Haftorah Reading for PeKudei is I Kings 7:51-8:21 By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — This short passage, essentially all in prose, describes the end of the Temple construction, followed by a procession to bring forth the Ark for placement in the Holy of Holies. This was followed by a dedication statement by Solomon, […]
Haftorah for March 5, 2022 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — With the war in the Ukraine reaching a critical point, one wonders if Russia’s offensive will lead to an even bigger conflagration, perhaps involving China. If Ukraine falls, will China go after “its territory” of Taiwan, viewing it as easy pickings? The future of the West hangs
The West Is in Dire Need of Backbone Read More »
International, Middle East, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Bart C. Ehrman is a highly respected historian who was once a protestant clergyman who became an agnostic when he saw what biblical scholars consider the numerous errors, inconsistencies, forgeries, and deceits in the New Testament. He offers readers in Forged a view of the conclusion
‘Forged’ Offers Real Insight on Bible’s Authors Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr.
By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — President Joe Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has weighed in on many cases over the years which have directly affected the Jewish community, including Greece v. Galloway (which upheld the right of governments to open
Jewish Trivia Quiz: The Supreme Court Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — It’s been a couple of weeks, watching the accumulation of Russian troops around the borders of Ukraine, and hearing wild stories from the Russians about Ukrainian aggression. And now a widespread invasion, aimed at what? And where will it stop? With the capture of Ukraine, or a move into
Watching a War in Ukraine Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, Opinion, USA
By Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — I assume that most of my readers live in places where they have access to foo clean water, a roof over their heads, and medical help 24/7, as I do. We have no fears that someone might come in the middle of the night to arrest
Four Types of Complainers: Poor Me, Legitimate, Chronic, and Strategic Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz
By Eva Trieger CARLSBAD, California — I believe I was in my final years of high school or perhaps even early years of college when I first learned of the Japanese internment camps. What horrified me most of all was one thought, “How could Americans, who had just witnessed the inhumanity of the Nazi Holocaust, treat
‘Desert Rock Garden:’ A Landmark Piece of History With the Full Array of Emotions Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Eric George Tauber CINCINNATI, Ohio — Films and series dealing with the Shoah (Holocaust) are streaming on Netflix. My Best Friend Anne Frank (Mijn Beste Vriendin Anne Frank, Dutch w/ subtitles) The Diary of Anne Frank is a well-known story. It has been translated into more than 70 languages and is required reading in
Friendship Tested and True Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Holocaust, International, The Arts
By Hanan Greenwood (Israel Hayom via JNS) Ukraine’s Jewish communities are preparing for an unusually tense Shabbat, without knowing if they will be under Russian or Ukrainian rule when the Sabbath is over, or what the war will bring. Synagogues in the country were under heavy security for fear of looting and anti-Semitic attacks. “I
Ukraine Synagogues Prepare for Tense Shabbat Under Heavy Security Read More »
International
By Yaakov Lappin (JNS) Russia could be preparing an option to challenge the West and NATO in the Mediterranean and Middle East as a means of opening a new global hotspot, former Israeli Ambassador to Russia and Ukraine Zvi Magen has told JNS. Magen noted a large-scale naval and air exercise held by the Russian
Former Israeli Envoy: Russia Could Be Preparing New Challenge for West in Mediterranean Read More »
International, Middle East
The Voice of Silence, The Story of the Jewish Underground in the USSR, Ephraim Kholmyansky, Boston: Academic Studies Press, 2021 284 pages; $22.63 (Paperback) By Toby Klein Greenwald In a frosty February of 1988, I took a short drive from my home in Efrat to Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim, in Gush Etzion. There was a special
SAN DIEGO — On Thursday, Heidi Gantwerk, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, and Jack Maizel, the Federation’s board chair, released the following update on the Russian invasion of Ukraine: “Through our global partners, Jewish Federation of San Diego County is closely monitoring the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We are
Jewish Federation Provides Update on Russian Invasion of Ukraine Read More »
International, San Diego County
NEW YORK (Press Release) — In response to the invasion of Ukraine, JDC has launched an emergency campaign to respond to spiking humanitarian needs among the nearly 40,000 poor Jews it supports in 1,000 locations around the country. JDC is already providing extra essentials like food and medicine to its clients and has activated its
JDC ‘Working Around the Clock’ for ‘Ukraine’s Neediest Jews’ Amid Crisis Read More »
International, USA
(Tune: Maria) Na solidarnistʹ z ukrayinsʹkym narodom By Laurie Baron Crimea! It was mere practice, Crimea. For the invasion pain I’ll inflict upon Ukraine. You’ll see in Ukraine. The Ukraine, It claims it’s a nation, the Ukraine. It was Russian under the Czars And under the commissars. We’re back in Ukraine. I’ve prevented its NATO