Jewish political briefing: Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

Prominent Jewish individuals and organizations, including New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Republican, criticized on social media the first-day actions of Muslim Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who cancelled all the executive orders issued after September 2024 by his predecessor at City Hall, Eric Adams. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Fear of African independence movements behind many protests of Israel’s diplomatic recognition of Somaliland

Post-colonial governance worked out poorly. The regime of Siad Barre in Mogadishu prosecuted horrific wars against Somaliland and, when Barre was deposed in 1991, Somaliland negated the original treaty and declared independence. [Shoshana Bryen]

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International, Israel, Opinion, Shoshana Bryen, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

San Diego County residents stepped up in response to shrinking federal assistance

Washington pulled back. Funding was cut. Programs people rely on were suddenly at risk. And for a moment, it would have been easy to feel like so much was out of our control. But that’s not what San Diego did. Instead, neighbors stepped up. Volunteers showed up. Community organizations leaned in. And together, we made a different choice – one rooted in care, fairness, and responsibility for one another. [Terra Lawson-Remer]

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Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

A trip to Chile and spreading the light here in San Diego

[A]s the plane took off for Santiago, a young family in the row across from us brought out electric candles and began singing the holiday blessings with their toddlers. We sang along, and everyone wished each other a chag sameach. The mother looked over at me and said, “We all need to do everything we can to bring light into the world today.” I felt a weight lift, and off we went. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Antisemitism, Heidi Gantwerk, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

An excellent New Year’s resolution

Maimonides describes the three steps that lead to behavioral change. First, recognize that what you are doing is wrong. Second, decide to change the behavior to a proper one. Third, begin practicing the new practice and make it a habit that you continue. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

What ‘Son of Saul’ can teach us about living at the edge of collapse

In an age like ours—saturated with images, data, and instant analysis—we often assume that clarity comes from seeing more. If only we had the full picture, the right dashboard, the right report, we could act wisely. Son of Saul dismantles that fantasy. The blur tells us something uncomfortable: total vision is not neutral. It can be a form of domination. To see everything is to risk turning the world into an object. [Sam Ben-Meir]

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

OpEd: Our survival is built upon our response

We would be naive to think this is only a Sydney story. This past Yom Kippur, London experienced its own attack. The numerous attacks around the globe this past year can be listed here, but there’s no need- we are all very aware. Our history has taught us that Antisemitism is not confined to one place. The challenge is not identifying the next location, but deciding how we respond wherever we are. [Ilanit Zakowski]

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Antisemitism, Ilanit Zakowski, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion

Parsha Vayechi: Inner influence, humility and Hashem

We often look outward when we want to fix the world, but the wisdom of the Mussar movement, founded by Rabbi Israel Salanter, teaches us a different path. He famously reflected that as a young man, he set out to change the world, only to realize his reach was too small. {Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘SIX,’ Broadway’s Best Musical in 2022, Back for Limited Run in San Diego

The six wives of Henry VIII with their commanding voices, humor and high-energy anthems are more than historical casualties. The beheadings, miscarriages, and death in childbirth are woven into each song. In era of struggle between Catholicism and emerging Protestantism in 16th-century England the divide is central to the lives of the queens. [Sherrie Rose]

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International, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jewish Political Briefing: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025

David Bocarsly, executive director of the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC), hailed a ruling in federal court on Wednesday upholding the constitutionality of AB 715, California’s law attempting to end antisemitism in the public schools.  [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, News Media, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA