EDIRNE, Turkey (WJC)–The deputy CEO of the World Jewish Congress, Maram Stern, was in Turkey this week to take part in the re-opening ceremony of the Great Synagogue of Edirne, which was restored for $2.5 million and is the first synagogue to open in Turkey in two generations. Guest of honor at the ceremony was […]
Great Synagogue of Edirne, Turkey, reopens Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — After this website published a news article headlined “A Tale of Two Holocaust Survivors” on March 17, Tomi Reichental, who was one of the two men mentioned in the story and who is 80, contacted me by email from his home in Ireland and said he would like
Shoah survivors with parallel stories plan meeting Read More »
International, Jewish History, USABy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Child sex abuse in an Orthodox Jewish community, indeed in any community, is not an easy topic to discuss. It isn’t an easy topic to write about either, especially in a Jewish publication. But when Judy Bloom Friedel called and asked if I would moderate a panel
Sex abuse victim offers advice to parents Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & Education
An Improbable Journey: A True Story of Courage and Survival During World War II by Susan Schenkel, Ph.D; ISBN 978-0-9894377-2-1, 183 pages, $12.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – After her mother’s death, author Susan Schenkel decided to research the lives that her parents, by then both deceased, had led during World War II
Biography traces parents’ survivals during WWII Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish HistoryBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO –A person worked long and hard to save a big fortune. He decided to rest from the work and to live in luxury for his pleasure, which he could afford because of his wealth. Just when he made his decision, the Angel of Death came to him. Being a
Measuring freedom in terms of time Read More »
Jewish ReligionNumber of Israeli ministers expected to rise in next government (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Despite the decisive victory by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party in the March 17 Israeli election, the negotiations to build the Jewish state’s next coalition government could take up the entire 42-day time period allotted by Israeli law. In his
Jewish news briefs: March 19, 2015 Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAShma Koleinu: A Jewish People’s Commentary on the Siddur by Rabbi Steven Schwarzman, editor, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, an Amazon Company, Seattle, WA; ISBN 978-1-50535-392-1 ©2014, $17.99, p. 202, plus contributor’s list By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Jews communicate with God through animal sacrifice, or at least they did when the Temple stood in
Reacting to the prayers in the siddur Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) –American Jewish World Service has distributed a Passover reading emphasizing the accomplishments of women in the Exodus story. “We are grateful to Justice Ginsburg and Rabbi Holzblatt for offering a powerful feminist reading for Passover, which highlights the leadership of women in the liberation of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt,”
Justice Ginsburg, Rabbi Holzblatt offer seder reading Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
SAN DIEGO (SDJW) — The community mikvah, providing waters for spiritual immersion for a variety of rituals, has decided to suspend its programs while its board reassesses communal needs and acceptance. With less activity in prospect during this transition, its executive director, Rabbi Lenore Bohm, will step down March 31 to pursue other opportunities. Following
Community mikvah to suspend programs Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyThe JGuy’s Guide: The GPS for Jewish Teen Guys by Rabbi J. B. Meszler, Dr. S. Reinharz, L. Suneby, and D. Heiman, Jewish Lights Publishing; ISBN 978-1-45967-434-9 ©2013, $18.99, p. 177, plus notes By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California –A much narrower distinction existed between childhood and adulthood in the nineteenth century then it does
Jewish advice for teenage guys Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — Peter Kubicek is an email friend of mine who I have known for about ten years now. He lives in New York and I live in Taiwan but we meet often online to chat about current events and Jewish history, especially the Holocaust. Kubicek is a Holocaust survivor,
A tale of two Holocaust survivors Read More »
International, Jewish History, USA
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– On April 13, 2015 various theaters, cultural organizations and memorial institutions across the country will unite to honor victims of the Holocaust by joining in Remembrance Readings for Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah). This inaugural event is led by theaters from San Diego, including the La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, North Coast
Holocaust readings planned by local theaters Read More »
Jewish History, San Diego CalendarTHESSALONIKI, Greece (WJC)– This city remembered its nearly 50,000 Jews sent to Nazi death camps during World War II. A memorial marking the 72nd anniversary of the roundup and deportation of Thessaloniki Jews was held Saturday, ahead of March 15th, the day when the first Jewish convoy left the city. Participants placed flowers on train tracks where
Greek city remembers Jews deported to Auschwitz Read More »
International, Jewish History
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Some 20 years ago, Brian Schottlaender was serving as an associate librarian for collection services at UCLA, when Doug Greenberg invited him to visit a movie studio lot in Burbank. Greenberg took him to the trailers which then were housing the interviews that volunteers had videotaped with survivors of the
UCSD offers public access to Shoah archive Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education