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
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 EastNEW YORK (Press Release)–Two Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers were appointed to the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), which will raise international awareness about the prevention and treatment of drug and substance addiction. Prof. Richard Isralowitz, director of BGU’s Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research (RADAR) Center, and Dr.
UN names two BGU researchers to anti-drug unit Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO-Vladimir Putin is sending mixed messages to the world. One day he says he’ll withdraw his troops from the border of eastern Uktaine; the next he is celebrating the triumph of the annexation of the Crimea. When reporters questioned what his plans for Ukrine were, he cryptically replied, “Donetsk don’t tell.”
Humoring the Headlines: May 10, 2014 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We have returned from eight days in Northern Italy to the Middle East, where my residence is approaching 40 years. I’ve taken advantage of Israel’s location and airline connections over the years to all the countries of Western Europe except for Luxembourg and the even tinier ones, most of them
European unity and Mideast disunity Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East