Kitty Dukakis (December 26, 1936) is an American author. She is married to former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Kitty Dukakis Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The miracle of the oil is a foundation for why candle lighting, an act of pirsuma d’nisa (publicizing the miracle), is one of the two major commandments of Chanukah, with reciting Hallel as the other. Through lighting candles, we can display our hope, trust, and faith in Hashem and in His role in our lives. When they lit the menorah in the Temple, they did so from a belief, a hope, that the future is not preordained, that the future can truly be altered. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
The Deeper Meaning of Chanukah and its Symbols Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
On a recent visit to this port city, I was among a group of four Jews who were escorted by a guide to a five-month-old Sephardic congregation (Sinagoga Sefardi) established by Rabbi Joachim Montoya, a medical doctor who had converted to Judaism after learning that he was descended from a family of Conversos. [Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Whose Family Were Conversos Now Heads a Colombian Sephardic Congregation Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
On the 12th of December 2024, I set out with four colleagues of the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) to meet with members of the rural community of Tafza (Al Haouz province, Marrakesh region), located in the mountain range that bore the horrendous epicenter of the September 2023 earthquake. [Yossef Ben-Meir]
Jewish Bones Reburied in Solemn Ceremony after Morocco Earthquake Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Yossef Ben-Meir
Rod Serling (December 25, 1924 – June 28, 1975) was an American screenwriter and television producer best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his anthology television series The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen, and helped form television industry standards. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Rod Serling Read More »
Jewish Celebrities, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
President Joe Biden announced he would commute the sentences of 37 of the 40 federal death row prisoners to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Among the three whose death sentences remain is Robert Bowers, who was convicted of murdering 11 people in 2018 at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue. [SDJW staff]
Killer of 11 Tree of Life Victims Remains on Death Row Read More »
International, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Jews were willing to meet with local advocates for Arabs and Muslims, but instead they confronted brazen hostility or stiff defensiveness from the Arab side. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Palestinian Advocates Refusing to Debate with Jews Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
One of Drazin’s central arguments is that the Bible often raises more questions than it answers. Many biblical terms and events are left undefined or unexplained, such as the meaning of “heaven” in the creation narrative or the significance of humanity being created in the “image of God.” [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
‘Mysteries of Judaism’ Encourages Readers’ Questioning of the Torah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors
“In all the professions out there, mothering is the most important job in the world and one of the most overlooked,” said Vivs CEO and Founder Brandon Lurie on a WhatsApp call from Jerusalem. [Cailin Acosta]
AI App Now Helps Mothers with Recipes, Carpools, and More Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology
‘Twas the week before Christmas, the Reps in the House
Had struck a deal with nary a grouse.
The budget was set with no debt increase.
In hopes that ‘til March, there’d be fiscal peace. … [Laurie Baron]
Satire: ‘Twas the Week Before Christmas Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Yafa Yarkoni (December 24, 1925 – 1 January 2012) was an Israeli singer. She won the Israel Prize in 1998 for her contributions to Hebrew music. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Yafa Yarkoni Read More »
Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The biblical portion Mikkets, Genesis 41:1-44:17, is fascinating. It reveals some different, more mature, and intelligent acts by Jacob’s son Joseph than the 17-year-old youngster who tormented his brothers who sold him into slavery. Still, there are some questionable, even troubling, behaviors. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Life and Education of the Biblical Joseph Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Diggs recently played the part of Rabbi Marshall Zucker on the Apple TV+ miniseries Extrapolations. What is the song he added to the canon of Hanukkah songs? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Hanukkah Songs Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
The nanoparticle treatment significantly reduced tumor size, prolonging time to progression by 2.5 times than standard treatments, and extended the lifespan of mice treated with the nanoparticle platform. Mice had a two-fold higher median survival compared to those receiving the free drugs and a three-fold longer survival compared to the untreated control group. [Press Release]
Nanoparticles Deliver Anti-Cancer Drugs Directly to Tumors Read More »
Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, Technology