Jewish Fiction: The Yiddishe Mama Complex

My grandfather Yaakov, my mother’s father, had seven brothers and one sister. At that time Jews in Russia gave birth to many children, because it was God’s will. Then God was forbidden in the Soviet Union, and there were fewer and fewer children. In our family there was less obedience to God’s commandments and fewer children were born. My grandmother Rosa gave birth to only two daughters, the eldest Leah and the youngest Dora, my mother. As in other Jewish families, the mother’s role grew as the number of children decreased. [Alex Gordon, Ph.D]

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Alex Gordon, Jewish Fiction

U.S. Supreme Court requires Yeshiva University to allow LGBT student club

Published by Reuters By Andrew Chung (Reuters) -Yeshiva University cannot bar a LGBT student club after the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to block a judge’s ruling ordering the Jewish school in New York City to officially recognize the group. The justices, in a 5-4 decision, declined to put on hold a state court

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USA

Florida newspaper disgusted by Republicans refusing to disavow Nazi and white supremacist supporters

Published by Raw Story By Sarah K. Burris It’s only been a few weeks since President Joe Biden made a speech calling out violent domestic terrorism from white supremacists, militia groups, neo-Nazis and others that have been embraced under the MAGA banner. Now the Miami Herald is concerned that too many of these groups are

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USA

The Shofar’s Role Through History

They were blowing the shofar, but it wasn’t Rosh Hashanah. On Jan. 5, 2021, the sound of the ram’s horn echoed in the streets of Washington, D.C., as participants in the Jericho March circled the capitol in a re-enactment of Joshua’s siege on the ancient city. For Jewish observers, it was a puzzling scene. “Are you going to do the shevarim as well?” one reporter asked a puff-cheeked protester, referring to the rhythmic blowing pattern used in Jewish tradition. He got a blank stare in return. [JNS.org]

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International, Israel, Jewish Religion, USA

Israel preparing to connect to gas field disputed by Lebanon

Published by Al-Araby Israel’s energy ministry said Friday it was set to conduct tests on a maritime field claimed in part by Lebanon, ahead of connecting it to the Jewish state’s gas network. The ministry “was preparing to connect the Karish reservoir to the Israeli system,” a statement said. The gas field has been licensed

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Middle East

After a century, Gernsheim’s music makes a comeback

Composer, conductor, pianist and teacher, Friedrich Gernsheim, (1839-1916), is little known today. Yet, during his lifetime, he was spoken of in the same breath as Brahms, Bruch and Reger. In fact, his works were published by the same publishers who published their compositions. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Jewish Motorcycle Philanthropists Support The Butterfly Project

Last month I had the delightful opportunity to interview two bikers who were planning to participate in the Ride2Remember, a motorcycle ride created to pay tribute to Holocaust survivors and memorialize those who perished. This year, the Jewish Motorcyclist Alliance dedicated its contribution to The Butterfly Project (TBP), cofounded by San Diegans Cheryl Rattner Price and Jan Landau. {Eva Trieger}

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California, Eva Trieger, Holocaust, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Saperstein Honored at Biden’s United We Stand Summit

Rabbi David Saperstein, Director Emeritus of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), was honored as a “Uniter” at Thursday’s historic United We Stand Summit, hosted by President Biden at the White House. Rabbi Saperstein was recognized for his work with the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network as one of the preeminent heroes from across America doing extraordinary work to stand together against hate, build bridges and heal divides in their communities. [United We Stand news release)

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USA

Israeli Athlete Survived the Holocaust and the Munich Olympics Massacre

ESPN and ESPN+ will premiere at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept 20, The Survivor, an hour-long documentary on the murder of 11 Israeli athletes during the 1972 Olympics. Reporter Jeremy Schaap interviews Shaul Ladany, a teammate of the slain athletes, who has been dubbed an “ultimate survivor.”  Along with his family, he had earlier in his life survived the Holocaust. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Rosh Hashanah is Not a Biblical Holiday

Rosh Hashanah is not a biblical holiday, although it replaced a biblical one. It is clearly different from the holiday it changed. The biblical holiday, Yom Teruah, was a one-day festival that had totally other purposes than Rosh Hashanah that is celebrated for two days and focuses on the onset of a year, repentance, and commitment to live the next year properly.  These ideas were not even suggested in Yom Teruah that concentrated on months and the number seven. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

History: Bavaria’s Revolutionary Jewish Prime Minister

This man fulfilled the typical dream of Jews who wanted to remake the world and their country of residence ‒ he became prime minister of a European state. Unlike Disraeli, he was not a baptized Jew.  Born May 14, 1867, in Berlin to a Jewish family, Kurt Eisner became prime minister of Bavaria at age 51. [Alex Gordon, Ph.D]

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Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History