By Joe Gandelman SAN DIEGO–Is it springtime for Hitler in the 21st century? From eBooks, to Google Maps, to political polemics, to cafes, one of the biggest mass murderers in world history seems to be on many people’s minds. But one thing seems to elude their thoughts: the almost incomprehensible barbarity of one of history’s […]
Hitler still subject of much curiosity Read More »
Jewish History, Joe GandelmanBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — The coming observance of Yom Ha-Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, does not immediately bring to mind a global conflagration, nor the death camps, nor even the dreadful image of barbed wire. I first remember an old man. As a child in Israel, I lived naturally and comfortably with survivors
Yes, Mr. Steiner, Am Yisrael Chai! Read More »
Jewish History
By Robert Gluck/JNS.org Jewish author J.D. Salinger remains mysterious even in death. Yet some new light may soon be shed on the author of “The Catcher in the Rye” and his experiences as a soldier during World War II. Following last year’s release of director Shane Salerno’s documentary film Salinger, the reclusive author is set
J.D. Salinger deeply affected by Dachau subcamps Read More »
Jewish History
By Robert Gluck/JNS.org An ongoing traveling exhibit from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum challenges visitors to think about their responsibilities as consumers of information and how they can confront harmful messaging today. “State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda” is on display at Phoenix’s Burton Barr Central Library through June 1, before it moves on
Holocaust Museum exhibit examines Nazi lies Read More »
International, Jewish History
The Lion’s Gate; On the Front Lines of the Six Day War by Steven Pressfield; Sentinel/ Penguin, (c) 2014. ISBN 978-1-59523-091-1, 430 pages including index and bibliography, $29.95. By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — ‘The Lion’s Gate’ is a fascinating attempt to present the events before and during the Six Day War of June 1967,
Narratives recapture the chaos, pride of Six Day War Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East
NEW YORK (Press Release) — AJC congratulates the Catholic Church on the canonizations of Pope John XXIII and John Paul II. “We rejoice with our Catholic friends at this unique recognition being given to the two Popes who were also the ones most responsible for the dramatic revolution in Catholic-Jewish relations in our times,” said
2 Popes who built trust with Jews to be named saints Read More »
International, Jewish History
By Josh Hasten/JNS.org There’s little doubt that U.S. native MK Rabbi Dov Lipman (Yesh Atid) takes great pride, but at the same time grasps the tremendous responsibility, of being the first American-born oleh (immigrant to Israel) to serve in the Knesset in decades. But this proud Beit Shemesh resident, who has worked tirelessly towards
Bill would outlaw ‘Nazi’ as an epithet Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East
By Jeffrey F. Barken/JNS.org As the generation of Holocaust survivors passes, writers and researchers acknowledge the urgent need to ask probing questions and preserve fading memories. Moving forward, in the absence of firsthand accounts, survivors’ descendants will need to assume responsibility for educating future generations about the genocide. In the modern era of self-publishing, the
Author urges families, friends to record Survivors Read More »
Jewish History
By Rafael Medoff/JNS.org WASHINGTON, D..C. — “We didn’t know you couldn’t organize a mass rally in four days, and sometimes if you don’t know, then you just plunge ahead—and you do it.” So says Glenn Richter, one of the organizers of the rally in New York City, 50 years ago on May 1, which
Civil rights movement inspired rally for Soviet Jews Read More »
International, Jewish History, USA
By Noah Hadas SAN DIEGO — As a teacher of Jewish history, I’ve often been asked about the historical veracity of the Exodus (the biblical account not the movie with Paul Newman.) In preparation for Passover, I’d like to summarize the opposing views and provide my own insight. Those who claim the story is mythical
Can any parts of ‘Exodus’ be verified? Read More »
Jewish HistoryThe Devil That Never Dies, by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen; New York: Little, Brown and Company, 201 By David Strom CHULA VISTA, California — Former professor Daniel Jonah Goldhagen of Harvard University wrote a stinging and, most likely, controversial book on the rise of global anti-Semitism. His extensive analysis of speeches, newspapers, radio stations, statements by
Book Review: ‘The Devil That Never Dies’ Read More »
Jewish History
HANOVER, Germany (WJC) — Margot Kaessmann, the former head of the Protestant and Lutheran Churches in Germany, says that her church had been complicit in fostering anti-Semitism in Germany since the times of Martin Luther. Kaessmann called Luther’s 1543 pamphlet ‘About the Jews and their lies’ “horrible” and wrote in an opinion article published by
Former Lutheran bishop says Luther’s writings ‘horrible’ Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryEditor’s Note: Israel Video Network put this film up on YouTube. It shows Anne Frank watching from her window to see a bride and groom who are neighbors. The apartment window she leans from apparently was the one in which the Frank family lived before moving to the Secret Annex made so famous in young
A video of Anne Frank before she went into hiding Read More »
Jewish History
By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM (TNA) – After decades in exile, Zionist leader Zeev Jabotinsky’s ceremonial saber was returned to his heirs, the State of Israel. After being confiscated by the British in 1920, the sword was presented yesterday (Mar. 24) by Police Commissioner Insp.-Gen. Yochanan Danino to Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. The top police brass convened
Israel receives sword of Jabotinsky Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East