By Deborah Fineblum/JNS.org Rather than feeling a sense of loss, leaving the second Passover seder behind in the U.S., or France, or Turkey, or any other country of origin is touted as a perk of living in Israel that new immigrants to the Jewish state (olim) mention in the same breath as the universal availability […]
See new moon over Israel, skip second seder Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Deborah Fineblum/JNS.org Israel is a country that has spent more than six decades weaving the two formerly disparate basic branches of the Jewish family, Sephardim and Ashkenazim, into one people. These days, nary an eyebrow is raised as they hang out, date, and marry in the Jewish state, and most of their cultural differences
When Sephardim and Ashkenazim truly differ Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Michele Alperin/JNS.org As the intersection of family, Jewish memory, and the passions of contemporary politics and society, the Passover seder is said to be the most celebrated annual Jewish event in the United States. But it is not always easy to make all seder attendees feel the Haggadah’s mandate that in every generation, each
Some tips for making the seder memorable Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Jeremy Ben-Ami The majority of world Jewry agrees today: the future, security and character of the state of Israel all depend on reaching a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That’s why Secretary of State John Kerry’s push to achieve it is perhaps the most vital pro-Israel initiative since Bill Clinton was President. Right
Attack on J Street waste of resources Read More »
Middle East, USADETROIT (Press Release) — A survey of Detroit area Jews and Muslims reveals high levels of interest to learn more about the other, find ways to experience each community’s practices and customs, and engage in joint activities. “Both groups express willingness to engage with each other,” concludes the survey, Building a Shared Future: Understanding the
Detroit Muslims and Jews desire friendship Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —The Jerusalem Post featured an unusual article about the Chief Rabbi of Holon Rabbi Avraham Yosef, the son of the late Sefardic-Haredi leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. His son sits on the Israel Chief Rabbinate’s council and commands considerable influence in Orthodox politics in Israel and abroad. In
Rabbi Yosef’s opinion on plagiarism is mistaken Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiNEW YORK (Press Release)–The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed shock and outrage regarding statements made by the founder of a new art school scheduled opening in the Chilean Patagonia publicly promoting the Nazi swastika and announcing plans to teach Adolf Hitler’s ideology in the school. ADL has called on the government of Chile to clearly condemn
ADL condemns Nazi art school in Chile Read More »
International
NEW YORK (WJC) — The World Jewish Congress (WJC) mourns the passing of the former chairman of the Lithuanian Jewish community, Simon Alperovitch (Simonas Alperavičius), a Holocaust survivor who led the Jewish revival in his native country culturally and politically. “An old-fashioned gentleman who spoke a beautiful Lithuanian Yiddish, Simon spearheaded his community’s restitution
Lithuanian Jewish leader Alperovitch mourned Read More »
InternationalGENEVA (WJC) – A call made by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) encouraging businesses to boycott Israeli settlements was strongly condemned by the World Jewish Congress (WJC) on Friday. “It is shameful that an important UN body should join the hypocritical international campaign against Israel, and it is even more lamentable that so many
Jewish groups condemn UNHRC vote on BDS Read More »
Middle East
By Jerry Silverman NEW YORK — Nate couldn’t decide what he wanted to be for Purim – follow his heart and dress as an alien or succumb to peer pressure and wear a superhero costume? It was a tough decision for a little boy, but he got some help from his two dads. The Purim
PJ Library provides inclusive Jewish reading program Read More »
Travel and Food
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson on Thursday, March 27, hosted the Official Portrait Unveiling Ceremony in honor of former Secretary Michael Chertoff a member of the Jewish community, who served as the nation’s second Secretary of Homeland Security from February 15, 2005 – January 21, 2009. “As the second Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael
Michael Chertoff portrait unveiled at DHS Read More »
USANEW YORK (Press Release) – AJC applauds the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for expressing serious concern about human rights violations in Iran. The Council resolution also renews the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 21 in favor, 9 against
AJC applauds UNHRC resolution on Iran Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — On the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the beginning of the Jewish month of Nisan, we read a special maftir portion of the Torah. We even give this Shabbat a special name. We call it Shabbat Ha-Chodesh based on the first important words of the special maftir: Ha-Chodesh
Which New Year is it, anyway? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBelgian lawmakers visit Judea and Samaria (JNS.org) A delegation of Belgian parliamentarians visited Judea and Samaria on Thursday as guests of the Shomron Regional Council. The visit was coordinated by the council’s foreign relations committee. During the visit, delegation head Senator Anke Vandermeersch noted that she was “surprised to see how different the reality
JNS news briefs: March 28, 2014 Read More »
International