RIGA, Latvia (WJC) — The sign with the German term ‘judenfrei‘, which was used by the Nazi occupiers during World War II, was seen posted on the outside gate of the Pucite pre-school in Riga which is reportedly owned by the far-right lawmaker Imants Paradnieks. The Coordination Forum for Countering Antisemitism further reported that Paradnieks was asked last Tuesday via Twitter if the […]
Latvian pre-school boasts it has no Jews Read More »
InternationalNetanyahu talks Israeli technology in Japan (JNS.org) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Japan on Sunday, kicking off a four-day trip meant to strengthen the Israel-Japan relationship. Netanyahu’s meetings during the visit are focusing on Israeli technological developments, particularly in the fields of cyber technology, water conservation, alternative energy, and biotechnology, according to Israel Hayom.
JNS news briefs: May 12, 2014 Read More »
International
JERUSALEM (WJC) — Israel has joined the international bid to find the 223 schoolgirls abducted by a group of Islamist terrorists in Nigeria four weeks ago. “Israel expresses deep shock at the crime against the girls,” Benjamin Netanyahu’s office quoted the Israeli prime minister as telling Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in a telephone conversation. “We
Israel joins hunt for abducted Nigerian schoolgirls Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan –It’s not every day that Time magazine recognizes what a lone word coiner in Taiwan has done by coming up with a new literary genre term dubbed “cli fi” by yours truly. Yes, the May 19 issue of the weekly magazine gave a quiet shout out and reporter Lily
Paul Revere of ‘Cli-Fi’ tells how he got on his horse Read More »
The World We ShareBy Ronn Torossian NEW YORK–The new book by Hillel Halkin, Jabotinsky: A Life (Yale University Press) was unlike any other book I had ever consumed about a man I consider to be a personal hero, Ze’ev Jabotinsky. Jabotinsky helped shape my life, my Judaism – even though I was born 34 years after his death. Growing up
Many new facts in Halkin’s biography of Jabotinsky Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East
Photo and story by Debra Rubin/JNS.org NEW YORK — The Shabbat of Memorial Day weekend later this month will mark a first in American Jewish life: Three New York City congregations representing the three major U.S. Jewish movements will daven from the same prayer book. Produced by the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB) Jewish Chaplains Council
Memorial Day muster in NYC for military siddur Read More »
Jewish Religion, USASAN DIEGO (Press Release)–The Jewish Federation of San Diego thanked and recognized State Senator Marty Block for “standing up for what’s right.” It noted that Block, a San Diego Democrat, had issued the following statement following disclosure that eighth students in the Rialto, California, school district had been asked to write an essay debating
Marty Block’s response to Rialto Holocaust essay praised Read More »
Jewish History
Ben G. Frank, Klara’s Journey, Marion Street Press, © 2013, ISBN 978-1-936863-47-1, 222 pages, $17.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –According to computerized calculations, it is 707 miles between Odessa and Moscow, and another 3,989 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok. But those are air miles, not rail miles, and the figures can’t account for
‘Klara’s Journey’ traverses Revolutionary Russia Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Editor’s Note: Lag B’Omer begins at sundown Saturday, May 17 and ends at sundown Sunday, May 18 By Deborah Fineblum/JNS.org One of Pnina Newirth’s earliest childhood memories is of a trip to Mount Meron, Israel, on Lag B’Omer. But this was no ordinary family vacation. “I was very small, yet I vividly recall the
Lag B’Omer crowds will head for Mt. Meron Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and FoodBy Alan Elsner WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Secretary of State Kerry and his team take a pause in the current round of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, there is an opportunity to take stock and ask some tough questions. Among them: why have the talks not succeeded? What might happen next? And what should J Street be doing
J Street mulls its role in Mideast Peace Process Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Jason Stack/JNS.org Believe it or not, the recently canonized Pope John Paul II had a Jewish Cardinal as an occasional adviser in the 1980s. The French TV film The Jewish Cardinal, which has been receiving a limited release in the United States, follows the crucial years of the life of Cardinal Jean-Marie Aaron Lustiger
Television biography tells of ‘Jewish Cardinal’ Lustiger Read More »
International, Jewish ReligionThe Fugu Plan by Marvin Tokayer and Mary Schwartz; Gefen Publishing House, ISBN: 978-965229-3299; 277 pages By Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — In 1939, escape routes for Jews fleeing from Europe to the west were closing. One, however, remained open but it was to the east – through Russia. The Fugu Plan by Marvin Tokayer
From the Jewish Library: ‘The Fugu Plan’ Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM– In a vote of 7 for and 3 against, the Government on Sunday, May 11, recommended to the full Knesset a law that will limit Israel’s ability to release convicted terrorists, even as part of future negotiations. The proposed law, submitted by MK Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi), states that a court that sentences a
Bill would limit Israel’s ability to release terrorists Read More »
Middle East
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