By Maayan Jaffe/JNS.org SHANGHAI, China — It was a long trek: 6,000 miles by boat from Central Europe to the Far East. But the towns of East Asia opened their gates for the waves of Jewish emigrants who had to find shelter from the tragic problems they faced first in Russia, and later in Central […]
Jewish history: Shanghai refuge Read More »
International, Jewish History
By Robert Gluck/JNS.org Dr. Gary P. Zola sees an inextricable connection between American Jewish history, American history, and global Jewish history. “The study of the Jewish experience in the context of the American nation sheds light on the story of the nation itself,” Zola, executive director of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American
Jewish deeds helped fuel American history Read More »
Jewish History, USABy Moshe Phillips and Benyamin Korn PHILADELPHIA –To judge by the account in the Washington Post, the recent statement about the Holocaust by Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas was a game-changing reversal of Abbas’s previous Holocaust-denial. In an “unusual step,” the Post asserted, Abbas released “a strongly-worded statement” in which he “denounced” the Holocaust as
Abbas’ ‘reversal’ on Holocaust really wasn’t Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East
NEW YORK (Press Release) – More than 100 prominent Orthodox rabbis, including the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel, Ha Rav Dovid Lau, have signed a petition urging action against the ongoing Arab attacks on the Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, in Jerusalem. “The continuing Arab desecration of the Mount of Olives cemetery must no longer
VIENNA (WJC) — Sixty-nine years after the end of World War II, nearly a third of Austrians would like to have a “strong leader” (Führer) at the helm of their country “who doesn’t have to deal with elections and a parliament”, according to a new study published on Wednesday in Vienna. Asked about what
Poll: One-third of Austrians want a ‘fuhrer’ Read More »
International, Jewish History
RIALTO, California (WJC) — School district officials heresaid an assignment asking students to write an essay on whether they believe the Holocaust really happened was “horribly inappropriate”. The Rialto Unified School District made headlines when it gave eighth-graders the assignment to do some research and write an essay explaining whether they believed the Holocaust
Rialto Holocaust assignment ‘horribly inappropriate’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (TNA) – Hundreds of Jewish World War II veterans of the Allied armies, the majority from the Former Soviet Union, attended the official Yad Vashem ceremony Thursday, May 8, marking the 69th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany. The ceremony took place at Yad Vashem’s Monument to the
World War II veterans honored at Yad Vashem Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastLOS ANGELES (Press Release)–Following is the text of the speech given by President Barack Obama on Wednesday evening, May 7, to a USC Shoah Foundation dinner at the Century Plaza Hotel: THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you so much. Please, please, everybody have a seat. Well, thank you, Steven {Spielberg}, for
Obama on the Shoah: Silence is evil’s co- conspirator Read More »
Jewish History, USA
JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Nine women have completed the Israeli Chief Rabbinate’s exams to become kashrut inspectors, the newspaper ‘Haaretz‘ reports. The country’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau approved the move over the objections of some council members. Emunah, the Orthodox women’s movement, battled to end the ban on women, and called the move “an achievement of historic significance.” The rabbinate said
First women kashrut inspectors certified in Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
BERN, Switzerland (WJC) — The German art collector Cornelius Gurlitt, who passed away on Tuesday aged 81, made the Museum of Art in the Swiss capital Bern his sole heir. The museum made the announcement on Wednesday, saying it was surprised to be chosen since it did not have a relationship with Gurlitt. “The Board of Trustees and
Gurlitt art collection goes to Swiss Museum of Art Read More »
International, Jewish History
MUNICH, Germany (WJC) — Cornelius Gurlitt, a reclusive German collector whose long-secret hoard of well over 1,000 artworks triggered an international uproar over the fate of art looted by the Nazis, died on Monday aged 81. Gurlitt’s spokesman Stephan Holzinger said that the collector died at his apartment in Munich, where he had asked to
Corneulius Gurlitt, heir of Nazi art collector, dies Read More »
International, Jewish History
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (TNA) –This year’s Intersnational Bible Quiz winner is Eitan Amos from Toronto, Canada. The 18-year-old, who lived in Karnei Shomron until he was 11, competed against 15 other finalists during this year’s International Bible Quiz traditionally held on Israel’s Independence Day. Seventy-five contestants from 33 countries including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina,
Canadian student wins int’l Bible quiz Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
NEW YORK (Press Release)– AJC regrets the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway. In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that the town board may continue to begin its meetings with a prayer. Historically, those prayers have been almost exclusively Christian, a practice that prompted the lawsuit. AJC, in an amicus
High court’s ruling on invocations draws reaction Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAJERUSALEM (Press Release)– Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, May 4, began his weekly Cabinet meeting with an explanation of his call for anchoring in the country’s Basic Law a provision recognizing that Israel is a Jewish state. Following is the text of his comments on this issue: “The State of Israel is a Jewish and democratic
Netanyahu explains making the ‘Jewish state’ a basic law Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East