By Rachel E. Gross Long ago, a few Jewish foods made themselves an indispensable part of the way Americans eat. So thorough was their assimilation that their popularity swiftly overshadowed their cultural origins. (These days, who thinks “Jewish” when they reach for their bagel and schmear?) In recognition of these culinary superstars, Moment editors put […]
Moment magazine’s top 10 Jewish American foods Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Dr. Navras Jaat Aafreedi GREATER NOIDA, India — 2013 was an exciting year for Indian Jewish literature: two works of fiction were published, one in Hindi, the other in English. Sheela Rohekar’s Miss Samuel: Ek Yahudi Gatha (Miss Samuel: A Jewish Saga) is one of only two Hindi novels depicting Indian Jewish life, and
Jews becoming subjects of interest in Indian fiction Read More »
International, Jewish Religion
By Jonas Jacobs LA JOLLA, California — As I grew up, I discovered I loved the theater. I thought that theater was important to people of all ages. But for me, theater was more than entertainment; it became my dedicated hobby. I believe many children today don’t have a hobby and instead play video games
Escape from video games to world of human interaction Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County
Photo and story by Debra Rubin/JNS.org NEW YORK — The Shabbat of Memorial Day weekend later this month will mark a first in American Jewish life: Three New York City congregations representing the three major U.S. Jewish movements will daven from the same prayer book. Produced by the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB) Jewish Chaplains Council
Memorial Day muster in NYC for military siddur Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
Editor’s Note: Lag B’Omer begins at sundown Saturday, May 17 and ends at sundown Sunday, May 18 By Deborah Fineblum/JNS.org One of Pnina Newirth’s earliest childhood memories is of a trip to Mount Meron, Israel, on Lag B’Omer. But this was no ordinary family vacation. “I was very small, yet I vividly recall the
Lag B’Omer crowds will head for Mt. Meron Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and Food
By Jason Stack/JNS.org Believe it or not, the recently canonized Pope John Paul II had a Jewish Cardinal as an occasional adviser in the 1980s. The French TV film The Jewish Cardinal, which has been receiving a limited release in the United States, follows the crucial years of the life of Cardinal Jean-Marie Aaron Lustiger
Television biography tells of ‘Jewish Cardinal’ Lustiger Read More »
International, Jewish Religion
NEW YORK (Press Release) – More than 100 prominent Orthodox rabbis, including the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel, Ha Rav Dovid Lau, have signed a petition urging action against the ongoing Arab attacks on the Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, in Jerusalem. “The continuing Arab desecration of the Mount of Olives cemetery must no longer
RIALTO, California (WJC) — School district officials heresaid an assignment asking students to write an essay on whether they believe the Holocaust really happened was “horribly inappropriate”. The Rialto Unified School District made headlines when it gave eighth-graders the assignment to do some research and write an essay explaining whether they believed the Holocaust
Rialto Holocaust assignment ‘horribly inappropriate’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education
JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Nine women have completed the Israeli Chief Rabbinate’s exams to become kashrut inspectors, the newspaper ‘Haaretz‘ reports. The country’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau approved the move over the objections of some council members. Emunah, the Orthodox women’s movement, battled to end the ban on women, and called the move “an achievement of historic significance.” The rabbinate said
First women kashrut inspectors certified in Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (TNA) –This year’s Intersnational Bible Quiz winner is Eitan Amos from Toronto, Canada. The 18-year-old, who lived in Karnei Shomron until he was 11, competed against 15 other finalists during this year’s International Bible Quiz traditionally held on Israel’s Independence Day. Seventy-five contestants from 33 countries including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina,
Canadian student wins int’l Bible quiz Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
NEW YORK (Press Release)– AJC regrets the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway. In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that the town board may continue to begin its meetings with a prayer. Historically, those prayers have been almost exclusively Christian, a practice that prompted the lawsuit. AJC, in an amicus
High court’s ruling on invocations draws reaction Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAA Shepherd’s Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor in Jewish Thought by Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel, Kodesh Press, New York, NY; ISBN 978-0-61599-132-0 ©2014, $22.95, p. 360, plus Notes and Index By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Psalm 23 is arguably the most well known of the one hundred fifty psalms. Its opening
‘A Shepherd’s Song’ analyzes Psalm 23’s metaphor Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Alina Dain Sharon and Sean Savage/JNS.org NEW YORK– In what many observers will see as the de facto expression of mainstream U.S. Jewry’s outlook on J Street, the membership of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Wednesday voted 22-17 (with three abstentions) to reject the membership application of the self-labeled
Conference vote on J Street was 22-17-3 to reject Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USANEW YORK (Press Release)–After a lengthy and thorough process, the full membership of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations convened to consider the application for membership submitted by J Street. The process included three meetings of the Membership Committee, including one at which representatives of J Street made a presentation and answered
J Street rejected as Conference of Presidents member; failed to reach two- thirds vote Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA