International

Accident or murder on the Isle de France

Something happened… Schneider’s skull was laterally crushed by a heavy object. Though very near their port of destination, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Schneider was hurriedly buried at sea. The body could have been brought to Halifax, only a few days’ sail away. His remains could have been returned to his parents for Jewish burial in the United Kingdom. [Jerry Klinger]

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Antisemitism, International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors

American lessons to be drawn from Hungary’s recent election

There are many clear parallels between Hungary under Orbán and the United States under Trump, perhaps intentionally so, given their close alignment. Orbán changed election rules and engaged in “extreme gerrymandering” to expand his party’s hold on power. He systematically attacked and restricted a free press in Hungary, and created a rulebook for “illiberal nationalism” that Trump and Vance openly admire. (Halie Soifer)

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Antisemitism, International, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Thoughts of butterflies and upcoming Jewish events

Many synagogues held candlelight vigils in honor of the six million Jews who perished, including the 1.5 million children who inspired the locally-based Butterfly Project. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

About half of young Americans can’t name a single Holocaust site, repeating a pattern of ignorance seen in postwar Germany

Many people attributed the rise in antisemitic activity to a lack of education about the Nazi period. They questioned what West German students were learning about their country’s recent past. [Daniela R. P. Weiner]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Spain must ban its celebratory medieval toast ‘kill Jews’

It is a phrase uttered with a smile, a wink, and the clinking of glasses. Yet, to dismiss this as harmless folklore is to ignore the blood-soaked soil from which such language grew and the moral rot it continues to nourish in the modern era. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

AJC urges Trump to press for release of longstanding American captives held in Iran

The future of talks with the regime remains unclear, but when the United States gets back to the negotiating table with Iran, the organizations argue that “[t]he United States must send a clear message: the wrongful detention or hostage-taking of Americans will never be tolerated, forgotten, or deprioritized. Our adversaries must understand that harming or holding Americans carries sustained diplomatic consequences, and our citizens must know that their government will relentlessly pursue their return.” [Press Release]

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International, Middle East, Press Release, USA

Tennessee legislature sends ‘Judea and Samaria’ directive to governor

This measure reflects the enduring historical and cultural ties of the Jewish People to their ancestral homeland and reinforces the importance of the use of accurate place names in government affairs, education, media, and public conversation. [Press Release]

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Israel, Jewish History, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Blame for civilian deaths shared by all belligerents in Middle East war

We have strong reason to be concerned about Israel’s military response to Oct. 7. Thousands of civilians were killed in bombing in large part because Hamas built its operations where the people of Gaza live, attend school and receive medical care, so civilian deaths were all but guaranteed. However, it very much appears that Israel went way too far with its attacks, and in the current war American planes killed an estimated 160 schoolgirls, presumably by mistake. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

This year’s inductees into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday announced the athletes and media personnel who will be inducted later this year as the class of 2026, joining over 500 sports figures who have been so honored since 1979. [Press Release]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Press Release, Sports & Competitions, USA