Judaism

How many Jews are there in the world?

Sunday will begin the Week of Connection to Diaspora Jewry, a week dedicated to strengthening the ties between Israel and Jews in the diaspora in light of the various challenges and complications currently facing Jewry in Israel and abroad. According to the Diaspora Affairs Ministry’s statistics, there are currently 14.4 million Jews in the world, […]

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Heimlich Maneuver inventor dead at 96 after massive heart attack

Dr. Henry Heimlich, the inventor of the namesake maneuver credited with saving thousands of choking victims during the last several decades, died Saturday at the age of 96. The legendary physician passed away early Saturday morning at a Cincinnati hospital where he had been admitted earlier this week after suffering from a massive heart attack,

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Obituaries & memorials, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Eight TV shows that get Hanukkah just right

Less commonly — or successfully — portrayed than Christmas, the Jewish festival of lights has nevertheless created some great screen moments By Lior Zaltzman Seth from The O.C. presents Chrismukkah (YouTube screenshot) ‘Tis the season of TV Christmas specials! The drama, the intrigue, your favorite TV characters in ill-fitting Santa costumes — the Christmas special

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Jewish Religion, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Astronaut John Glenn’s wife of 73 years emotionally bids her final farewell

Annie Glenn was married to her husband and American hero John Glenn for more than seven decades of her life. On Friday, she said goodbye for the final time as he was lying in state at Ohio’s capitol building. Glenn, 95, died a week ago surrounded by family and friends at the Ohio State University

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Obituaries & memorials, USA

Anne Frank arrest may not have been due to betrayal, says museum

Amsterdam (dpa) – The wartime arrest of Anne Frank, the Jewish teenager who wrote one of the world’s best known diaries, may not have been as a result of betrayal as previously thought, a new study has suggested. Researchers at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam say the annex where she was hiding with her

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International, Jewish History

In praise of Mona Golabek, author and performer

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Several years ago I read The Pianist of Willesden Lane written by Mona Golabek about the experiences of her mother, Lisa Jura, first in Vienna and then in London. She had been sent there at the age of fourteen in the framework of the Kindertransport, the undertaking that

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Bernard Fox, the bumbling Dr. Bombay on ‘Bewitched,’ dies at 89

LOS ANGELES — Bernard Fox, known to a generation of TV viewers as Dr. Bombay on “Bewitched” and the fumbling, forever naive Col. Crittendon on “Hogan’s Heroes,” has died. He was 89. Fox died Wednesday of heart failure while hospitalized in Van Nuys, family spokesman Harlan Boll said. Though his role as the womanizing, wisecracking

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Employee disciplined for observing Pesach’s last 2 days

By Edwin Black WASHINGTON, D.C. Susan Abeles’ saga began in 2013 when she took time off to observe the last two days of Passover, just as she had done annually for the past 26 years. During those years, Abeles, an Orthodox Jew, worked for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), mainly as a data specialist.

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Edwin Black, Jewish Religion, USA

At final Hanukkah party, Obama extols religious freedom, ignores elephant in room

Five weeks before Trump assumes power, president tells American Jews: ‘We look forward to working with you on the other side’ By Eric Cortellessa Mika Almog, granddaughter of the late former Israeli president Shimon Peres, lights a menorah candle as Rabbi Rachel Isaacs says a blessing during a Hanukkah reception in The East Room at

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Italy was unlikely protector of Shoa Jews

Author Elizabeth Bettina wrote her book, I t Happened in Italy, to highlight “the goodness” of the Italian people in protecting Jews during the Holocaust. Photo courtesy Elizabeth Bettina Hadassah members serving on the program committee included, from left, Judy Tabak, Judi Harrison, Aimee Braverman, Judy Slutzky, and Rena Kallman. Photo by Debra Rubin On

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International, Jewish History

Italy Holocaust survivor who helped capture Nazi criminal dead at 90

Rome (dpa) – Giulia Spizzichino, one of Rome’s last Holocaust survivors and the woman who helped bring Nazi criminal Erich Priebke to justice, died overnight aged 90, the Jewish Community of Rome said Tuesday. Spizzichino is credited for convincing the Argentine government to allow the extradition of Priebke to Italy, where he was tried and

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International, Jewish History