Three local poets, Donna Rolfe, David Chait, and Betzy Lynch, will be featured in the final program of the 2025-26 season of Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices, Tuesday, May 19, 7 p.m. in the Astor Judaica Library of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. [Eileen Wingard}
Local poets Rolfe, Chait, and Lynch to be featured at the JCC May 19 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Mandate complete transparency of foreign funding to universities and nonprofits under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, with severe financial penalties and loss of tax-exempt status for nondisclosure. Congress must close loopholes that allow foreign governments and entities to influence American education. [Stan Caplan]
Congressional candidate advocates tightening rules on campus antisemitism Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
When three Jews in a troubled, hostile-to-their-people Vienna put on a jester’s cap and write an operetta with a happy ending, one might think they were indulging in wishful thinking or trying to drown their fears, to dissolve their worries in the desired joy. [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Emmerich (Imre) Kálmán, operetta composer Read More »
Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Thomas Buergenthal (May 11, 1934 – May 29, 2023) was a Czechoslovak-born American international lawyer, scholar, law school dean, and judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Thomas Buergenthal Read More »
Travel and Food
“America and the Jewish people have lost a moral voice, a passionate advocate for the Jewish people and the state of Israel, and a remarkable leader…” [SDJW staff report]
Abe Foxman, longtime ADL national director, dies at 86 Read More »
Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Rooted in Kabbalah, it is based on the belief that language itself is woven into creation and that hidden truths can emerge when letters are transformed. [Betzy Lynch]
‘Atbash’ is a kabbalistic tool for deeper linguistic exploration Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Jon Ronson (May 10, 1967) is a British-American journalist, author, and filmmaker. He is known for works such as Them: Adventures with Extremists (2001), The Men Who Stare at Goats (2004), and The Psychopath Test (2011). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Jon Ronson Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Grete Stern (May 9, 1904 – December 24, 1999) was a German-Argentine photographer. Between April 1930 and March 1933, she studied at the Bauhaus. With her husband Horacio Coppola, she helped modernize the visual arts in Argentina and presented the first exhibition of modern photographic art in Buenos Aires in 1935. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Grete Stern Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Readers meet Gundi Schiller, a pregnant college student from Berlin. While she appears to fit the Nazi ideal of an Aryan woman, she is secretly involved in a resistance group. [CeCe Acosta]
Middle schooler reviews book about a Nazi breeding program Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Of the 6,274 antisemitic incidents recorded across the United States in 2025, 671 targeted synagogues specifically. The overwhelming majority (85%) were harassment, with verbal and written threats comprising the largest single category. But the threats were not only words: nine were physical assaults, two of which involved a deadly weapon. [Press Release]
Nationwide antisemitic incidents occur inside and outside synagogues Read More »
Antisemitism, Jewish Religion, Press Release, USA
The Hebrew language is gloriously rich in words for “poor person.” We’ve got dal, evyon, oni, rash — a whole thesaurus of poverty. Yet when the Torah lays down the laws about helping the poor, it refuses to use any of them. Instead, it keeps repeating one single word: achicha — “your brother.” [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Parsha Behar: Schnorrers are unsung MVPs of Jewish history Read More »
Business & Finance, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors
We realized that if we truly wanted to reach students where they are at scale, we needed to rethink the entire model. So, we asked: what if, instead of waiting for students to come to us, we brought the experience directly to them? [Heidi Gantwerk]
Holocaust van will take education to students instead of vice versa Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Jewish Americans established a critically important place in our nation’s history because of the strength of our democracy, which has ensured our voices and views are heard. [Halie Soifer]
Life cycle events make me reflect on how good it is to live openly as a Jew in America Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
It started with a rousing performance of Khachaturian’s ‘Masquerade’ suite, which deploys all the brass and percussion that the orchestra can muster. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra performs concert full of fun Read More »
Israel, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire