Mimi’s Ark: ‘Siberian Cupcakes’ in East S.D. County
By Mimi Pollack SANTA YSABEL, California — There are five luscious Siberian cupcakes residing near this town in San Diego’s east county. What are Siberian cupcakes? They are domesticated Russian...
View ArticleLakshmi Basile Popularizes Flamenco in San Diego
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — What is Flamenco? Most experts agree that the creation and history of flamenco was in southern Spain in the region of Andalusia where it still flourishes today. Flamenco was...
View Article‘Coco’ is multi- cultural fun for all ages
By Mimi Pollack The Disney/Pixar Companies have redeemed themselves after the 2013 debacle of requesting to trademark, “Dia de los Muertos”, with their new movie, Coco. In this movie, they finally get...
View ArticleFirst Loves Forever
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — For some people, your first love or passion can be hard to forget. This passion may be related to love or work. In the case of widower, Rafael [Fallo] Mareyna, he had...
View ArticleSephardic artist follows her dream
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — Mexican/American actress, Lizet Benrey, will take part in the upcoming San Diego Film Week. Two of her films will be shown on March 3rd and 5th. They are the short film,...
View Article‘Fresh Air’ Art in Borrego Springs
By Mimi Pollack BORREGO SPRINGS, California — “Plein Air” means fresh air –think outdoors- in French and many painters feel inspired when working outdoors in natural light surrounded by the splendors...
View ArticleNoah would be proud of Dr. Gary Weitzman
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word, humane, as “being marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals”. This is a good description of Dr....
View ArticleCatalog illustrates 70 years of Israel craft and design
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — My maternal grandparents were born in the 1800’s in the land that today is known as Israel. They passed away before I was born, and I regret I never got the chance to talk...
View ArticleThe Peace Train: Uniting people across borders
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — The Peace Train is coming and we can all get high on the Peace Train as Sharon Katz has brought her band to San Diego and Tijuana, starting with Wednesday night’s rousing...
View ArticleBringing food to immigrant families released by ICE
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — Helping others is not political. It is good for the soul. When you help others, you forget about your own problems for awhile. In addition, nobody should make you feel bad...
View ArticleSandi Masori: One Woman, Many Hats
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — Sandi Masori is like the song by the Rolling Stones, “She comes in color everywhere… She’s like a rainbow.” She wears many colorful hats in her life as an artist,...
View ArticleButterfly project is life work for Rattner- Price
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — There is something special about an artist who finds an expressive way to teach both children and adults about a moment in history that should never be forgotten. That...
View ArticleMaru Davila: Eat good food, stay healthy
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — Maru Davila is a slim woman with lustrous skin who radiates health and confidence. To look at her, one would never guess that she once was almost 60 pounds overweight...
View ArticleBus station project is a learning experience
Story by Mimi Pollack; photos by Paula Sassi SAN DIEGO — Helping others is not political. It is good for the soul. When you help others, you forget about your own problems for awhile, and nobody should...
View ArticleBringing music and hope to Tijuana schools
By Mimi Pollack TIJUANA, Baja California, Mexico — Social classes are very defined in Mexico, so many times opportunity depends on what class you are born in. There is a woman in Tijuana who is...
View ArticleYes, Virginia, there are Jews there too
By Mimi Pollack LA JOLLA, California — As an ESL teacher who has worked for 35 years with people from all over the world, I was very interested in going to see the presentation at the Gotthelf Gallery...
View ArticleRafael Mareyna art exhibit: ‘Art is Time’
By Mimi Pollack LA JOLLA, California — “Art is Time, Time is Life” is the name of a new exhibit by Rafael “Fallo” Mareyna that is currently on display at the La Jolla Library. Both “Art” and “Time”...
View ArticleBus Station Project helps immigrant travelers
Story and Photos by Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — While the political situation for asylum seekers who come to the United States’ southern border seemingly changes day by day, Mimi Pollack, 65,...
View ArticleRefugee families find aid in San Diego
Editor’s Note: This story which appeared on Times of San Diego today updates a previous story written by San Diego Jewish World editor Donald H. Harrison on this site earlier this month about the Bus...
View ArticleConnecting at a Jewish – Muslim seder
By Mimi Pollack LA JOLLA, California — Whenever I hear of an organization whose purpose is to build bridges of communication, I want to find out more. I was invited to attend the Sunday Seder of the...
View ArticleBravo series focuses on Mexican Jewish family
By Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — The Bravo TV channel, owned by NBC, is known for its over the top reality shows. These shows include, The Real Wives of Beverly Hills, etc. The shows portray the...
View ArticleTheater Review: 33 1/3 House of Dreams
33 1/3 House of Dreams through August 25, 2019, San Diego Rep, at the Lyceum Theater By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — As a baby boomer, I like music from the 1960’s and I think much of it is timeless....
View Article‘Bus Station Project’ migrates across the border
By Donald H. Harrison CHULA VISTA, California – After President Donald Trump’s administration began enforcing its “Remain in Mexico” policy for asylum seekers, the flow of migrants arriving at the...
View Article‘Schlepping, Schmoozing’ celebrates S.D. Jewish stories
The nice thing about this book is that you can either read it cover to cover or go through the extensive Table of Contents and choose the chapters that catch your eye. The book is in chronological...
View ArticleSan Diego holds its first Sephardic Festival
I had to smile on Saturday night at the Sephardic Festival held at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center [JCC] this past weekend. There was a short film, Our San Diego Sephardic Voices, about...
View ArticleOur Shtetl San Diego County: October 13, 2019
Items in today's column include: *Many Jewish contributions to Jacobs Masterworks 2019-2020 Season *A Sukkot Beatles Parody *Political byes *On a personal note *In Memoriam
View Article‘Bad Hombres, Good Wives’ surprises, pleases
Bad Hombres, Good Wives, a delightful new comedy at the San Diego Repertory Theater, is a cheeky take on Northern Mexico’s narco culture and the relationship between men and women. Written by...
View Article‘Stay in Mexico’ policy shifts charitable focus
After the Trump Administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy was introduced in the summer, many asylum seekers were forced to stay in Mexico. While they wait for their court date, the need for shelters...
View ArticleScientists and artists collaborate in SDAI exhibit
There is a new exhibit at the San Diego Art Institute (SDAI) that should appeal to many tastes as it is an innovative show that pairs artists and scientists together. What a brilliant idea to combine...
View ArticlePizza and appreciation delivered to health workers
I called Dr. Kalmar, and he liked my idea. He spoke to the head nurse and Peggy Woods, the medical staff coordinator. It took a few days, but we were able to work everything out, following certain...
View ArticleThe Small Movement and Tikkun Olam
What is the small movement? It is an informal group of people brought together by yours truly to find ways to help others, especially during this pandemic. This includes giving business to small mom...
View ArticleFern Platt Hall lives a life of good deeds
By Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — Growing up in the last century, it was not always easy being outside of the box. In most cultures and countries, one followed a certain path- go to school, work...
View ArticleAdventures of a Jewish Buddhist
In December 2001, I was semi-kidnapped by a taxi driver in the state of Karnataka, a remote area in Southeast India. Although scary at the time, it ended being one of many adventures/ stories that...
View ArticleJFS food delivery service needs extra help during pandemic
After weeks of mostly staying home since the COVID 19 pandemic started, I was looking for some volunteer work where I could do something useful for others, but still stay safe. Then, I read in this and...
View ArticleCrypto Jews: Finding and Embracing their Roots
By Mimi Pollack L’Chaim San Diego Magazine SAN DIEGO — My late fiancé, an 8th generation New Mexican, used to tell me about the secret or crypto Jews of New Mexico. He was convinced that although he...
View ArticleMimi’s Ark: Icelandic Horses in Encinitas
Did you know there are horses in San Diego County with roots that can be traced back directly back to the Vikings? They are Icelandic horses and their ancestors were perfect for crossing the oceans on...
View ArticleHow the Pandemic Led to Horses and Second Acts
2020 was a strange, difficult, and even transformative year for so many. In my case, the pandemic made me feel very mortal and I decided to start checking things off my “Bucket List.” First up was...
View ArticleRefugees will become hard-working Americans
With the wave of immigrants arriving at the border clamoring to be let in, I have been thinking a lot about immigration. When Trump was in power, the border was basically closed, refugees and asylees...
View ArticleProud of the U.S. and local response to migrant children
I’m so proud of President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Cabinet Secretaries Alejandro Mayorkas and Xavier Becerra, San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, our city’s Mayor Todd Gloria,...
View ArticleBook Provides Useful Pet Advice
The pandemic has changed many people’s daily routines. More folks have been spending time at home and because of this, pet adoptions have increased. What better time to adopt a pet than while spending...
View ArticleGuatemalan Judge Erika Lorena Aifan – A Brave Voice
By Mimi Pollack and Marcela Roel LA MESA, California — Since March 2007, the U.S. Secretary of State has honored various women from around the world with the Secretary of State’s International Women of...
View ArticleSharon Katz: Music and Mitzvahs
By Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — It is unusual when a person combines great talent with compassion for others, but from personal and perhaps biased experience, I can attest that South African...
View ArticleMemories of 9/11
Our columnist Laurie Baron contributed this memory of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Twenty years later, do you have recollections of the day terrorists hijacked four planes, destroyed...
View ArticleWriters Reflect on Donald Harrison’s Legacy
By Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — Donald Harrison is a true mensch, and I am sure many would agree with me. He has been a voice for the Jewish community in San Diego County for many years with his...
View ArticleAn Afghan Journalist’s Journey to Coronado
By Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — Can one be an observant Muslim and a feminist at the same time? In the case of Afghan journalist Sayed Sadat, the answer is yes. During an interview at the...
View ArticleAmericans Helping Afghan Refugees
By Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — Afghan and American cultures are different in many ways, for example, in lifestyle and style of communication. It is always a learning experience when two cultures...
View ArticleSusan Davis: Life After Congress
After serving 35 years as a public servant- six years in the California State Assembly , nine years on the Board of Education, and 20 years in the US Congress- what does one do after retiring? In the...
View ArticleSouth African Sharon Katz Offers Free Concert April 16 in Ramona
South African musician and humanitarian Sharon Katz will be giving a complimentary concert at the Ramona Ranch Winery on Sunday, April 16th from 2:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon. What better way to spend...
View ArticleDrumming in Jewish Circles
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — In the book “Miriam’s Tambourine: Jewish Folktales from Around the World” (1988), edited by Prof. Howard Schwartz, Miriam’s drum had magical abilities. Taken from a...
View ArticleBlending and Celebrating Diverse Cultures Downtown
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — Intersections at UC San Diego Park and Market is a new multicultural concert series that showcases both local and non-local artists, curated by musician, performer, and...
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