Israel

Congregations, schools, plan unique Purim programs

For example: Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “British Purim Invasion” at 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 3. The event will include horse-drawn queen’s carriage rides, professional portraits, scavenger hunt, bounce castle, Megillah reading, fish and chips shoppe, pub food including shepherd’s pie, bangers, and mash, tearoom, gin cocktails, and scones. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Contemporary Torah: Building belonging and creating sanctuary

We have the ability to create a container for our collective soul and our physical existence, which has been under attack. We are trying to build our own places of safety, a Mishkan, here in the United States of America. And it is hard. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

International Jewish group demands Francesca Albanese resign her U.N. post

J7 Large Jewish Communities Task Force on Antisemitism—representing the Jewish communities of Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States— expressed its support for the call by numerous governments calling on Albanese to resign. [Press Release]

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International, Israel, Press Release, USA

Jews around the world to celebrate ‘Shabbat for Israel’ April 24

Thousands of individuals across the United States, Canada, Israel, and around the world will unite at private residences, synagogues, and community centers on April 24, 2026, for “Shabbat for Israel,” a coordinated series of intimate Shabbat dinners hosted in honor of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. [Press Release]

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International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Press Release, Travel and Food, USA

One Jewish Olympian has medaled so far

Chicago native Emery Lehman, Jewish speedskater and four-time Olympian, took the silver medal for Team USA’s Speed Skating Men’s Team, along with teammates Casey Dawson and Ethan Cepuran, on Tuesday, Feb. 17, in Milan. Lehman hinted he plans to retire from speedskating after the 2026 Olympics. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, International, Israel, News Media, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish biography: Selman Waksman – The great healer

Selman decided to leave Russia forever and move to the United States to live with his mother’s sisters. On November 2, 1910, he arrived in Philadelphia. In September 1911, Waksman became a student at the New Jersey State College of Agriculture at Rutgers University, from which he graduated in 1915 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural science. Starting his research there in soil microbiology, he received his master’s degree in 1916, along with US citizenship. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

A record-breaking term: Over 350 students enrolled in Israel studies classes

With antisemitism and anti-Zionism rising on campus, our Visiting Israeli Professors and Modern Israel Studies classes are doing something vital: providing academic truth. They give students the tools and the context to look past the social media noise and actually engage with the modern state of Israel. [Murray Galinson San Diego Israeli Initiative]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA