Jewish History

‘Instead of an Epitaph’: A Yom HaShoah Reflection

The Nazis were defeated in World War II, but Nazism lives on and continues to make up smears about the Jews, including the popular claim that they did not fight in World War II. The blood libel “Jews didn’t fight” coexisted with the official false statement: “It was not Jews who were killed during the occupation, but Soviet citizens.” The places of mass extermination listed “Soviet citizens” as having been murdered. The Holocaust was hushed up in the USSR: Jews in these places were executed not because they were Soviet citizens, but because they were Jews. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Karl Marx

His best-known works are the 1848 pamphlet The Communist Manifesto (with Friedrich Engels) and the three-volume Das Kapital (1867–1894); the latter employs his critical approach of historical materialism in an analysis of capitalism and is the culmination of his intellectual efforts. [Wikipedia]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Golda Meir

Golda Meir, 1964

In 1969, Meir assumed the role of prime minister following the death of Levi Eshkol. Early in her tenure, she made multiple diplomatic visits to Western leaders to promote her vision of peace in the region. The outbreak of the Yom Kippur War in 1973 caught Israel off guard and inflicted severe early losses on the army. The resulting public anger damaged Meir’s reputation and led to an inquiry into the failings. [Wikipedia]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA, Wikipedia

600 More Children Who Died in the Holocaust are Memorialized

Overseeing the event was principal Judi Stapleton and eighth-grade history and social science teacher Stacy Salz who traced her ancestors to the Holocaust and said the project was a “compelling lesson in history.” [Marsha Sutton]

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Holocaust, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Theodor Herzl

Confronted with antisemitic events in Vienna, he reached the conclusion that anti-Jewish sentiment would make Jewish assimilation impossible, and that the only solution for Jews was the establishment of a Jewish state. In 1896, Herzl published the pamphlet Der Judenstaat, in which he elaborated his visions of a Jewish homeland. [Wikipedia]

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish History, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

President Biden Proclaims May as Jewish American Heritage Month

During Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate the immeasurable impact of Jewish values, contributions, and culture on our Nation’s character and recommit to realizing the promise of America for all Jewish Americans. [President Joe Biden]

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Biography: Ilya Ehrenburg, One Handshake Away

In 1940, Ehrenburg came to the USSR from occupied Paris. He returned to the country, where the repression of 1937 proved to him the cruelty of the authorities. The writer received frightening news from Izvestia in 1939: although he continued to be on the newspaper’s staff, his reports and articles would not be published. The USSR was changing its attitude toward Jews because of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Treaty. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

The Matzo Chronicles: My Whirlwind European Tour, Tulips and Turmoil

Where are the proudly proclaimed markers of historical Jewish life and contributions in the great European cities? Why are they — we — too often erased or at least, largely invisible from the tours and guidebooks? 
Second, for all the glory and achievement, how is it that humankind still hasn’t learned to respect religious, ethnic, and cultural differences, or at least tolerate them? [Karen Galatz]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Karen Galatz, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Lion’s Trail in Golan Recalls 749 Earthquake-Destroyed Synagogue

The Golan Heights had been a significant area of Jewish life. After the earthquake of 749, Jews could not and were not permitted to return to live in the Golan by the occupying Muslim powers and later the Ottoman Turks. Jews could not return to live in the Golan until after the Israeli victory over the Syrians in the 1967 war. [Jerry Klinger]

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Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

His ‘Life as a Jew’ is an Introspective Search for Definition

In lengthy, brilliant, and painfully introspective essays, he examines not only conflicts between Jews and their non-Jewish detractors, but also delves deeply into the sometimes- internecine divisions among Jews themselves. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Uriah P. Levy

He was a veteran of the War of 1812 and the first Jewish Commodore of the United States Navy.[note 1] He was instrumental in helping to end the Navy’s practice of flogging, and during his half-century-long service prevailed against the antisemitism he faced among some of his fellow naval officers. [Wikipedia]

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Antisemitism, Jewish History, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA, Wikipedia