JCC presents June 4 musical program in honor of Jerusalem

I will be hosting the program and my guest will be Jerusalem-born Sari Esserman, who will introduce several of the songs and tell us about her early life in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood. Currently a resident of La Jolla, Sari is a respected artist, working in pottery and producing vibrant paintings in oils and pastels. [Eileen Wingard]

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Eileen Wingard, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

NEA accused of antisemitism in federal complaint; Richard Barrera is largest beneficiary of NEA affiliate spending

When the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union with more than 3 million members, is charged with discriminatory practices in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, voters should take notice. [Marsha Sutton]

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California, Jewish History, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

The Baal Shem Tov and modern-day visitors from Sha’ar HaNegev

Before the Baal Shem Tov, Judaism was often centered on texts, scholarship, and institutions. The Baal Shem Tov shifted the focus toward people. He taught that G-d could be found not only in study halls, but also in conversations, melodies, shared meals, acts of kindness, and human connection. [Betzy Lynch]

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Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Spider-Noir’s’ deep Jewish and San Diego roots

Tthe premiere of Amazon Prime Video’s new live-action series “Spider-Noir” proves that the two are inextricably linked. Dropping its entire eight-episode first season on Wednesday May 27, 2026, the series arrived as a cinematic triumph that can be watched in standard color or a gorgeous, authentic, high-contrast black-and-white film noir cut that honors the golden age of cinema. (Barrett Holman Leak)

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Barrett Holman Leak, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Satire: Truth in advertising for presidential products

The U.S. Treasury Department is designing a $250 bill that will feature Donald Trump’s face to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Since I’ve grown accustomed to Trump putting his name and picture on everything, all I ask is for truth in advertising for currency and merchandise. [Laurie Baron]

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Business & Finance, Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Supervisor Lawson-Remer hails vote to supplement funding for First 5 services

I’ve been focused on protecting First 5 San Diego’s Healthy Development Services program, which over nearly two decades has helped more than 352,000 San Diego children and families. It fills a gap too many families know well: your child needs help, but the delay may not be severe enough to qualify for school-based services or other programs. So families are told to wait. But when you’re talking about a child’s brain development, waiting is not neutral. Waiting can mean falling further behind. [Terra Lawson-Remer]

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Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

JDCA works to restore Jewish trust in the Democratic party

Trump’s blatant corruption and abuse of power, enabled by the Supreme Court’s elimination of guardrails on the presidency, have created unprecedented threats to our democracy and freedom. A Democratic win in 2026 is essential to restoring checks and balances, transparency, and accountability in government. [Halie Soifer]

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Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA