The Devil That Never Dies, by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen; New York: Little, Brown and Company, 201 By David Strom CHULA VISTA, California — Former professor Daniel Jonah Goldhagen of Harvard University wrote a stinging and, most likely, controversial book on the rise of global anti-Semitism. His extensive analysis of speeches, newspapers, radio stations, statements by […]
Book Review: ‘The Devil That Never Dies’ Read More »
Jewish History
By Anav Silverman KFAR CHABAD, Israel (TNA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the time to bake some Passover matzah for his first time when he visited a matzah bakery in Kfar Chabad ahead of the upcoming Passover holiday on Tuesday, April 1. Local Chabad leaders and rabbis briefed Prime Minister Netanyahu on the preparations to hold
Israeli Prime Minister bakes matzah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)-The total number of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States fell by 19 percent in 2013, continuing a decade-long downward slide and marking one of the lowest levels of incidents reported by the Anti-Defamation League since it started keeping records in 1979. ADL’s annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, released today, reported a
Anti- Semitic incidents fewer but often more violent Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
CHICAGO (Press Release)–North America’s Reform rabbis took on the sometimes-ignored human costs of two of today’s pressing social issues: immigration policy and healthcare inequality. The rabbis addressed the topics in two sessions — “Undocumented and Unafraid: Standing Strong as an Immigration Ally,” and “The Death Gap: Inequality in America and the Unfinished Business of Health
Rabbis weigh immigration, health care Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
NEW YORK (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Monday, March 31, expressed concern at the continuing failure of political leaders in Quebec to condemn the anti-Semitic and religiously intolerant statements alleging a “kosher tax” by Louise Mailloux, a candidate for the province’s National Assembly. Mailloux’s comment was made at a time when many in Quebec
ADL seeks retraction of ‘kosher tax’ charge Read More »
International, Jewish Religion
CHICAGO (Press Release)-At the opening ceremony of the 125th annual Convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) Sunday evening, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois) highlighted what she called the pervasive “meanness” in Washington and faulty morality used by members of Congress to support cuts to programs like food stamps and unemployment benefits. The CCAR is
Schakowsky hits ‘mean’ Congress Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
By Judy Lash Balint/JNS.org JERUSALEM—When most Israeli Jews sit down for the Passover seder, they’ll wait for the kids to recite Mah Nishtana, the four questions; pucker up to inhale the bitter herbs; relish the sweet Charoset; dip herbs in salt water; sing rousing renditions of Dayenu and Chad Gadya; and knock back four cups
Taking Passover back to its roots Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Binyamin Kagedan/JNS.org “In every generation, one is obligated to see himself as if he had personally left Egypt.” The Passover Haggadah annually exhorts us to make the ancient tale of Israelite liberation feel personally relevant. What better way to make this dinner party (or dinner parties, for those who observe two Passover seders)
A pop Passover seder Read More »
Jewish Religion
Stories and photos from Mollie Katzen/JNS.org Vegetarians, and especially vegans, need some high-protein plant food with a bit of heft to keep them going during Passover, especially if observing the Ashkanazic tradition that forbids eating kitniyot—a category that includes legumes, most grains, and some seeds. Meat eaters also might want to break the monotony of potatoes, matzoh, or matzoh
Three quinoa dishes for Pesach Read More »
Jewish Religion
PARSIPPANY, New Jersey (Press Release)– Limmud FSU (former Soviet Union) and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (the Fellowship) have announced a new global and long-term partnership designed to enhance and develop the activities of Limmud FSU and expand the organization worldwide. As part of the collaboration, the Fellowship will be a key partner in the
Alliance to educate Russian Jews about their roots Read More »
Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — The immediate irony about the current spate of Bible-themed motion pictures is the apparent endorsement of many fundamentalist groups. The very folks who insist that the Bible was written by God are happy to let Hollywood spread fantastical, computer-enhanced, high definition recreations. These movies are essentially about two
As for the movie ‘Noah;’ the Book is better Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Deborah Fineblum/JNS.org Rather than feeling a sense of loss, leaving the second Passover seder behind in the U.S., or France, or Turkey, or any other country of origin is touted as a perk of living in Israel that new immigrants to the Jewish state (olim) mention in the same breath as the universal availability
See new moon over Israel, skip second seder Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Deborah Fineblum/JNS.org Israel is a country that has spent more than six decades weaving the two formerly disparate basic branches of the Jewish family, Sephardim and Ashkenazim, into one people. These days, nary an eyebrow is raised as they hang out, date, and marry in the Jewish state, and most of their cultural differences
When Sephardim and Ashkenazim truly differ Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Michele Alperin/JNS.org As the intersection of family, Jewish memory, and the passions of contemporary politics and society, the Passover seder is said to be the most celebrated annual Jewish event in the United States. But it is not always easy to make all seder attendees feel the Haggadah’s mandate that in every generation, each
Some tips for making the seder memorable Read More »
Jewish Religion