Judaism

Sephardic Family History Stretches from Spanish Inquisition to Post-Holocaust

After years of running and hiding during the Holocaust, Jenny Benrey, decided that her five-year-old daughter, the future novelist Michèle Sarde, should be baptized in the Catholic Church.  So many of her relatives and friends had disappeared in the Nazi Holocaust!  But later, when it came time for Michèle’s confirmation, Jenny could not bring herself to complete her abandonment of Judaism.  Michèle was withdrawn from the confirmation class, thereafter living neither as a practicing Jew nor as a Catholic. And the Holocaust that had prompted Jenny’s impulses became a forbidden subject, enveloped in silence. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Moses Mendelssohn: The Berlin Dreamer

By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — In 1783, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing’s play “Nathan the Wise” premiered at the Berlin Theater. The play was a literary and theatrical sensation and a shock to Germany, and perhaps to the entire Christian world. Hitherto Jews had been considered and portrayed as immoral and despicable people. Lessing’s character Nathan,

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Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Opinion

Beth Israel Lecture to Cover ‘Antisemitism in Visual Art Since the Middle Ages’

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — On Wednesday, January 18, from 7-8 p.m., the Congregation Beth Israel Men’s Club Speaker Forum presents, “Antisemitism in Visual Art Since the Middle Ages,” a lecture by Claudia Hercman. Hercman was born and raised in Buenos Aires, within the Argentinian Jewish community. She is a tour guide and translator. She

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County

Biden Signs Legislation Naming a Post Office for Susan Davis

President Joe Biden signed a bill Monday in Washington d.C. that will rename the Rolando post office branch after former Rep. Susan A. Davis, D-San Diego. “Throughout her more than 20 years of public service, (Davis) always put her constituents first and fiercely advocated and delivered for our kids, students, families, service members and veterans, and the LGBTQ+ community,” Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego, said in a statement when she introduced the bill. [Times of San Diego]

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California, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA

‘Days Are Coming’ Includes Insights from Jewish Sages

Maggid Books just published Days are Coming by Sivan Rahav-Meir, an easy-to-read, enjoyable, and inspiring book translated from Hebrew by Yehoshua Siskin. The book has many insightful ideas from sages, Bible commentators, and others regarding Jewish holidays, days following the holidays, and times when we remember people who taught us significant lessons that can improve our lives and make them enjoyable, such as the biblical matriarch Rachel and the philosopher Maimonides. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion