Jewish History

Albert Einstein and Fritz Haber: Friends despite differences

Before World War I, Haber devised a method for synthesizing ammonia from hydrogen and atmospheric air under high pressure. By oxidizing the ammonia obtained from the air, nitric acid, fertilizers, and explosives were produced. For this invention, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1918. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

What I learned in London in June 2026

Attacks on Jews have set alarm bells ringing in Jewish communities around England, and especially in London. Though from what I see in the media physical violence seems to be far more prevalent in England today than it was in the past. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Antisemitism, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Historic marker dedicated in the ‘Borscht Belt’

Jews were given a gross of hate-filled, antisemitic lemons. They took the lemons and made lemonade. They faced the challenge and gave back to America incredible gifts to the arts, culture, sports, economics, and more. The Jewish Borscht Belt gifts to America reflected the best of the ideals of America and what American life could be. [Jerry Klinger]

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Antisemitism, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Chevalier and Kiros to join ranks of Israel’s enemies in Congress

Melat Kiros in Denver and Darializa Avila Chevalier in Harlem and the west Bronx could be the two most dreadful people to ever serve in Congress. Both come close to inciting genocide – of Israelis, that is. They are so far the worst of the worst of democratic socialists who bear no love for Israel or sensitivity toward American Jews. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Marking the 10th anniversary of the passing of Elie Wiesel

In the eyes of the free World, Eli Wiesel is remembered as a recipient of the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize and the author of the 1955 autobiographical book, Night, which is still actively in demand with translations in over 30 languages. It is a first-person document describing his experience of the indelible disgrace of Nazi Germany. In his Nobel speech, the esteemed Jewish author proclaimed, “Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God himself. Never.” [Stanley Tiger]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

After 27 years, Mariaschin retires as CEO of B’nai B’rith International

Throughout his decades at the helm, Mariaschin has led B’nai B’rith with unwavering dedication, remarkable diplomatic skill and deep expertise, strengthening the organization’s voice and influence on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people around the world. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish History, Press Release, USA

Jewish communal executives from 50+ countries compare notes in Amsterdam

Participants examined the growing security, political, and societal challenges facing Jewish life worldwide, with particular attention given to the continued rise of antisemitism, violent extremism, online radicalization, developments in AI, and relations with national governments. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Press Release, Travel and Food

Richard Cravatts, Brandeis Center board member and SDJW contributor

For decades, Richard educated, wrote, and spoke with remarkable conviction and integrity. His advocacy helped shape the modern fight against antisemitism and inspired countless others to stand up for truth in the face of hostility. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Kabbalah and the Holocaust 

Kabbalah and the Holocaust: Healing a Broken Cosmos is among Rabbi Samuel’s most ambitious theological works. Instead of asking only the usual, most often heard question, “Where was God during the Holocaust?” he investigates how Jewish mystical thought attempts to understand the existence of evil without diminishing God’s justice and human responsibility. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Huckabee cites shared values as reason for deep U.S.-Israel friendship

Huckabee said the historic US-Israel relationship was built on shared Judeo-Christian values, with the U.S. Founding Fathers inspired by the Jewish People and the Ten Commandments in drafting the Declaration of Independence – and more Americans should appreciate that. (Press Release)

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Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Our journey from U.S. residents to Israeli citizens

In the summer of 1991, we sold our house and car and made Aliyah with our two young sons. Our sons struggled at first in school but by the following September they were acclimated and had many friends. They were speaking Hebrew ok by then; Michal and I still speak only simple Hebrew, but English is quite common.

We moved from our 1st-year rental in Ra’anana and bought a house in Alfe Menashe, just over the Green Line, the informal border separating Israel from Judea and Samaria – the Jewish homeland. [Steve Kramer].

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food, USA

Brandeis Center lodges civil rights complaint against Boston Medical Center

sdjw

“The broader problem is that Americans will be denied the best available healthcare if top young professionals are marginalized and excluded from health programs because of their Jewish background, as we saw a century ago. When a student reports offensive conduct and is then isolated, marginalized, and penalized for speaking up, serious civil rights concerns are raised, as are serious concerns about the future of healthcare in this country. We urge HHS OCR to carefully review these allegations and ensure that all students are able to participate equally in federally funded healthcare programs.” [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

True stories from the Holocaust create strong connection

When students learn about a child who was murdered in the Holocaust and paint a butterfly in honor of that child’s life, they become grounded in history in a way that textbooks alone cannot accomplish. They understand that the Holocaust was not just a historical event, but a collection of individuals with lives, hopes, and dreams just like their own. [Debra Feldstein]

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California, Holocaust, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish biography: Karl Schwarzchild, astrophysicist

His work on the theory of relativity contained the first exact solutions to the equations of general relativity with spherical symmetry—the so-called Schwarzschild inner solution for a non-rotating spherical body of homogeneous fluid and the Schwarzschild outer solution for static empty space around a spherically symmetric body (the latter is now usually referred to simply as the Schwarzschild solution). [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors