Judaism

Practical tips for studying the Talmud

Understanding the Talmud: A Systematic Guide to Talmudic Structure and Methodology by Rabbi Yitzchak Feigenbaum; Feldheim; 2nd edition (1988); ISBN By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Some Aramaic scholarly friends of mine who speak and know Talmudic Aramaic often complain about the poor syntax of the Talmud. To most English readers, it almost […]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

30 years after his release from Soviet prison, Knesset speaker to address Russian parliament

In historic first, Yuli Edelstein will return to Moscow to speak at the legislature and visit the jail where he was held as a Prisoner of Zion By Raoul Wootliff Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein on May 19 announces that elections for presidency will take place on June 10. (Hadas Parush/Flash90) In May 1987,

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International, Jewish History, Middle East

John Cygan, best known for his role on “The Commish,” has sadly passed away

Actor John Cygan died Saturday in his home in California after a long battle with cancer. He was 63. The New York City native played Paulie Pentangeli on the ABC cop show “The Commish,” which ran from 1991 to 1996. The series also starred Michael Chiklis, one of Cygan’s closest friends. “John Cygan, one of

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Firefighters put out massive blaze at historic New York synagogue

Inspectors open probe into fire at landmark shul in Lower East Side, once home of oldest Russian Jewish Orthodox congregation in US By Times of Israel staff A fire broke out at the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol synagogue in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, May 14, 2017. (Screenshot) New York City firefighters put out a massive blaze

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Jewish Religion, USA

Gospel choir and synagogue record double firsts

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — It was a double first Saturday night at Tifereth Israel Synagogue.  It was the first time that the Conservative Jewish congregation had ever hosted a gospel choir. And, it was the first time that the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir San Diego had ever performed in a synagogue

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Exhibit celebrates Newark’s historic synagogues

Displaying an exhibit panel on Ahavas Sholom, Newark’s oldest functioning synagogue, are, from left, Max Herman, Linda Forgosh, and Phil Yourish. Photos by Robert Wiener Harold Kravis surfs the Internet in pursuit of local Jewish history. The first location of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, on Washington Street in Newark. Photo courtesy Jewish Historical Society of New

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Jewish History, USA

Yiddish Book Center video features U.S. venues

AMHERST, Massachusetts (Press Release) – The Yiddish Book Center’s Wexler Oral History Project is celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month with a special video series that looks at the culture and customs of Jewish communities across the United States. Throughout the month of May, the project is featuring excerpts from oral history interviews highlighting the history, culture,

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Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

San Diegan Sol Lizerbram to head national JNF

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — To considerable applause, Russell Robinson, the chief executive officer of the Jewish National Fund, announced Thursday, May 11, that the next national president of JNF will be San Diegan Dr. Sol Lizerbram. Lizerbram, active with his wife Lauren for 35 years in JNF, will begin his two-year term

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Hitler’s Reich and Trump’s America

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — In a review in a recent issue of The New York Review of Books of Hitler: Ascent 1889-1939 by Volker Ullrich – the book has recently appeared in English – the distinguished Holocaust historian Christopher Browning writes: “There are sufficient areas of similarity in some regards to make the book

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA