By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — “Who among you knows the names of your great-grandparents?” the speaker asked. Only a few of us put our hands up. “Who of you has a family tree?” he continued. Even fewer of our group of English-speakers living in Israel responded positively. Our speaker, Neville Lamdan, proceeded to explain […]
Recording our Jewish roots Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish HistoryMoadim Perspectives: Chanukah – Purim, by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, Rabbi Dr. Solomon Breuer, and Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer, Feldheim Publishers, New York, © 2018, ISBN 978-1-68025-072-5, p. 241, $22.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Moadim Perspectives: Chanukah – Purim is the third in a series of books on Jewish holidays by the Rabbi
A scholarly family writes of Chanukah, Purim Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, International, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionNo Resting Place: Holocaust Poland by Rick Halperin and Denise Gee; photographs by Sherry Aikman SMU Embrey Human Rights Program/Terrace Partners (October 2017). Hardcover (11.75” x 11”); 168 pages; 206 color images; $39.95. ISBN 978-0-692-85960-5 By Edwin Black No Resting Place/Holocaust Poland achieves searing power to illuminate the dark burning reality of Nazi concentration camps
‘No Resting Place’ sears and stuns Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Edwin Black, Jewish History
Through My Father’s Eyes by Barry Fischer; Fischer Family Press; © 2014; ISBN 9780991-073313; 211 pages; $19.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –This memoir is a good introduction to the Holocaust for middle school students and older. It is written in a clear, conversational style, the author remembering how his father, Mayer Fischer, described
Son relates his father’s Holocaust survival Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History
Holocaust Postal History by Justin Gordon; Six Point Watermark;© 2016; ISBN 9780997-840100; 138 pages plus glossaries, bibliography and index. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The author of this richly illustrated book deserved compliments for his persistence as a collector, his clarity as a writer, and his ability as a researcher. No matter how
The Holocaust seen through its postal history Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History
(c) Oliver Pollak PORTLAND, Oregon — In the Summer of 2017 we took a 5,500-mile road trip. Richmond, California to Vancouver. The California and Oregon coasts were beautiful. Fish and chips galore. Right turn to the Trans-Canada Highway to a wedding in Winnipeg. Right turn to Omaha, Nebraska. Right turn and back to California. We
Holocaust museum completes memorable Portland trip Read More »
Jewish History, Oliver Pollak, USABy Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California — I am helping in the preparation of an exhibit at the Richmond Museum of History — “Pioneer Jews to the Present: Jews of Richmond and Contra Costa County.” I am reaching out to San Diego Jewish World readers who may have memories, photographs, artifacts or stories about Richmond and
Contra Costa County Jewish history exhibit seeks help Read More »
Jewish History, Oliver Pollak, USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – HBO and the Museum of Jewish Heritage plan to air on January 27th a 19-minute short film, The Number on Great-Grandpa’s Arm. It builds on a touching conversation between an inquisitive 10-year-old, Elliot Saiontz, and his 90-year-old great-grandfather, Jack Feldman of Rochester, New York. Elliot narrates the film.
HBO film short has 10-year-old narrating the Holocaust Read More »
International, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USACoins, pottery, and ritual baths recently uncovered revealed a Hasmonean-era Jewish town at the Susya in Mount Hevron. The findings are surprising in light of historical reports about Hasmonean activity to convert the Edomites who lived in the region, in year 112 BCE. The discovery a settlement site from the time of the Hasmonean Kingdom
Ancient Jewish town from Hasmonean period discovered Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East7 years of research yields trove of material about wartime experience A new book was launched on Dec 12 in Shanghai that gives a new Chinese perspective on Jewish refugees in China during World War II. Publication of Jewish Refugees in China (1933-1945): History, Perspective and Chinese Model marked the conclusion of a project sponsored
New book tells stories of Jews sheltered in China Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish HistoryBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The annual fun is upon us. But for those interested in such things, there’s lots of fuzzy history to contemplate. It’s probably best to ignore all that comes next, to enjoy with the kids and grandchildren, the parties, in Israel the long vacation from school, as well as the gifts
Chanukah in myth and history Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionWhen you step inside artist Kalman Aron’s modest apartment in Beverly Hills, a lifetime of creation surrounds you. The walls are covered in paintings and finished canvases are stacked on the floors, a dozen deep. The paintings range from portraits to landscapes to abstract works. They’re just a fraction of the roughly 2,000 pieces Aron
For over 90 years, this Holocaust survivor’s art has kept him alive Read More »
International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USABy Matt Lebovic An unprecedented world tour of artifacts from Auschwitz-Birkenau premiered in Madrid on December 1, the first stop in a “roving exhibition” about the Nazi death camp where one million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. With the tagline, “Not long ago. Not far away,” the tour will appear in 14 cities during
Global tour of Auschwitz relics begins seven-year, 14-city journey Read More »
International, Jewish History, USAClose Edgar Feuchtwanger was 5 years old when Adolf Hitler looked at him for the first time. It was 1929. The child peered out of his window in Munich and watched the future chancellor of Germany step out of a black automobile. Hitler glanced up and made eye contact with the boy. That was when
This Man Grew Up Across The Street From Hitler Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History