel, Supreme Court President Esther Hayut denounced the new government’s plan, as proposed by Justice Minister Yair Levin, as radically overhauling Israel’s judicial and legal

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Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion