The Danish Medical Association intends to pass a law banning the performance of circumcision until the age of 18, since “this is a decision which must be taken by a mature person themselves.” Will Danish Jews be able to perform a circumcision on their children? The heads of the Danish Medical Association demand legislation which […]
Denmark may ban circumcision under the age of 18 Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionAt New York’s Central Synagogue, five female ‘firsts’ discuss their experiences pioneering the clergy in ‘Breaking Bounds’ panel By Cathryn J. Prince NEW YORK — They’d never be able to lift and carry the Torah. They’d look strange standing there on the bima (pulpit) wearing a yarmulke and prayer shawl. They don’t know how, or
Women rabbis who waded into a sea of opposition still fighting the waves Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAInterior Minister Aryeh Deri addressed a special conference of 100 Sephardic rabbis from around the world in the Knesset Tuesday. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein also participated in the conference. Deri criticized the Reform Movement during his speech. “I am asked, ‘Why fight for Jewish causes? Why don’t you make a
Interior Minister: No recognition for Reform Movement Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– For the first time in its almost 200-year history, the University of Alabama will allow a Jewish student group to display a menorah on campus during the Chanukah season, December 24 through January 1. This new seasonal display demonstrates the University’s desire to create a campus life that embodies collaboration, collegiality,
Menorah to be displayed at University of Alabama Read More »
Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, USAUnreachable by road, the city of Iquitos must be accessed by air or boat — yet the tiny Jewish community still imports clergy and exports a love of Israel By Rich Tenorio After their ancestors journeyed across an ocean from the edge of the Sahara to the center of the Amazon, their current numbers have
Amazonian Jews thrive in the depths of the rainforest Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and FoodBy Joel H. Cohen NEW YORK — The motto on a bumper sticker in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn — “Stamp Out Lashon Hara” — seemed like a wonderful idea. Curbing our “evil tongue” — ridding ourselves of the inclination, if not the desire, to gossip about, slander, defame, disparage, ridicule, belittle or simply embarrass another person — was and is certainly a
Real challenge: Eliminate lashon hara Read More »
Jewish Religion, Joel H. Cohen, USA
NEW YORK (Press Release)–Rabbi Irving Elson, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and as a Navy captain the highest-ranking Jewish chaplain in the U.S. military when he retired in September, has become the new director of JWB Jewish Chaplains Council. The nearly 100-year-old organization is the only agency that endorses Jewish chaplains
Elson takes helm at JWB Jewish Chaplains Council Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — A couple of weeks ago, a member of our congregation reported an extremely unpleasant incident at the La Mesa Costco. He wears a kippah and tzitzit in public which makes him an easily identified Jew. One of the shoppers accosted him and began making anti-Semitic comments, specifically accusing him of
Hate crimes affect us all Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USAThe annual meeting between the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Vatican ended Wednesday. This year’s meeting was focused on efforts to achieve peace in light of the rising amount of violence committed in the name of religion. The statement of the ‘Joint Commission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel’s Delegation for Relations with the
Chief Rabbinate and Vatican: reverse UNESCO decision Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle EastJERUSALEM (Press Release) — A new report by the Jewish People Policy Institute “Exploring the Jewish Spectrum in a Time of Fluid Identity” analyzes the changing Jewish community and sets forth concerted recommendations which can serve as points of departure for leadership deliberation. Recommendations include that Jewish communal groups work to strengthen the sense of “Jewish Peoplehood” among individuals from mixed Jewish/non-Jewish
JPPI urges fluid definition for Jewish identity Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAFrom artists to newspapermen, the early Jewish community on the Caribbean island set many precedents — before being decimated by assimilation, immigration and intermarriage By Julie Masis KINGSTON, Jamaica — “Is this the way to the Jewish church?” a Jamaican driver yells out of the window of his car. “Yes, just keep going straight,” someone
Remnants of Jamaica’s Jews hold a heritage full of firsts Read More »
Jewish Religion, Travel and Food[video:2021488] The Chabad-Lubavitch hasidic movement opened its annual emissaries’ conference in New York this weekend. Close to 4,000 Chabad emissaries are participating in the conference, during which they will discuss a range of issues affecting Jewish life around the world. The Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters published data on the initiative began by the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel
Watch: The annual group photo of Chabad emissaries Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionWithin the context of the fires currently raging around Israel, Chief Rabbi of Tzfat Shmuel Eliyahu was asked how one should behave, according to Jewish law, should one encounter an Arab starting a fire on Shabbat – or any other day of the week. Jewish law forbids Jews from extinguishing fires on Shabbat – unless
‘It is a mitzvah to break Shabbat to stop an arsonist’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastJewish composer and singer Ben Zion Shenker passed away Sunday morning at the age of 92. Shenker, one of the most prominent Jewish musical figures of the past century, was known for preserving the Modzitzer musical tradition. He composed hundreds of songs during his career, some of which are sung by Jews every Sabbath, such
Famed Jewish composer Ben Zion Shenker passes away Read More »
Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts