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The Jewish News of Northern California

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The Jewish News of Northern California

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Yael Bright

Yael Bright

Yael Bright is J.’s audience development journalist.

Steven Backman’s Noah's ark is crafted from the shavings of a single toothpick. (Courtesy/Steven Backman)
Posted inCulture

S.F. artist’s toothpick obsession reaches biblical proportions

Yael Bright by Yael Bright July 1, 2026July 2, 2026

Updated July 2 While most people see a toothpick as nothing more than a small wooden stick to pry popcorn husks from between their teeth, Steven Backman sees raw material.  […]

Max and Joe Held in 1939 or 1940
Posted inHistory

More voicemails of your Bay Area family histories

Yael Bright by Yael Bright July 1, 2026July 1, 2026
Ednah Beth Friedman records a story about her family during J.’s “History is Calling!” event on March 22 at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life in Berkeley. (Aaron Levy-Wolins/J. Staff)
Posted inHistory

J. wants to hear how you or your family ended up in Northern California

Yael Bright by Yael Bright May 28, 2026May 28, 2026
Kathy Saunders (left) sits next to her sister Ann Saunders Gordon as she records a story about her family’s history at our “History Is Calling!” event. (Aaron Levy-Wolins/J. Staff)
Posted inHistory

California, here I come: Listen to J. readers share how their families came to the Bay Area

Yael Bright by Yael Bright April 29, 2026April 30, 2026
Ednah Beth Friedman records a story about her family during J.’s “History is Calling!” event on March 22 at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life in Berkeley. (Aaron Levy-Wolins/J. Staff)
Posted inBay Area

How did you or your family end up in the Bay Area? We want to know!

Yael Bright by Yael Bright March 30, 2026March 31, 2026
Photo taken by Dena Fox, 10, at the JCCSF Purim party. (Dena Fox)
Posted inKids & Family

J. sent ‘kid reporters’ to Purim parties with disposable cameras

Yael Bright by Yael Bright March 19, 2026June 19, 2026
Portraits drawn by Carly Francis for the Intergenerational Portraiture Project. (Courtesy)
Posted inArt

JFCS project bridges generations with portraits and stories

Lea Loeb
(Photo/Aaron Levy-Wolins)Yael Bright by Lea Loeb and Yael Bright January 21, 2026January 21, 2026
"Long Story Short" is the latest animated show from Raphael Bob-Waksberg. (Left photo courtesy of [K]overt Creative)
Posted inThe J. Interview

Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s latest cartoon features a Bay Area Jewish family

Yael Bright by Yael Bright December 26, 2025December 29, 2025
Circa circus performs “Humans 2.0.” (Yaya Stempler)
Posted inOn Stage

Two Jewish circuses bring modern acrobatics — and trained cats

Yael Bright by Yael Bright October 20, 2025October 21, 2025
Malcolm Margolin
Posted inObituaries

Malcolm Margolin, Heyday press founder and promoter of Indigenous writers, dies at 84

Yael Bright by Yael Bright September 3, 2025September 3, 2025

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