I don’t know if Mordechai Ronen is familiar with the philosophy of the late Emil Fackenheim, famed University of Toronto professor. But he seems to have absorbed Fackenheim’s most cited dictum that after the Holocaust Jews are commanded to survive in order to deprive Hitler of a posthumous victory. Hitler’s aim was to erase the
An inspiring story of survival Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryFrom Within the Tents: The Sabbath Prayers, Essays by the Rabbis and Professors of Yeshiva University edited by Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman and Dr. Stuart W. Halpern; Maggid Books, New Milford, CT; ISBN 978-1-59264-446-9 ©2014, $29.95, p. 295 plus Appendix By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California –Hermann Cohen, arguably the greatest German-Jewish philosopher of the nineteenth
Yeshiva University essays prayers of Shabbat Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish HistoryBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — It came as something of a shock to me a few years ago to hear that there are some people who have mixed feelings about celebrating the Jewish festival known as Passover (Pesach). For someone like myself who quite likes eating matza this seems strange. But then I
Memories of Passovers past Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion
Thanks to Phil Snyder for finding this video and passing it along. And thanks also too Nina Paley for creating it!
A jazzy Passover~ Go Down Moses Read More »
Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Many bar- and bat-mitzvah kids mark their special day by doing something to “give back” to the community – volunteering in a soup kitchen, or raising money for a new TV at a senior citizen’s center. Raising $76,000 to establish Israel’s first mobile printing lab, replete with brand new 3D printers and other equipment, would
Bar Mitzvah boy donates 3D tech bus to Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
As part of Israel”s UN Ambassador Danny Danon”s ongoing battle to improve Israel”s image at the United Nations, he hosted on Friday the first ever Passover Seder at the UN. By doing so, Danon sought to expose the ambassadors in attendance to this beloved Jewish tradition. About 40 ambassadors, senior UN officials, and even one
Danon hosts first ever UN Passover Seder Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — Passover is the best gift the Jewish people ever gave to the world; nobody who was ever a human being could turn down its message of freedom, its transformation of the taste of tears into the wine of hope, its view of the leaves of parsley as the
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Jewish ReligionZURICH, Switzterland (WJC)– The former leader of the populist Swiss People’s Party (SVP), Christoph Blocher, caused an outcry over the weekend after comparing the treatment of his party in a controversial referendum campaign to that of the Jews in Nazi Germany. A majority of Swiss voters recently rejected the SVP’s initiative which called for the
SVP subject to Nazi- style persecution — Blocher Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Swirling beneath the planned May 4 appearance of Pastor Dumisani Washington, a leading African-American advocate for the State of Israel is controversy over the relationship between the Jewish community and the Christians who seek to convert us. Washington’s appearance, sponsored by the pro-Israel organization StandWithUs, is scheduled May 4
SWU choice of venue prompts controversy Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, USA
By John Kasich/JNS.org I’ve had the wonderful privilege of meeting thousands of people from all different faith backgrounds out on the campaign trail. It’s been both a humbling and awe-inspiring experience. At every event, I try to convey that I have a realistic plan to get people back to work and keep our country safe.
Kasich: Helping others part of the great Jewish tradition Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
Popular actress Doris Roberts, who was best known for her role as matriarch Marie Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond, has passed away at the age of 90. According to a spokesperson for the family, she remained healthy and active and died in her sleep. Roberts was born to a Russian-Jewish family in St. Louis and
‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ star Doris Roberts, 90 Read More »
Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Rabbi Jeffrey Lipschultz ROCK ISLAND, Illinois — As Passover approaches many Jews go into spring-cleaning mode. Getting rid of chametz (food made from wheat and its crumbs) turns into actions such as changing over all of our everyday pots and dishes for special Passover ones, or making them kosher for Passover. Many of us
Ridding ourselves of spiritual chametz Read More »
Jewish Religion
You may know her as Amy Fowler from The Big Bang Theory television, or as Blossom Russo, the titular character from the mid-90″s sitcom Blossom. Mayim Bialik has played dozens of roles in television and film in a career that stretches back nearly 30 years. In that sense, Bialik is very much at home in
Bialik: Tough to be Shomer Shabbat in Hollywood Read More »
Jewish Religion, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
In preparation for the upcoming Passover holiday, President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday carried out the ritual selling of the chametz (leavened foods that are forbidden on the Jewish holiday) with Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Rabbi Shlomo Amar. In the brief ceremony, the President appointed Rabbi Amar to act as an emissary of the President
Rivlin sells chametz to Chief Rabbi Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East