Judaism

Remembering Wannsee: A lakeside villa keeps Holocaust memories alive

Berlin (dpa) – The House of the Wannsee Conference sits nestled between guesthouses and leafy beer gardens. Located on Wannsee lake west of Berlin city centre, today it is an incongruous memorial to the Holocaust in an otherwise picturesque setting, attracting around 100,000 visitors a year, including many groups from Israel and elsewhere around the

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International, Jewish History

A grim day out: Germany’s WWII tourist attractions

Berlin (dpa) – Germany’s thriving tourism industry attracts seas of selfie sticks and entire wardrobes of novelty merchandise, particularly in the buzzing capital Berlin. But behind the crowds lie historical sites for reflection, marking the country’s dark and tumultuous 20th century: THE TOPOGRAPHY OF TERROR This museum lies on the grounds of the former Gestapo

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International, Jewish History, Travel and Food

US rabbi rewrites prayer – to avoid blessing Trump

With Hollywood celebs, far-left activists, and even some congressional Democrats still unwilling to accept President-elect Donald Trump”s surprise victory in November’s democratic elections, disavowing their new Commander in Chief with slogans like “Not My President” and a movement to boycott the inauguration, one prominent left-wing rabbi has found his own unique way to protest the

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Jewish Religion, USA

To one Jewish professor, Martin Luther King Jr. was an idol and a mensch

Susannah Heschel was just a child in the spring of 1965, when her father left for Selma, Alabama, to march with those demanding that everyone be allowed to vote regardless of their skin color. “He kissed me goodbye,” says Heschel. “And I remember thinking ‘I don’t know if I’ll ever see him again.’” Just a

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USA

British royal photographer Lord Snowdon dies aged 86

London (dpa) – Lord Snowdon, a royal portrait photographer and former husband of Queen Elizabeth II’s sister, died on Friday aged 86, his family and colleagues said. “Camera Press is very sad to announce the death of royal photographer Lord Snowdon, Antony Armstrong-Jones,” Snowdon’s photographic agency said on Twitter. Born Antony Armstrong-Jones, Snowdon was best

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International, Obituaries & memorials

The wrestling world is in mourning as a Hall of Famer has passed away

Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka has passed away at age 73, according to the Snuka family: Our family @TaminaSnuka asked me to share the sad news that her dad Jimmy Snuka has just passed away. Alofa atu i le aiga atoa. #RIPSuperfly — Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) January 15, 2017 The news comes following reports that Snuka had

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Obituaries & memorials, Sports & Competitions

Foreign Ministry welcomes Torah scroll from Bucharest

Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday held a ceremony welcoming a Torah scroll to its synagogue in Jerusalem’s government complex. Attending the ceremony were Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) and Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi David Lau, senior officials in both the Religious Services and Foreign Ministries, and representatives from Romania’s Jewish community. The “new” Torah scroll

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Dick Gautier, best known as Hymie the robot on ‘Get Smart’, dies at 85

To some, he was the voice of Rodimus Prime on the mid-1980s animated TV show “The Transformers,” or Serpentor on the animated “G.I. Joe.” But for baby boomers, Dick Gautier was best known for his deadpan performance as Hymie the robot in the ’60s spy spoof “Get Smart.” Gautier’s daughter Denise told the Hollywood Reporter

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Famed ‘Exorcist’ author, filmmaker William Peter Blatty dead at 89

WASHINGTON, January 14, 2017 – Screenwriter and novelist William Peter Blatty, who won widespread fame as the author of “The Exorcist” (1971), died Thursday morning, January 12 at a hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, the Washington, D.C. suburb where he lived. He was 89. William Friedkin, a longtime friend and colleague who directed iconic 1973 film

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

3 Jewish artists to be featured at S.D. History exhibit

  SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – The artwork, lives, and Jewish heritage of three San Diego artists are explored in a new fine art exhibition Art & Heritage opening January 28 at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. The works of featured artists Belle Baranceanu, Maurice Braun, and Harry Sternberg will complement a

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Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego Calendar