People all over the world celebrate something akin to Hanukkah at this time of year. Though they aren’t recalling the Maccabees and the miracle of the oil burning for eight days, many cultures have midwinter rituals with fires and feasting, meant to dispel the blackness of the lengthening nights. It’s a natural human instinct to…
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Editorial
Editorial
After the wildfires, we know what to do
For the second time in little over a year, wildfires are devastating Northern California. And this time, Southern California is burning, too. Up north,…
Editorial
Joint editorial: #WeAreAllJews
Earlier this year, our colleagues at the three leading Jewish newspapers in the United Kingdom published the same front-page headline and joint editorial…
Letter to Readers
A new look for our print edition
Yes, this week’s print issue of J. looks a lot different. Spiffier, we think. Easier to read. Easier to find what you’re looking for. (If…
Editorial
One year later, the North Bay fires still hurt
It has been a year since the skies choked with smoke and fires raged across the North Bay. The Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa, along with other nearby blazes in…
Editorial
The Kavanaugh debate is a proxy war over the soul of America
No matter how one feels about Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court or his fitness to serve, the fight over his nomination clearly has…
Editorial
As the anti-Semitic ad says, 'history matters'
Over the past two weeks our community has woken up to a pair of ugly flare-ups of anti-Semitism. In the first incident, posters depicting caricatures of…
Editorial
Days of Awe: shelter from the tweetstorm
With Rosh Hashanah upon us, the year 5778 is in our rearview mirror — but the casualties are not. It was, safe to say, a year of high drama and relentless…
Editorial
A 3-federation merger? Not a bad idea
In June, the Jewish Federation of the East Bay announced that its Re-Visioning Task Force had recommended a merger with the S.F.-based Jewish Community…