Hidden beneath the surface of Parshat Pinchas, the sages uncovered a story of great poignancy. Moses, having seen his sister and brother die, knew that his own time on earth was coming to a close. He prayed to God to appoint a successor: “May the Lord, God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a
Moses’ disappointment Read More »
Jewish ReligionMembers of the burial society that arranged the funeral of former Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid, who died in 2008, revealed this week that they said a secret “Kaddish” prayer over his body, despite his son (now MK) Yair Lapid’s request that they not do so during the funeral. The Kaddish prayer is traditionally said over
The secret Kaddish for Tommy Lapid Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East“Chacham” Yom Tov Yedid, the oldest Rabbi in the Syrian Jewish community in the US, died on Wednesday night in New York. He was 93. In his younger years, Rabbi Yedid served as the chief Rabbi of the famed and ancient Jewish community in Aleppo Syria, while it was still thriving and growing, before pogroms
Former Rabbi of Aleppo, Syria, dies in New York at 93 Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials
By David Pratt KINGSTON, Ontario, Canada — When Elie Wiesel died on July 2, a voice was stilled that had spoken for the voiceless millions who perished in the Nazi concentration camps. In May 1944, Wiesel was deported from Romania to Auschwitz at the age of fifteen, and was liberated from Buchenwald eleven months later.
From suffering, adversity, to the Nobel Prize Read More »
International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & EducationMichail Tochman, the last known survivor of the Odessa Ghetto and Concentration camp died Wednesday, July 28, of complication at 90 years of age. His recounting of life under German and Romanian occupation and the concentration camp where he was one of only 7 survivors is here. He wrote it, my sister translated his text. —
Michail Tochman, Holocaust Survivor, 1926-2016 Read More »
International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Sam LitvinForty years on and plenty of challenges remain Rabbi Sally Priesand, front and center, is honored with an aliya at the 2012 Central Conference of American Rabbis convention in Boston as she celebrates 40 years since her ordination as a rabbi, surrounded by other women rabbis. Photos courtesy Central Conference of American Rabbis Rabbis Mary
Women in the rabbinate Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USABy Fred Brown PHILADELPHIA — If you thought Day One of the Democrat National Convention was the worst it could get, you haven’t been paying attention. Democrats followed up on their atrocious opening act with an equally offensive Day Two. To Recap: Morning Pro-Israel Protestors Greeted Top Democrats Attending A Panel Discussion Hosted By The
Republican Jewish Coalition’s view of Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USAKAUNAS, Lithuania — In this drab city 55 miles west of Vilnius, there are few heritage sites as mysterious and lovely looking as the Seventh Fort. This 18-acre red-brick bunker complex, which dates to 1882, features massive underground passages that connect its halls and chambers. Above ground, the hilltop fortress is carpeted with lush grass
Lithuanian concentration camp is now a wedding venue Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryBy J Zel Lurie DEL RAY BEACH, Florida — Sometimes my doing good caused lots of trouble. Around 1967, 11 years after his arrival in the United States. Elie Wiesel was well on his way to fame and fortune as a defender of human rights all over the world. He paid one of his frequent
Elie Wiesel and the Hadassah Magazine Read More »
Jewish HistoryIt’s easy to believe, when you’re in Iraq’s southern marshes, that civilization really did begin there. Sunlight sparkles as herons dart from the reeds to spear fish, while women in long wooden boats glide through the water. The wetlands span thousands of square miles in the middle of desert. Some students of ancient history believe
Iraq’s marshlands, nearly destroyed under Saddam, are coming back Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastTexas Senator Ted Cruz was turned away from the luxury suite of Jewish billionaire Sheldon Adelson after he refused to endorse Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in his speech at the Republican National Convention Wednesday night, Newsmax reports. A former U.S. senator quoted in the reported said that Cruz approached the suite after his speech.
Adelson snubs Cruz over his failure to endorse Trump Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAArgentina on Wednesday asked Singapore and Malaysia Wednesday to extradite a former Iranian foreign minister whom it accuses of involvement in a 1994 bombing that killed 85 people at a Jewish community center, AFP reports. An investigating judge issued the request after learning that Ali Akbar Velayati, who is on the Interpol wanted list, was
Argentina seeks extradition of Iranian over AMIA bombing Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryVatican City (dpa) – There will be no statements from Pope Francis when he visits the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps – a key moment in his upcoming pilgrimage to Poland – the Vatican said Wednesday. The pontiff will travel to Poland from July 27-31 to take part in World Youth Day, an international Catholic youth festival
Pope to remain silent during visit to Auschwitz Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryRabbi Ratzon Arusi, the Rabbi of Kiryat Ono (near Tel Aviv) and an expert in Jewish law, weighed in yesterday (Monday) about the growing media storm over LGBT issues, calling for a more civil and substantive debate. The “LGBT issue” has come to the fore in Israeli discourse once again in recent days, following controversial
‘The homosexuals who came to consult me weren’t proud’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East