Jewish History

Lithuania Has Yet to Acknowledge Its Holocaust Role

Like most South African Jews, my ancestors came from Lithuania and my family tree has relatives who perished in the Holocaust. I grew up with very little knowledge of what occurred in Lithuania during the Holocaust and attributed the slaughter of its Jews to the German Nazis, however, if fact, it was the Lithuanians, with very little or no German supervision, who enthusiastically carried out this slaughter and this is borne out by the testimonies of 121 Jewish survivors of the Holocaust in Lithuania. [David Solly Sandler]

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International, Jewish History

Jewish Folk Remedies from the Pale of Settlement

Wait, it’s not the chicken soup, it’s the herbs that count! Eastern European Jewry, particularly those living in the area known as “The Pale of Settlement,” on the western side of the Dnieper River, in present-day Ukraine, whose history there began in the Middle Ages, have a “long and distinguished canon dedicated to the healing process,” a research area unfortunately ignored, by-and-large, by sociological scholars. Cohen and Siegel, in their joint venture Ashkenazi Herbalism, describe the history and role of plants and herbs employed by Ashkenazi folk-healers, piecing together sparse, fragmented sources, and weaving them into an engaging story. [Fred Reiss, Ed.D]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education

Jewish Trivia Quiz: James Carville

James Carville offered advice and criticism to the Democratic Party for their overall poor results (other than winning the presidency) in the last election (“We won the White House against a world-historical buffoon. And we came within 42,000 votes of losing.”). What “Jewish-referenced” comment did Carville offer? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

School Boards Should Formally Acknowledge Jewish American History Month

California’s newly adopted Ethnic Studies Curriculum has given San Diego County educators the opportunity to combat antisemitism by recognizing and celebrating the many contributions and extensive history of the American Jewish community.  Local Boards of Education should formally acknowledge the month of May as Jewish American Heritage Month within our San Diego County schools.  [Mark Powell]

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Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Who was Shimon Bar Yochai?

An Israeli national disaster occurred at the Lag B’Omer festival on Mount Meron in northern Israel on April 28 when 45 people were killed and 155 were injured when thousands people gathered in the tightly packed confines of a compound surrounding the grave of a Jewish holy man. The tragic incident demands answers for why a hundred thousand mainly Haredi Jews from Israel and abroad would make their way to this isolated site at this special time. [Barry Shaw]

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Barry Shaw, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East

CD Compiles Music from Jewish and Other Ghettos

Frank London, jazz trumpeter, band leader, co-founder of the Klezmatics, founder of the Klezmer Brass Allstars and co-founder of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, is one of the most important figures in the Klezmer Renaissance. A graduate of the New England Conservatory, majoring in Afro-American Music, he is also well schooled in World Music. Currently, he serves on the music faculty of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Some Jewish Race Car Stories You May Not Have Known

If it had not been for a nice Yiddishe fellow, Siegfried Marcus, there would not have been the internal combustion engine. Greta Thunberg would be thrilled today.  No cars, no CO2 or sulfur emissions to cause global warming and give the antisemites something else to hate the Jews over.  [Jerry Klinger]

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International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, USA

ADL: 2,024 Antisemitic Incidents in U.S. in 2020

Antisemitic incidents remained at a historically high level across the United States in 2020, with a total of 2,024 incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism reported to ADL (the Anti-Defamation League). While antisemitic incidents declined by 4 percent after hitting an all-time high in 2019, last year was still the third-highest year for incidents against American Jews since ADL started tracking such data in 1979. [ADL Press Release]

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Jewish History, USA

Good News from Israel (April 25, 2021)

NETANYA, Israel — In the April 25, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–Over 80% of Israeli adults have now been vaccinated against Covid-19.
–Israeli optical breakthrough allows for early detection of skin cancer.
–Israel marks Earth Day with national clean-up and new sustainability center.
–New Israeli-developed microchips are the fastest ever.
–Israel signs hi-tech agreement with one of the world’s largest carmakers.
–Discovery in Israel of the oldest example of alphabetic writing. [Michael Ordman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

U.S. Should Revisit Idea of Temporary Havens

Whether the refugee cap is increased to 125,000 annually, as President Biden originally promised in February, or kept at the 15,000 level set by his predecessor, or ends up somewhere in between — as now seems likely — America’s policy of admitting refugees remains inadequate for meeting the human rights challenges of our era. Perhaps the time has come for a new approach — one based on a proposal first made in 1943-44. [Rafael Medoff]

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International, Jewish History, USA