Jewish History

‘Wings of Eagles’ airlift from Yemen retold by aviator

  By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – To fellow aviators, perhaps, Elgen M. Long is best known as the man who in 1971 first flew around the world over both the North and South Poles.  Additionally, he is admired for his research into the disappearance of aviators Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan in 1937

‘Wings of Eagles’ airlift from Yemen retold by aviator Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Honors galore for Holocaust survivor Ruth Sax, 89

By Sandra Scheller CHULA VISTA, California — At the age of 89, my mother Ruth Sax never thought that she would see a college diploma in her hand let alone an honorary diploma. Between the ages of 13-17 Ruth was robbed of her education as she survived Theresienstadt, Auschwitz and Oederan concentration camps. Once she

Honors galore for Holocaust survivor Ruth Sax, 89 Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, San Diego County

Hannover to Terezin, roundtrip please

By Oliver B. Pollak HANNOVER, Germany and TEREZIN, Czech Republic —  Our roots trip has dispersed with cousins going separate ways to Berlin, Munich, and Rome. My  party of five headed to Hannover and Theresienstadt, a path my grandfather took in 1942 and in reverse in 1945. Grandfather, Dr. Felix Bachmann,  with his new English

Hannover to Terezin, roundtrip please Read More »

International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Oliver Pollak, Travel and Food

A Jewish- Christian family reunion along the Ruhr

By Oliver B. Pollak MESCHEDE, Germany — The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Eslohe Football (soccer) club was pretext for the Goldschmidt and Bachmann family reunion in Germany. Two Goldschmidt brothers were charter organizers. Eight cousins and 13 of their spouses, children, significant others, and friends took the better part of two days to celebrate, schmooze and

A Jewish- Christian family reunion along the Ruhr Read More »

International, Jewish History, Oliver Pollak

State Assembly denounces Polish gag order on Holocaust

SACRAMENTO, California (Press Release) – Responding to a disturbing spike in hate rhetoric and anti-Semitism, the State Assembly voted overwhelmingly with unanimous bipartisan support to demonstrate its commitment to Holocaust education Tuesday and called on Congress to urge Poland to abandon a gag rule that seems to encourage revisionist history. More than 60 Assembly members

State Assembly denounces Polish gag order on Holocaust Read More »

International, Jewish History, USA

U.S. releases religious freedom report for Israel, P.A., Gaza

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of a comprehensive  report on religious freedom around the world, the U.S. State Department on Wednesday issued its report and analysis of religious freedom issues in Israel and the Golan Heights as well as in the Palestinian Authority and Gaza.. ISRAEL AND THE GOLAN HEIGHTS Executive Summary A report on

U.S. releases religious freedom report for Israel, P.A., Gaza Read More »

Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Cologne’s amazing Jewish culture

By Oliver B. Pollak COLOGNE, Germany — In 1933 Cologne counted 20,000 Jews. In 1989 it had 1,358 Jews. Today the city of over a million, with the influx of Jews from the Former Soviet Union, has about 4,600 Jews.The Holocaust produced catastrophic trauma. Post-war Germany maintains a leading position in rescuing people from persecution in their homelands, many from majority Moslem

Cologne’s amazing Jewish culture Read More »

International, Jewish History, Oliver Pollak, Travel and Food

Church move to honor Hlond ‘concerns’ AJC

NEW YORK (Press Release) – In a letter to the Vatican, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) has expressed profound concerns regarding the Pope’s announcement recognizing Cardinal August Hlond, the Polish Primate during World War II, as having “heroic virtues” – a stage towards being made a saint. Moving forward with the canonization process “will be

Church move to honor Hlond ‘concerns’ AJC Read More »

International, Jewish History, USA