California

Kamala Harris seriously considering running for CA governor

Kamala Harris weighing California gubernatorial bid, decision expected by summer's end.

California:

Settlement reached for lawsuit on antisemitic 'ethnic studies'

California school district halts ethnic studies courses following lawsuit over alleged antisemitism.

Rabbi Tzvi Tau:

US fires due to support for LGBT agenda

'They didn't succeed in extinguishing the fires because the fire department was handed over to women; they are only busy with LGBT matters and not with putting out fires,' Rabbi Tzvi Tau says.

Tens of thousands evacuated as new fire erupts near Los Angeles

Wildfire erupts near Castaic Lake, north of Los Angeles, rapidly spreading and forcing 31,000 residents to evacuate.

Anti-Israel activist blames Israel for California wildfires

Fatima Mousa Mohammed, who infamously went on a diatribe against Israel at her CUNY commencement speech, blames climate change directly caused by the war in Gaza for the Los Angeles wildfires.

LA wildfires:

Police investigating Kenneth fire as arson, one detained

LAPD says they have arrested one individual suspected of causing the Kenneth fire, one of the five wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County.

Another synagogue destroyed:

Torah scrolls rescued from Chabad center during LA fires

Century-old Conservative synagogue burned to the ground in minutes, Chabad center damaged and loses its menorahs, in Palisades Fire.

Mandatory evacuations ordered as wildfire rages in Los Angeles

More than 30,000 residents in Los Angeles area are under a mandatory evacuation order as wildfire rages in Pacific Palisades.

Lawsuit seeks to ban Congressmen from voting for aid to Israel

21 California residents sue Democratic Reps. Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman for voting in favor of a military aid package to Israel, claiming the suffered emotional harm from the vote.

California:

Two Democratic representatives face lawsuit for supporting Israel

Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman, two Bay Area House representatives, face class-action suit for supporting Israel aid.

'Unacceptable and disturbing'

California DMV revokes 'LOLOCT7' license plate

California Department of Motor Vehicles revokes and apologizes for personalized truck license plate which was perceived as mocking Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack. Truck owner's son says the plate had no connection to the attack.

Palestinian runs over Israeli man in California

Israeli man hospitalized with compound fracture in his leg after being run over by a Palestinian-Iranian man in what police are treating as a hate crime.

California:

School shooter motivated by Palestinian genocide and oppresion

A note left by a mentally ill man who fired at California kindergarteners declared he was 'imposing countermeasures for the genocide of Palestinians'.

7.0 earthquake of California coast, triggering tsunami warnings

Powerful 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of northern California. Tsunami warnings following quake canceled.

Court:

Unconstitutional not to fund special ed in religious schools

California law against special education funding for religious schools violates constitution, court rules.

California:

Man caught in illegal possession of weapons near Trump event

The Riverside County Sheriff said that Vem Miller, a 49-year-old resident of Las Vegas, was stopped at a checkpoint near the rally and was found to be illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine.

New California law to aid Holocaust art restitution

California passes law to help Holocaust survivors and heirs recover Nazi-looted art.

California's penalties for drunk drivers

As part of the state's plan to reduce drunk driving, California has begun using several different penalties for inebriated drivers.

Lawsuit uncovers antisemitism in Santa Ana School District

The ADL, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, AJC, and Covington & Burling to add supporting evidence in lawsuit against the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) for violations of California’s open meetings laws.

Anti-Israel protestors target California synagogue, Jewish school

Activists gather outside Shaarey Zedek Congregation in Valley Village, California to protest Israel, angering parents of children attending the school there.

California:

Anti-Israel group claims responsibility for arson on campus

A group identifying itself as the 'Marilyn's Daughters' declared that it had set the fires as a part of a larger 'operation in solidarity with the Palestinian people.'

After being placed on leave:

University president who agreed to boycott Israel retires

Sonoma State University President announces his retirement, just days after being placed on administrative leave for making concessions to anti-Israel student groups on campus.

California county examining death row cases for discrimination

Jews were excluded from California county’s death penalty juries for decades, new evidence reveals.

California:

Richmond city council votes to divest from Israel

In a 5-to-1 vote, the city council of Richmond in California votes to divest from companies doing business in Israel.

'We'll see you at you house'

Anti-Israel activist threatens to murder Calif. city council

Anti-Israel activist arrested, faces felony charges after making death threats at city council meeting in Bakersfield, California. 'I hope that one day, somebody brings the guillotine and kills all of you.'

Six years after arrest:

Neo-Nazi stands trial for murder

After many delays, Sam Woodward, member of a Neo-Nazi group who was arrested in 2018, will stand trial in southern California for murdering his Jewish classmate

Israeli couple killed in California plane crash

High-tech entrepreneur and his wife die when small plane crashed near Nevada state border.

UC Berkeley to monitor anti-Israel protest

Ending his sit-in, UC Berkeley professor says campus response to antisemitism has improved.

ISA:

Be careful not to publish Yair Netanyahu's location

The Jewish Department of the ISA contacted an activist in California to tell him not to publish details of the location of the family of the Prime Minister.

Orthodox Jewish dentist shot dead near San Diego

Orthodox Jewish dentist killed and two others injured in a shooting in El Cajon, California. The suspect, Mohammed Abdulkareem, was reportedly a former patient. Motive still being investigated.

Los Angeles university campus sold to Jewish school

American Jewish University completes deal to sell its Los Angeles campus to nearby Jewish school.

San Diego university investigated on claims of 'Islamophobia'

San Diego State U sent an email supporting students after Oct. 7. It’s now being investigated for Islamophobia.

Los Angeles:

Conservative synagogue moves services due to anti-Israel protest

Prominent LA Conservative synagogue relocates Shabbat services due to planned pro-Palestinian protest.

Oakland, Ca. teachers stage 'teach-in' to vilify Israel

100 teachers hold event presenting Palestinian side to children as fact in wake of October 7 massacre.

California: Elderly man injured in antisemitic attack

Police arrest 44-year-old suspect after he attacks elderly Jewish man on his way to synagogue.

California:

Employees who harassed Jewish woman at coffee shop dismissed

The employees were filmed blocking a Jewish woman from a bathroom at the shop while making anti-Israel comments.

Jewish woman harassed in California coffee shop

A woman was denied entrance to a restroom when she complained it was covered in antisemitic graffiti.

Witness:

Attacker stalked elderly Jewish man before killing him in LA

Friend of 69-year-old Jewish man who was murdered at an anti-Israel protest says attacker was watching them, targeted the shorter man.

Jewish philanthropist announces run for mayor of San Francisco

Daniel Lurie, Jewish Levi Strauss heir and philanthropist, is running for San Francisco mayor.

California:

County rescinds creation of 'American Christian Heritage Month'

A California county calls off ‘American Christian Heritage Month’ after fierce backlash.

California curriculum:

Orange County district may have violated law

Lawsuit alleges California school district illegally approved ‘antisemitic’ ethnic studies curriculum.

California law could make parents lose LGBT children

A new bill in California would allow the government to remove children from parents who do not affirm the child's gender choice.

California:

Police searching for suspect who broke into Bakersfield Chabad

The burglary took place on August 28. Objects including jewelry and electronic devices stolen, but Torah scrolls untouched.

California:

Education Board demands ethnic studies to avoid 'bias & bigotry'

California Jewish groups, on guard against antisemitism, welcome state’s mandate that ethnic studies classes avoid ‘bigotry.’

California: Two synagogues evacuated during Sabbath livestream

2 synagogues evacuated during livestreamed Shabbat services as wave of bomb threats enters 4th week.

Kosher baker rejects synagogue’s order for 'pride' treats

Kosher baker experiences boycotts, 'obnoxious' visits after refusing to create 'pride' treats for synagogue.

Months after going missing:

British actor Julian Sands found dead

San Bernardino County Sheriff confirms human remains found were those of the actor who went missing in Southern California in January.

Plan to sell American Jewish University LA campus falls through

$65M deal to sell American Jewish University’s LA campus collapses, throwing school’s finances into question.

Stanford panel to support university's Jewish community

Advisory committee will make recommendations to improve campus Jewish life.

California:

School district removes Nazi symbols from ‘The Sound of Music’

Move to erase Nazi imagery from famous musical about pre-WWII Austria met with mixed reaction from parents.

Lincoln Club of Orange County:

US has same issues as Israel with media bias, judicial system

Lincoln Club of Orange County visits Israel National News to discuss American and Israeli politics and business ties.

ADL warns of growing antisemitism in California

ADL report finds California is home to dangerous levels of antisemitism, second only to New York.

Watch: California man saves baby from rolling into busy street

Former homeless man leaving job interview at restaurant manages to save baby in stroller rushing towards busy street.

Antisemitic flyers left on cars in Bay Area city

Hate pamphlets found in Saratoga contain antisemitic rant about Jewish culture.

UC Santa Barbara student senate calls to observe EndJewHatredDay

Resolution to address antisemitism comes after multiple troubling anti-Jewish incidents occurred on campus in January.

California elementary school defaced with antisemitic graffiti

Vandalism includes several swastikas, antisemitic and racial slurs, and death threats directed at specific students.

Hatzolah of LA vehicle’s windshield and other windows smashed

Vandalism to Jewish medical service organization's SUV caught on security video, police searching for suspect.

California:

City to pay man $750K after cops paint swastika in his car

City of Torrance settles lawsuit with man who was targeted with swastika by two police officers after being detained in mail theft case.

California:

Jewish parents sue to gain access to special needs funding

Jewish parents unable to send children to Orthodox schools due to law forbidding special needs funding in private religious schools.

Biden, California Gov. discuss Silicon Valley Bank collapse

US President speaks to California Governor Gavin Newsom after Silicon Valley Bank shut down by financial regulators.