Jewish History

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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International, Jewish History, USA

Jews of San Diego exhibition closes June 3

SAN DIEGO  (SDJW)–  The exhibition, “Celebrate San Diego: The History and Heritage of San Diego’s Jewish Community,” will close on Sunday, June 3, at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. As a send off, the History Center is holding a reception from 6 to 8 p.m.,Thursday, May 31, at which the exhibition’s curator,

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

Jewish Museum of Maryland to open Houdini exhibit

BALTIMORE, Maryland (Press Release) — On June 24, the Jewish Museum of Maryland (JMM), in Baltimore, will open Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini, an original exhibit exploring the life and legacy of the world’s most famous magician. Featuring dozens of artifacts, photos and archival records, many on loan from public and private collections,

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Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA