The right to be a refugee

My parents were orthodox Jews and adhered to the set of ancient laws and customs that characterize Jews all over the world. Such precepts as ‘thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal’ and ‘thou shalt not bear false witness,’ which also form the basis of Western society, came naturally to them, along with ‘love thy neighbor as thyself.’ This mindset and general attitude fitted in well with the wider non-Jewish society that was England at that time, namely, during and after the Second World War. (Dorothea Shefer-Vanson)

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Today’s Jewish birthday: Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder (October 29, 1971), is an American actress. Having come to attention playing “quirky” characters in the late 1980s, she achieved success with her more dramatic performances in the 1990s. Ryder’s many accolades include a Golden Globe, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Grammy Award. [Wikipedia]

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Parsha Vayeira: Becoming more fully human

It is easy to become so absorbed in our own responsibilities that we overlook opportunities to help others. Do we make time for someone who is lonely? Listen patiently to a struggling friend? Offer help without waiting to be asked? Abraham reminds us that a meaningful life is measured not only by what we accomplish for ourselves, but also by the care we bring into the lives of others. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘Zaidy’s Band’ starts as a family quest but concludes as a survey of Canadian Jewish servicemen’s WWII experiences

For journalist Aron Heller, the search for his grandfather’s World War II history began with a mystery within his own family. Mickey Heller, affectionately known as Zaidy, had served four years in the Royal Canadian Air Force, including two years as a navigator in Bomber Command in Europe. Yet despite his grandson’s curiosity, Mickey rarely spoke about his military service. (Cailin Acosta)

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

A beautiful homecoming and an unexpected encounter

I found I was sitting next to a woman who admitted she was part of the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and related groups who blockaded access to dorms, dining halls and classrooms for Jewish students and anyone who failed to “correctly answer the question “Are you Zionist or anti-Zionist?” (Barrett Holman Leak)

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Israel should find a way to bring Arabs into a coalition

NIF and our partners have always believed in Jewish-Arab partnership as the only way possible. We’ve worked for years to support the organizations and activists who persisted in the essential work of building trust, training leaders, and engaging more citizens in democratic life. [Mickey Gitzin and Shira Ben Sasson]

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Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Israel: A parliamentary democracy

Israel is a parliamentary democracy with three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Its parliament, the Knesset, has 120 members elected through proportional representation. Voters choose parties rather than individual candidates, and seats are distributed according to each party’s share of the vote. (Cailin Acosta)

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, News Media, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Intersex campaign to persuade adults to ‘let us have the bodies we were born with’

I was born with a body that adults wanted to fix. In preschool, I knew something was happening “down there” that was different from other kids. My parents took me to medical specialists, and I endured years of testing and invasive genital exams to figure out what was wrong with me and to fix it. (Thea Hillman)

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Lifestyles, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Mainly Muslim immigrants responsible for unrest in France

On October 17, 2026, in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, unknown individuals broke into a synagogue and desecrated the Torah scrolls. The perpetrators scattered sacred books and furniture across the floor, causing a ruckus in the premises. It was at the Chabad House located on Simon Bolivar Avenue, near Buttes-Chaumont Park in the northern part of the French capital. (Alex Gordon, Ph.D)     

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors