By Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO–The exact date of the creation of the original Sarajevo Haggadah is not known, nor is its place of origin. However, it surfaced in Barcelona, circa 1350 CE but some historians believe it was brought to Sarajevo by Jews fleeing the Expulsion from Spain in 1492. It is hand written on
From the Jewish library: ‘The Sarajevo Haggadah’ Read More »
International, Jewish History
With G-d At My Side: A Child’s Story of Survival by Menachem Taiblum (with Cyndie Meyer), CreateSpace © 2014; ISBN 978-150-586-2270; 150 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Cantor Menachem Taiblum of Portland, Oregon, recalls his boyhood running from the Nazis in this episodic memoir, which, with the help of writer Cyndie Meyer,
Episodic Holocaust memoir is a page turner Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish HistoryPARIS (WJC) — Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the far-right French National Front and father of its current leader Marine Le Pen, maintains his 1987 remarks calling the Nazis’ gas chambers “a detail in the history of World War II.” Le Pen, who is still honorary FN leader and a key figure in the
Le Pen stands by his Holocaust comments Read More »
International, Jewish History
JERUSALEM (Press Release) – Thirty Polish Jews who survived the Holocaust as children recently traveled from Kraków, Poland, to Israel for a special week-long visit to the Jewish state organized by Shavei Israel and funded by money raised from the inaugural Ride of the Living that was supported by members of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of
Hidden children of Shoah tour Israel Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East
BERLIN (WJC)–The German government said Wednesday that a Camille Pissarro painting from the trove hoarded by the late collector Cornelius Gurlitt had been looted by the Nazis and would be returned to its rightful owner’s descendants. The taskforce entrusted with checking the provenance of the 1,500 works left by Gurlitt, who died in May 2014,
Nazi looted Pissarro painting to be returned to owner Read More »
International, Jewish HistorySAN DIEGO (Press Release)– On Sunday, April 19, at 1:30 p.m., the Jewish Federation of San Diego County will present a special Holocaust commemoration (Yom HaShoah) program. The theme of this year’s annual commemoration is: From Auschwitz to Activism – 70 Years on From the Holocaust. The event will be held at the Lawrence Family
San Diego to remember Holocaust April 19 Read More »
Jewish History, San Diego Calendar
NEW YORK (Press Release)- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) mourns the loss of Dr. Leon Bass, a true American hero who turned his personal and life-altering experience as a soldier during World War II into an opportunity to educate and inspire action in others. Dr. Bass, who lived outside Philadelphia, died on March 28 at the age
Leon Bass, liberator Read More »
International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, USAAMSTERDAM (WJC)–According to new research Anne Frank, the Jewish girl who kept a diary about her life in Amsterdam hiding from the Nazis, died earlier in the Nazi camp Bergen-Belsen than previously believed. The conclusion was published on 31 March, the 70th anniversary of the official date of the deaths of Anne and her sister Margot that was set
Anne Frank may have died a month earlier than thought Read More »
Jewish HistoryNEW YORK (Press Release) — The total number of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States increased by 21 percent in 2014 in a year marked by a violent anti-Semitic shooting attack targeting Jewish community buildings in Kansas and anti-Jewish expressions linked to the war in Gaza. The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, issued today,
2014 saw 912 anti- Semitic incidents in U.S. Read More »
Jewish History, USA
MADRID (WJC) –Spain’s Congress adopted a bill granting Spanish citizenship to the descendants of Jewish families expelled from the country in 1492, in a gesture of reconciliation. Legislators approved the new law in a session on Wednesday, ahead of a vote in the Senate, the upper house of parliament. the law is expected to come
Citizenship path for heirs of those Spain expelled Read More »
International, Jewish History
EDIRNE, Turkey (WJC)–The deputy CEO of the World Jewish Congress, Maram Stern, was in Turkey this week to take part in the re-opening ceremony of the Great Synagogue of Edirne, which was restored for $2.5 million and is the first synagogue to open in Turkey in two generations. Guest of honor at the ceremony was
Great Synagogue of Edirne, Turkey, reopens Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — After this website published a news article headlined “A Tale of Two Holocaust Survivors” on March 17, Tomi Reichental, who was one of the two men mentioned in the story and who is 80, contacted me by email from his home in Ireland and said he would like
Shoah survivors with parallel stories plan meeting Read More »
International, Jewish History, USA
An Improbable Journey: A True Story of Courage and Survival During World War II by Susan Schenkel, Ph.D; ISBN 978-0-9894377-2-1, 183 pages, $12.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – After her mother’s death, author Susan Schenkel decided to research the lives that her parents, by then both deceased, had led during World War II
Biography traces parents’ survivals during WWII Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish HistoryBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — Peter Kubicek is an email friend of mine who I have known for about ten years now. He lives in New York and I live in Taiwan but we meet often online to chat about current events and Jewish history, especially the Holocaust. Kubicek is a Holocaust survivor,
A tale of two Holocaust survivors Read More »
International, Jewish History, USA