SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–The San Diego County Library will launch The Big Read, its grant-funded county-wide reading of John Steinbeck’s masterpiece, The Grapes of Wrath, between January 30 and March 15. Residents throughout the county are invited to read the book and attend any of the 330 free events related to the theme. The series […]
'Grapes of Wrath' to be read countywide Read More »
San Diego CalendarBERLIN (WJC)–Ernst Cramer, a Jewish journalist who fled Nazi Germany and served as an American soldier in World War II, has died in Berlin, one day before his 97th birthday. He was a champion of Israel who also fought to improve relations between Germans, Jews and Americans. Born in Augsburg in 1913, Cramer was incarcerated
German Jewish journalist Ernst Cramer dead at 96 Read More »
Middle East, USAJERUSALEM (WJC)–Israel’s Holocaust Memorial institution Yad Vashem has named the late André Reeders and Aaltje Reeders-Wittermans as Righteous Gentiles Among the Nations for sheltering the Jewish couple Sally and Claire Gimnicher-Hirsch in their home near Amsterdam in 1942, at the request of the Dutch resistance movement. Unlike most cases, the two couples had had no
Yad Vashem honors Dutch couple for sheltering Jews they had never met Read More »
Middle EastMUNICH, Germany (WJC) — Thomas Blatt, 82, a survivor of the Sobibor death camp where Ivan Demjanjuk was allegedly employed as a guard by the Nazis, has given testimony at Demjanjuk’s trial in Munich. Blatt’s family was killed at Sobibor, and at the age of 15, Blatt was ordered to sort out the belongings of Jews
Sobibor survivor tells what happened, but can't identify Demjanjuk Read More »
Travel and FoodJERUSALEM (WJC)–Israel has resumed a scheme to airlift 2,000 Falash Mura – Ethiopians of Jewish descent – out of the east African country and bring them to Israel. The scheme was halted in August 2008, when the Israeli government announced the airlifts would be ended. Eighty-one new immigrants arrived on a flight from Ethiopia to
Israel to welcome 2,000 Falash Mura from Ethiopia Read More »
Middle EastWA SHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)—U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland and Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, both Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 10 other Senators today urged Ugandan President Yoweri Musseveni to block enactment of a law that would criminalize homosexuality and codify prejudice against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered and HIV-positive Ugandans. The
U.S. Senators urge Uganda not to criminalize homosexuality Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Twenty-two executives and employees of companies in the military and law enforcement products industry have been indicted for engaging in schemes to bribe foreign government officials to obtain and retain business, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips for the District of Columbia; and
Shonda file: Sting targeted executives willing to bribe foreign officials Read More »
Middle East, USANEW YORK (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said that the visit to the Rome Synagogue by Pope Benedict XVI “acknowledged the validity of Judaism and affirmed the Catholic-Jewish relationship.” Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement: “Pope Benedict acknowledged the validity of Judaism and affirmed the Catholic-Jewish relationship by his
ADL says Pope's visit to synagogue strengthened Catholic-Jewish relationship Read More »
Travel and FoodSAN DIEGO (Press Release)–Young Israel of San Diego, a small Orthodox congregation located near the base of Cowles Mountain, plans to celebrate Tu B’Shevat with an evening hike to the top of the mountain, weather permitting, at 8 p.m., Saturday, January 30. On return, hikers will enjoy a Melava Malka/ Tu B’Shevat seder featuring the fruits
Cowles Mountain hike, Tu B'Shevat seder planned by Young Israel Jan. 30 Read More »
San Diego CalendarHAIFA (Press Release)–Israeli backpackers find themselves hosted by Christian missionaries in New Zealand because of the good lodging deals that they offer; but during their stay, these Israelis also get unique spiritual experiences. This has been illustrated in a new study carried out at the University of Haifa’s Center for Tourism, Pilgrimage and Recreation. “Even
JERUSALEM (WJC)–The failed bomb attack against Israeli diplomats in Jordan last week could have been carried out by a local al-Qaeda cell acting on instructions from Iran, sources close to the Jordanian intelligence community have told the ‘Jerusalem Post’. The unnamed sources said that the attack had come in response to the killing of Iranian
Jordanian sources point finger at Iran for attempted car bombing of Israeli diplomats Read More »
Middle East, USAJERUSALEM (WJC)–Norway’s Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who visited Israel this week, has told the newspaper ‘Haaretz’ that there were forces in Israel that unfairly portrayed Norway as an anti-Semitic country. “There are references to anti-Israel sentiments in the Israeli press. I see part of that as a campaign which is being organized and orchestrated
Norway's Foreign Minister rejects charges his country is anti-Semitic Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC)–Israeli police have arrested a group of militant Jewish settlers in the West Bank for alleged vandalism, including an attack on a mosque in a nearby Palestinian village in December. Nine settlers were arrested for attacks on Palestinian property, including five linked to the torching of a mosque last month. The vandals burned prayer
Nine West Bank settlers arrested for mosque attack and vandalism Read More »
Middle East, USAPORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (WJC)–Jewish humanitarian organizations in the United States and Canada have already raised millions of dollars for Haiti relief aid since the devastating earthquake that hit the Caribbean nation a week ago. Among the top fundraisers are the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), which has received US$ 2 million so far, and
Jewish, Israeli organizations provide service, raise millions for Haiti Read More »
Middle East, USA