By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Many years ago British police apprehended an aspiring terrorist who had on him a list of prominent Jews assumed to be potential targets for assassination. Rumor had it that some Jewish leaders were very upset when they found out that they weren’t on the list. Were they not considered
On being a Reform rabbi in Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastAuthor Stephen Senise says it’s no coincidence that Britain’s most infamous unsolved crime is alleged to have been committed by a Jew — it was planned that way all along By Robert Philpot LONDON — It is the greatest whodunit in British history. For nearly 130 years, writers, criminologists, historians and amateur sleuths have pondered
Were the Jack the Ripper murders an elaborate anti-Semitic frameup? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish HistoryIf wars leave scars, then Poland has a deep red gash through its middle. For six years during World War II, the country was fought from both sides; the Soviet Union invaded from the east and Germany from the west. Five million Poles died during the war — that’s one-fifth of the population. Three million
BEIJING — Liu Xiaobo, the famed Chinese dissident who won the Nobel Peace Prize while jailed for his pro-democracy writings, has died in a hospital in northeastern China at the age of 61. The Chinese judicial bureau said Liu died Thursday of multiple organ failure. Liu had terminal liver cancer and had been granted parole
Nobel laureate and Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo dies at 61 Read More »
International, Obituaries & memorials
Theresienstadt 1941-1945: The Face of a Coerced Community by H.G.Adler; Cambridge University Press, 2017 By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — This monumental monograph, to which no book review can hope to do justice, comprises more than 850 pages and constitutes a far-reaching and detailed account, or rather scientific analysis, of the concentration camp that was
Book chronicles and analyzes coercion and depravity Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History
TORONTO, Canada (SDJW)– David “Buzz” Jonathan Sommers died peacefully in the early morning of Friday July 7, 2017, after a short but hard-fought battle against colon cancer, with Julia, his wife of almost 36 years, by his side. He was 58 years old. Sommers, formerly a resident of San Diego and Poway, was a family
David ‘Buzz’ Sommers, formerly of Poway, dies in Canada Read More »
Obituaries & memorials, San Diego CountySAN DIEGO — Thirteen non-Orthodox rabbis, protesting the decision of Israel’s chief rabbi to not recognize certification of Jewish identity by certain American rabbis, have demanded that their names be added to Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau’s “black list.” A copy of their letter follows: Dear Israel Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau: We, the following
13 San Diego rabbis seek ‘black listing’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USABy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi just completed an official 3-day visit to Israel. The highly successful trip included agreements in the areas of technological innovation, water conservation, desalination, space technology, and more. There was also discussion about the more than 80,000 Jews who live in India, many of whom
Jewish trivia quiz: Jews of India Read More »
International, Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & SatireIn addition to problems with Jewish law, where some in the scant Jewish community see a positive gesture, others see cultural insensitivity By Julie Masis PETRIKOV, Belarus — A few years ago, a monument to the local residents who perished during the Nazi occupation was built in the central park of the small town of
With no Jews left to protest, Christian crosses grace Holocaust memorials in Belarus Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryLashing out at agency, Netanyahu says Jewish connection to city’s Tomb of the Patriarchs possibly without parallel in human history By Times of Israel staff Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) attends the weekly cabinet meeting on July 9, 2017. (Ohad Zweigenberg/Flash90) Raging over a decision by a UN body to declare Hebron’s Tomb of the
PM quotes Bible to lambaste UNESCO decision on Hebron Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastNelsan Ellis, the actor best known for his portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds on HBO’s “True Blood,” has died. He was 39. The reported cause was from complications due to heart failure. Ellis burst into popular consciousness in 2008 when he was cast in “True Blood” as Reynolds, a flamboyant and outspoken gay short order cook
Nelsan Ellis, actor on HBO’s ‘True Blood,’ dies at 39 Read More »
Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & BroadcastA growing movement is pressing to restore the right of Jews to pray at the sight of the biblical Jewish temples, currently barred by Israel By Andrew Tobin Liberal American Jews are feeling thwarted in their years-long campaign for the right to pray as they wish at the Western Wall. Long frustrated that the plaza
These American Jews are looking beyond the Western Wall – to the Temple Mount Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastArtwork uncovered at Roman-era synagogue in Huqoq also shows building the Tower of Babel and a Greco-Roman calendar By Amanda Borschel-Dan Unprecedented depictions of the biblical Jonah and the whale have been found at a fifth-century Roman synagogue in Israel’s lower Galilee. In the recently discovered mosaic, Jonah’s legs are shown dangling from the mouth
Earliest mosaic of Jonah and the whale found in Galilee synagogue Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastPresident Donald Trump gave a brief history lesson on Poland’s recent invasions during a Warsaw speech Thursday. In a few brief lines, he discussed Adolf Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Soviet invasion of Poland. Ultimately, Trump deemed the attack was “tough.” Trump on Hitler and Stalin invading Poland: “That’s trouble. That’s tough.” pic.twitter.com/prE4uOhVnV — Bradd
Trump’s Analysis About Hitler And Stalin Invading Poland: ‘That Was Tough’ Read More »
International, Jewish History, USA