Survey of Bay Area Jews reminds us: There's nothing new under the sun By Maya Mirsky Dec 7, 2022 This week we wrote about the new survey commissioned by the Jewish Community Relations Council in which 86% of respondents said being Jewish is important to them — while, at the same time, 23% identified as secular. The question of the root of Jewishness — whether it be connected to ritual practice, to belief in… Read More
Author! Author! New memoirs, novels and poetry collections from local Jewish authors “Near Normal Man: Survival with Courage, Kindness and Hope” by Ben Stern with Charlene Stern (Redwood Publishing, 320 pages). As a Holocaust educator, Ben… By Andrew Esensten Dec 7, 2022
Small Bites Scott Kravitz’s pickled cocktail eggs; Manischewitz’s ‘Crypto Gelt’ If you’re looking for the perfect holiday host/hostess gift for the food/cocktail enthusiast who has everything, here’s a hot tip from the Organic… By Alix Wall Dec 5, 2022
Torah Jacob has a lesson for us: Make sure we get the true story The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Vayetzei Genesis 28:10–32:3 There has been a… By Rabbi Joey Felsen Dec 2, 2022
From the Archives We worry about hate on Twitter. 90 years ago, we worried about radio. What can be done about hate speech in an era when it can go global in an instant through the wonder of advanced media technology? And what about the role… By Maya Mirsky Dec 1, 2022
Astrolojew Horoscopes for the month of Kislev: dreaming of hope Kislev 5783 Nov. 24-Dec. 23, 2022 Gratitude was the attitude on the first day of the month of Kislev, which fell this year on Thanksgiving Day. Kislev’s… By Lorelai Kude Nov 30, 2022
Torah Why we the people turn to an ‘Esau type’ in troubled times The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Toldot Genesis 25:19–28:9 The Rabbi of Chelm was… By Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan Nov 24, 2022
Small Bites Eight kinds of latkes in S.F.; Boichik Bagels opens in Palo Alto; etc. Latkes and more latkes: Many of the usual suspects have latkes and Jewish holiday menus at this time of year, and one of them is doing something above and… By Alix Wall Nov 22, 2022
From the Archives 127 years ago, our first issue sought to reach 'every Jew on the Coast' “To all our communities — greeting! To the San Francisco congregations; to the religious and literary bodies south and north of us, all hail! We have come… By Maya Mirsky Nov 22, 2022