N.J. town sues Orthodox congregation it says opened school without approvals

Published by NJ.com Brick Township is suing a Lakewood-based Orthodox Jewish congregation, alleging that it’s been operating a private high school for up to 100 boys in a synagogue it acquired in March despite not having been granted the required site plan approval or construction permits. In the suit, filed Friday in state Superior Court

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USA

The Secret of the Bass Break in Paul Simon’s ‘You Can Call Me Al’

Published by Ultimate Classic Rock There are several segments to Paul Simon‘s “You Can Call Me Al,” the lead single from his lauded 1986 album, Graceland, and every one of them is a marvel. But the song’s intricate bass break stands out as perhaps its most fascinating moment. For some time it was unknown just

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Jewish Celebrities

Israel’s new leader to present Iran plan in first White House visit

Published by Reuters By Jeffrey Heller and Matt Spetalnick JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will push U.S. President Joe Biden to harden his approach to Iran during his first White House visit, with few prospects their talks will lead to renewed movement on Israeli-Palestinian peace. Yet both Israel and the United States have

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Middle East

Jonah Hill: ‘Instagram is the cigarettes of this time’

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonah Hill thinks Instagram is “the cigarettes of this time”. The 37-year-old actor has described the social media site as being “the biggest killer” of the current generation, and has said the platform is as addictive as cigarettes. He said: “So, Instagram. Instagram – as I smoke a cigarette –

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Jewish Celebrities

Growth of Jewish Communities Promoted in the Early 20th Century

The headline in the adjoining news clipping is hype. “May” is not “will” or “shall.” Booster describes real estate developers, hucksters and visionaries who wanted to profit from growing communities and increases in real estate prices. Saul Voorsanger, who emigrated from Holland with his wife Sarah in 1893, promoted the growth of the Jewish population. He was a salesman and publicist and the brother of Temple Emanu-El’s Rabbi Jacob Voorsanger. The rabbi started Emanu-El, San Francisco’s weekly Jewish newspaper in 1895 and died in 1908. Sol, Saul or S. became editor. During 1912 several newspapers reported Voorsanger’s visiting chambers of commerce in San Diego, Visalia, Fresno, Modesto, Kings, San Joaquin, and Dinuba. He solicited advertising for a special 75,000 copy edition of Emanu-El to recruit better-off Russian Jews to buy and farm California land, a chimera. [Oliver B. Pollak]

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Jewish History, Oliver Pollak, USA

Good News from Israel (August 23, 2021)

NETANYA, Israel — In the August 23, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: 
–Israeli scientists have printed an active tumor for testing cancer therapies.
–An Israeli charity is saving Arab children from dying in car crashes.
–Israelis again aid victims of another massive deadly earthquake in Haiti.
–Israelis are developing a flying sports car.
–The rate of Israel’s economic recovery is one of the fastest in the world.
–Israel’s “no-fear” children enjoy a thrilling adventure trail in Jerusalem. [Michael Ordman]

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International, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Conservative Movement Groups Respond to Child Sex Abuse Allegations

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and United Synagogue Youth (USY) today released the following statement in response to recently reported allegations of child sex abuse: For all of us at USY and USCJ, the past several weeks have been deeply painful.  We are very saddened by the heartbreaking

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USA

Israel finds COVID-19 vaccine booster significantly lowers infection risk

Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A third dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has significantly improved protection from infection and serious illness among people aged 60 and older in Israel compared with those who received two shots, findings published by the Health Ministry showed on Sunday. The data were presented at a meeting of a

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Middle East

Putting the ‘Community’ in Jewish Community Day at Petco Park

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — I’ll never forget my first baseball game. My father brought me to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on the last day of the regular season in 1993, as we watched the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers, 2-1. Even as my interest in America’s Pastime has waned

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Jacob Kamaras, Sports & Competitions, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Governor Ron DeSantis

By Mark D. Zimmerman Following the lead of Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida State Board of Education has threatened to withhold funds from the school boards in Broward and Alachua counties, where local officials want to enforce mask requirements for their students. DeSantis has stated that mask wearing should be an individual choice, and even

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Historical Marker for Holocaust Hero Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds Finally Dedicated

By Jerry Klinger KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — At-risk to his own life, Roddie Edmonds saved approximately 200 Jewish POW G.I.s during the Holocaust. He is the only American G.I. honored by Yad Vashem as a Righteous Among the Nations. East Tennessee is part of the Republican flyover country to the coastal elitists. Images of the Beverly

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Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, USA

Israel’s Coronavirus Mess

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The cases of coronavirus continue to spike in Israel. By some professional predictions, we might reach 12,000 new cases sometime next week. However, the incidence of seriously ill, hospitalized, and deaths may have peaked, and begun a downturn. Presumably due to the increasing incidence of people getting their booster shot.

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Rosh Hashanah Practices: Not Biblical, But Still Important

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — None of the practices associated today with Rosh Hashanah are biblical. Yet they should be observed for they are very helpful. Sin The concepts of sin and repentance as a religious experience are not in the Bible; they are post-biblical. “Sin,” a prime element in Christian

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion