Judaism

Remnants of Jamaica’s Jews hold a heritage full of firsts

From 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 […]

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Jewish Religion, Travel and Food

German court upholds “bookkeeper of Auschwitz” conviction

Karlsruhe, Germany (dpa) – A German federal court upheld on Monday the conviction of a 95-year-old man known as the “bookkeeper of Auschwitz” for being an accessory to the murder of 300,000 people, clearing the way for the trials of other elderly people who served at Nazi death camps. Oskar Groening had appealed his four-year

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International, Jewish History

Bnei Menashe teens visit Auschwitz

OSWIECIM, Poland (Press Release)– For the first time, five members of the northeastern Indian Bnei Menashe Jewish community, which claims descent from one of Israel’s lost tribes, visited Auschwitz last week as part of a trip for 12th-graders aimed at educating them about the horrors of the Nazi genocide against the Jewish people. “I feel more connected

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International, Jewish History, Middle East

Watch: The annual group photo of Chabad emissaries

[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

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International, Jewish Religion

Ice skater performance in Holocaust garb sparks social media outrage

Tel Aviv (dpa) – A video showing Russian ice skaters performing in concentration camp prisoner outfits was slammed as “grotesque” and “offensive” on various social media platforms on Sunday. Tatyana Navka, who’s married to Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, performed the piece based on the Italian movie Life is Beautiful on Saturday night on the

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International, Jewish History

Handwritten Anne Frank Poem Auctioned for $148,000

A poem handwritten by one of the Holocaust’s most famous victims, diarist Anne Frank, sold for 140,000 euros (roughly $148,000) on Wednesday at a Dutch auction house. The sum, which doesn’t include the auctioneer’s commission, greatly exceeded the expected sale price of 30,000 to 50,000 euros. Thijs Blankevoort, director of the Bubb Kuyper auction house

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History

Theodore Cashuk, October 19, 1935 – November 18, 2016

The following graveside eulogy was delivered by Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal on November 21, 2016 at El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego. SAN DIEGO — Joseph I. Weiss once wrote, “However short, however long the time given to those who are near to us, strength will be fashioned through the gratitude of our hearts for

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Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County

‘Hugs and Knishes’ premieres on KPBS Dec. 4

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Hugs and Knishes: A Celebration of Our Jewish Foods and Traditions explores the rich history of Jewish food and its cultural impact on the community. The film visits a variety of Jewish homes, Ashkenazic and Sephardic, for anecdotes of Jewish life that represent a diverse cultural experience and demonstrate the

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Jewish History, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Famed Jewish composer Ben Zion Shenker passes away

Jewish 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

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Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Soul singer Sharon Jones, whose work with the Dap Kings sparked a renaissance, has died

Sharon Jones, the incendiary soul singer who propelled to stardom at an age when most musicians had either hit the big time or accepted the club circuit, has died. The artist’s albums with her backing band the Dap-Kings paved the way for a soul renaissance that influenced singers including Amy Winehouse and Adele. Jones’ death

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, USA

Rabbi Ari Berman: “I’m deeply humbled”

The Board of Trustees of Yeshiva University has elected Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman as the fifth president of Yeshiva University. He will officially begin his tenure in July 2017. “Rabbi Berman is a dynamic and inspirational leader, scholar and educator,” said YU Chairman Moshael J. Straus, who led the Presidential Selection Committee. “He possesses a

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA