By Mark D. Zimmerman Journalist Barbara Walters died last week at the age of 93. Walters was the granddaughter of Russian Jewish immigrants. She began working in television in the early 1950’s, eventually becoming the Today Show “Today Girl,” presenting weather and light news assignments. She went on to become the first female and the
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Barbara Walters Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — On January 3 Kevin McCarthy hopes to become the next Speaker of the House. He needs 218 votes to get elected Speaker and Republicans hold 222 seats. The problem is that 5 radical right-wing Republicans have announced they are opposed to him. McCarthy is making all sorts of deals
Satire: A House Misguided Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The sun comes out at the Civic Theatre for the next few days. The beloved musical Annie is back! It’s been in San Diego several times, made into a few movies, and is a favorite of children’s theatre groups. In spite of all this, somehow my son had never seen it, so I was really excited to go with him and show him something that was dear to my childhood. Afterall, what Gen X drama kid didn’t attempt an off-key version of “Tomorrow” at an audition or two? My inability to hit those notes may have been the reason I was never cast in the show, but 12-year old actress Ellie Pulsifer, in her debut role, knocked it out of the park. Looking around the theatre, it seemed that there were many parents like myself who were there with their children, excited to introduce the next generation to such happy songs as “Your Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile”, “Hard Knock Life”, and of course, “Tomorrow”. The smiles on the faces of the kids showed that they were just as excited as their parents. [Sandi Masori]
Dor L’ Dor: ‘Annie’ Continues To Delight Read More »
San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
As the end of the year approaches, we ask that you include Federation in your charitable giving. Your donation will help us continue and expand our vital work, which aims to enrich the lives of Jewish San Diegans and Jews around the world. [Heidi Gantwerk]
Why Federation Deserves Your Support Before Year’s End Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, San Diego County
Although this graphic novel is about sleepaway summer camp, there’s a warning that it is not a book for kids. That’s because it’s graphic in another sense, with scatological and sexual images pertaining to the hopes and imagination of adolescent boys. [Donald H. Harrison}
Graphic Novel About Kids’ Camp Not Drawn for Kids Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
President Joe Biden signed a bill Monday in Washington d.C. that will rename the Rolando post office branch after former Rep. Susan A. Davis, D-San Diego. “Throughout her more than 20 years of public service, (Davis) always put her constituents first and fiercely advocated and delivered for our kids, students, families, service members and veterans, and the LGBTQ+ community,” Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego, said in a statement when she introduced the bill. [Times of San Diego]
Biden Signs Legislation Naming a Post Office for Susan Davis Read More »
California, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA
A Jew, a cosmopolitan, a humanist, a pacifist, a supporter of a united Europe, Zweig did not accept Herzl’s Jewish nationalism. At a request of Herzl to help organize a Zionist movement, Zweig refused: the Jewish theme was too small compared with the problems of Europe. [Alex Gordon]
The Burning Secret of the Great Biographer Read More »
Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History
Chanukkah greetings are offered by friends and relatives, as well as retail stores and banks, and almost every politician. What online Chanukkah greeting was offered this year by a politician which has garnered a lot of online response? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Chanukah Greetings Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The Jewish Community Foundation San Diego (JCF) successfully completed the pilot year of its innovative “giv4 homelessness in san diego” initiative, generating over $1.4M in impact for 12 local homelessness nonprofits. [Press Release]
JCF Completes Pilot of Homeless Funding Project Read More »
California, San Diego County, USA
We read an engrossing story of life in a Jewish shtetl after the First World War that is tragic, funny, moving, emotional, and filled with exceptionally well-drawn portrayals of many inhabitants of the shtetl and their feelings and thoughts about what is transpiring before them. What they think makes us think. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Chaim Grade’s ‘The Well’ Plumbs Shtetl Life Read More »
Travel and Food
If Republicans get their act together on Tuesday, when a new term for Congress begins, they will have the opportunity to make themselves useful. Republicans will take over the House then by a difference of four or five seats, giving them power to act against Omar, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Detroit and other representatives who distort the Israeli situation and/or slander Jews. [Bruce S. Ticker]
GOP House Leadership May Rebuke Omar and Tlaib Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, USA
being the recipient of such “first-Jew”news imposes a heavy burden. especially if, like me, your ethnic insecurity caused you to overtip when paying a bill by credit card, because the amount would be visible next to an obviously Jewish last name. Heaven forbid if we should contribute to a “cheap-Jew” stereotype. When told I was the first of my people they’d ever met, my reaction resembled that of the fictional man ordered to ride in a handcart to the guillotine “If not for the honor,” he observed, “I’d rather walk.” [Joel H. Cohen]
Being the First Jew They’ve Known Ain’t for Sissies Read More »
Joel H. Cohen, Lifestyles
From the Talmud, we learn that a father is commanded to teach his children to swim. That seems a little random at first glance, but in fact, the message is that a parent must teach his children to survive independently when the time arises. A program outside of Atlanta, Georgia is doing just that and has been since 2001. Reach for Excellence has been providing a supplemental education to underserved middle school-aged children and their families. However, Reach is no ordinary program. [Eva Trieger]
Supplemental Program Helps Middle Schoolers on Road to Success Read More »
Eva Trieger, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
The campus war against Israel, now some decades old, has been unrelenting in its vicious assault against the Jewish state, led by such radical pro-Palestinian student groups as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) with some 200 chapters nationwide. [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]
The Unrelenting Campus War on Israel and the Jewish People Read More »
Travel and Food