Jewish History

Visit to Holocaust Exhibit Impresses Mother and Daughter

During my daughter Harriet’s recent visit from Portland, Oregon, I suggested we visit the Chula Vista Public Library to see the Holocaust Exhibit arranged by our friend, Sandra Scheller. Harriet teaches Middle School Humanities at the Portland Jewish Academy and one of her classes is learning about the Holocaust. The drive down from University City was under 25 minutes. Both of us found this visit profoundly worthwhile. Sandra met us there and gave us a private docent tour. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Memoir Relates How 2 Young Sisters- One Deaf, One Hearing – Survived the Holocaust Together

This joint memoir, intended for students in grades 3 through 7, tells the story of two young sisters — one hearing and one deaf — who survived World War II notwithstanding their transport as orphans from Bratislava to the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, where, a year later, Renee, the older of the two sisters, was near death from typhus when the camp was liberated by British soldiers. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History

Holocaust Museum LA’s Expansion Advances Its Founding Vision

By Jacob Kamaras When California state lawmakers recently announced $2.5 million in funding to support the expansion of Holocaust Museum LA, it marked the latest step toward realizing a cornerstone of the museum’s founding vision. The state support will fund a new learning center pavilion and new programming for younger learners at the museum. It

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Jacob Kamaras, Jewish History, USA

Documentary Film Traces Life, Works of Yiddish Poet Avrom Sutzkever

Released in 2021, Ver Vet Blaybn? (Who Will Remain?), a documentary that follows one woman’s journey to understand her grandfather, Yiddish poet Avrom Sutzkever, is resonating with audiences and having success on the 2021–2022 film festival circuit, with screenings booked at upcoming festivals around the globe, including next February’s San Diego International Jewish Film Festival. [Yiddish Book Center]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History

March of Living Delegation Visits Ravensbruck, Bergen-Belsen

A March of the Living delegation from Britain embarked Monday, Oct. 25,on its first educational journey since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. The delegation included four Holocaust survivors and around 80 participants – Jews, and non-Jews – aged 20-90. The delegation visited Berlin, Ravensbruck women and children concentration camp, and Bergen-Belsen. [March of the Living news release]

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International, Jewish History

Holocaust Memorial, Once at East County JCC, Finds a New Home

A parade of speakers on Sunday rededicated a 50-year-old Holocaust monument, telling about the Jewish communal building where the monument is now located, about the artist who created the massive bronze sculpture, and most importantly, about the victims and survivors of the genocide launched against the Jews by Nazi Germany. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

A Sightseeing Trip to Caesarea and Tzfat, Israel

If you were going away by car for a few days, could you have lunch at a 2,000 year old seaport, once the most modern in the world? Or, could you spend a few days in a Holy City which once was – and still might be – the center of the Kabbala movement? Recently, Michal and I enjoyed a 3-day getaway in northern Israel doing those things. [Steve Kramer]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and Food

The Polish Spy Who Reported on Auschwitz from the Inside

Witold Pilecki, a member of the Polish resistance, learned of a new camp established by the German Nazis in the Polish city of Oswiecim, toward what end no one knew yet.  He volunteered to do the unthinkable: to purposely be captured by the Nazis and to be sent to the camp, which came to be known as Auschwitz. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History

The Life and Times of Rabbi Judah the Prince

Using many sources, including hundreds of anecdotes, former US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (1985-1987) and Under Secretary of Defense (2001-2004) Rabbi Dr. Dov S. Zakheim, author of Nehemiah: Statesman and Sage (Maggid Books, 2016), gives us a very informative and riveting, easy to read biography of one of the most important figures of ancient Jewry, Rabbi Judah the Prince (135-217), also called Rebbe, “Teacher.” He was the man who had Judaism’s Oral Law put into writing, called the Mishna, which became the basis of the Talmud. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion

Good News From Israel (October 17, 2021)

In the Oct. 17, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: 
–An Israeli startup can test whether a recovering cancer patient needs chemotherapy.
–Israelis are aiding and rescuing trapped Afghans.
–An Israeli has been elected President of Europe’s top nuclear research organization.
–The brother of Israel’s PM has launched an electro-hydrogen truck in the UK.
–BMW, LG, and other multinationals are using Israeli smart glass in their products.
–An Israeli hosted chess tournament attracted participants from Iran and Saudi Arabia.
–Over a million people visited Jerusalem’s Western Wall during the recent festivals. {Michael Ordman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA