The rate of intermarriage in the UK has reached more than one in four, according to the Institute for Jewish Policy Research. The report, titled “Jews in Couples: Marriage, Intermarriage, Cohabitation and Divorce in Britain,” offers both positive and negative approaches towards the issue. On one hand, it shows that Jews are accepted in the […]
More than one in four UK Jews now intermarried Read More »
International, Jewish Religion
NEW YORK (Press Release)–As a scientist, educator, and one of seven children raised in a close African American Jewish family in upstate New York, Rabbi Deborah McKenzie fulfills her childhood dream to become a spiritual leader, and shepherds summer Ma’ariv Monday services for Sim Shalom, the online synagogue, to refresh spirituality each week. (Sim Shalom
Graduate of one-year rabbinical program leads services on the web Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAThe brouhaha surrounding the recognition of Ivanka Trump’s conversion to Judaism by Israel may be nearing it’s end. Trump, the daughter of US presidential candidate Donald Trump, converted to Judaism under the auspices of Orthodox Rabbi Haskel Lookstein. Recently, it was announced that a Rabbinical Court in Israel had ruled that Rabbi Lookstein’s conversions are
Chief Rabbi Lau: Ivanka Trump conversion legitimate Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USABy Donald H. Harrison POWAY, California – For my always-on-the-go grandson Sky, 9, there were plenty of activities to keep him un-bored in the hours leading up to the July 4 fireworks. Not only was there a jump house, but there also were games and competitions organized for his age group. By the time the
4th of July: Activities and Jewish American reflections Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, USABy Cynthia Citron HOLLYWOOD — The play has such a despicable name that you would think it would attract every neo-Nazi, Aryan Nation, Skinheaded anti-Semite in southern California. The play is called Bad Jews. But, surprisingly, playwright Joshua Harmon’s four-person diatribe is actually a perceptive reflection of the way in which many modern Jews relate
‘Bad Jews’ depicts split between religious and secular Read More »
Cynthia Citron, Jewish Religion, Theatre, Film & BroadcastNetanel Epstein, born and raised in Jerusalem by British Olim, has a natural talent for drawing comics. As a child, he dreamt of creating an internationally popular comic book series on the scope of Tintin and Astrix. Netanel’s goals and very life perspective changed when his close friend, Yoni, was murdered in a terror attack.
Teaching Torah through comics Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastA constitutional court in Belgium ruled on Wednesday that traditional Jewish shechita is permitted under Belgian law and will be allowed to continue unimpeded. “Restrictions on kosher shechita”, the judge ruled, “contradict basic human rights laws and religious rights in Belgium.” In recent months some members of the Flemish parliament have proposed bans on kosher
Belgian court rules shechita bans unconstitutional Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionBy Joel H. Cohen Jacob had an urgent, primal need To disperse his patriarchal seed. But doubted his wives’ ability When it came to their fertility. So Leah and Rachel deemed it fine For him to engage a concubine. If one is good, two are surely great, Jacob thought, to help him procreate. So effective
Justice for Bilhah and Zilpah Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Joel H. CohenThe Jewish community in Hevron is demanding that action be taken following recent Arab vandalism and theft at the Cave of the Patriarchs compound. On Friday night, Arabs stole the mezuzah from the front door of the Cave of the Patriarchs, and also broke into a nearby storage room and stole thousands of shekels worth
‘We vow to beautify the Cave of the Patriarchs’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
Nehemiah: Statesman and Sage by Dov S. Zakheim; Maggid Books © 2016; ISBN 9781592-643691; 246 pages including appendices; $27.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – From the standpoint of one in whose family there have been several intermarriages in which the children have been raised as Reform Jews, I read this biography of the
Biography of Nehemiah prompts mixed emotions Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — My history with Rabbi Shlomo Riskin goes all the way back to 1977. He visited a Hillel Academy in Binghamton, New York, where I taught Talmud many decades ago. At the time, I knew he was already a well-respected rabbi who had brought many Jews back
Orthodoxy and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiMUMBAI, India (JNS.org) — The Indian state of Maharashtra has become the second Indian state to grant official minority status to its Jewish community, which contains about 3,000 of the approximately 4,500 Jews who live in all of India. Among other new state benefits for Maharashtra’s Jews, the ruling means that those Jews will join
Jews receive official minority status in Maharashtra Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Back in March, I wrote about the Israeli government agreeing to establish an egalitarian prayer space along the Kotel extension, south of Robinson’s Arch. At that time I wrote: “From now on the State of Israel recognizes three Western Wall prayer areas: Male Orthodox, Female Orthodox, and a
Israeli gov’t backtracks on Kotel promise Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastNehalel beChol: Weekday Siddur devised by Michael Haruni; Introduction by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, Nevarech Press, Jerusalem, © 2015, ISBN 978-965-92180-1-1, p. 665 plus Photo and Credits Appendix, $29.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – At first blush, one cannot help but be moved by the attractiveness of the color photographs permeating the Nehalel beChol
Illustrated prayer book follows Ashkenazic tradition Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion