VATICAN CITY (WJC) — Pope Francis has reiterated his position to open the secret Vatican archives covering the period of World War II to allow researchers to assess the role played by Pope Pius XII during the Holocaust. In an extensive interview with the Israeli newspaper ‘Yediot Ahronot’, Francis said there was “an agreement between […]
Pope Francis willing to open Pius XII archives Read More »
Jewish HistoryISTANBUL, Turkey (WJC)– A provincial governor of Turkey whose anger at Israel led him to call for turning a synagogue into a museum, has apologized to the country’s chief rabbi – though he claimed he was misunderstood. Dursun Şahin, governor of the northwestern Edirne province, offered an “apology” that expressed “profound sadness” that his words
Turkish governor apologizes to chief rabbi Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastBy Jack Forman LA JOLLA, California — King David’s rich and full life is meticulously detailed in Samuel I and II and Chronicles, and his last years are described at the beginning of Kings I. He is a larger-than-life figure who plays a central role in Judaism because it is from King David’s lineage, according
Rabbi Wolpe delves into King David’s lives Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish HistoryBy Tzvi Zucker JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — Fierce debate, both inside Israel and abroad, has been raging over a piece of legislation that would become a Basic Law. This legislation, dubbed “the Nationality Bill”, would enshrine in law the definition of Israel as a state of the Jewish people. Basic Laws are the building blocks of
Nationality bill shakes Israel’s ruling coalition Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastBy Richard L. Cravatts, PhD BOSTON– “What if the Jews themselves were Nazis?,” mused French philosopher, Vladimir Jankélévitch in 1986. “That would be great. We would no longer have to feel sorry for them; they would have deserved what they got.” The recasting of Israelis, and, by extension, Jews as Nazis has, in fact, taken
The Ivory Tower’s attempt to Nazify Jews Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Richard L. CravattsBy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — In setting up and maintaining a library for a Temple, the librarian is faced with a number of choices as to where to place and how to shape the collection on the Holocaust. The following are a few of my thoughts on the matter. While it is important to
The Holocaust and the Temple Library Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
OTTAWA, Canada (WJC) — Canada’s Supreme Court has paved the way for the extradition to France of a suspect in the 1980 terrorist attack against the Copernic Synagogue in Paris. The decision brings to an end 60-year-old Hassan Diab’s six-year legal battle to avoid what he said would be an unfair prosecution in France for a
Canada extradites bombing suspect to France Read More »
International, Jewish History
LVIV, Ukraine (Press Release)– Professor Fania Oz-Salzberger, the daughter of acclaimed Israeli novelist Amoz Oz, retraced the footsteps of her father’s best-selling memoir A Tale of Love and Darkness on Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the northern Ukrainian city of Rivne, as part of the four-day conference Limmud FSU Ukraine in Lviv. Oz-Salzberger, an author, historian and
Exploring the Oz family’s Lviv roots Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle EastLOS ANGELES (Press Release)- The Israeli-American Council (IAC) and Beit Hatfutsot -The Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv have announced a new partnership to lead and expand the museum’s popular My Family Story, a family heritage program, throughout the United States. Now in its 20th year, My Family Story is a global educational initiative
2 Jewish groups to expand ‘My Family Story’ Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USA
NEW YORK (WJC) –Former US Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger was this year’s laureate of the World Jewish Congress Theodor Herzl Award. At the annual gala dinner in New York, the 91-year-old Kissinger was presented with the award by US journalist Barbara Walters. WJC President Ronald S. Lauder said in his address that “Henry
Kissinger feted by World Jewish Congress Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USANEW YORK (WJC) — Putting perceived security concerns before conscience, US intelligence and law enforcement agencies likely employed over 1,000 Nazis as spies during the Cold War, sometimes ignoring or concealing their war crimes and helping them immigrate to the United States, according to the the author of a newly published book. Writing in the
U.S. recruited Nazis as Cold War spies Read More »
International, Jewish History, USABy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO –Suppose Moses had turned west instead of east after leaving Egypt? Suppose the Ten (Lost) Tribes swept off to slavery in Assyria eventually escaped and continued eastward all the way to Japan? In the realm of all things are possible – both are interesting posits. In The Japanese and the
Rethinking two major Jewish travel stories Read More »
International, Jewish History
Pepper, Silk & Ivory By Rabbi Marvin Tokayer and Ellen Rodman, PhD, © 2014, Gefen Publishing House, ISBN 978-965-229-647-4; 316 pages including index. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –When friends question me about whether I really think “There is a Jewish Story Everywhere,” as the motto of San Diego Jewish World insists, I shall
Rabbi Tokayer chronicles the many Jews of Asia Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish HistorySAN DIEGO (SDJW)– Prof. Lawrence “Laurie” Baron, emeritus professor of history at San Diego State University and a regular contributor to San Diego Jewish World, has been appointed the Ida E. King Distinguished Visiting Professor of Holocaust Studies by the Richard Stockton College in Galloway, New Jersey. In the fall semester of 2015 at the college
Baron to teach at Richard Stockton College Read More »
Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, Science, Medicine, & Education