Jerry Klinger is the founding president of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, which has placed monuments and plaques across the United States and in other countries detailing the history of Jewish individuals and communities.
With Israeli cabinet-level approval, Ariel was born out of necessity in 1978. Forty families, led by Ron Nachman, later long-term mayor of Ariel, settled on barren, unpopulated land close to multiple biblical-era Jewish communities [Jerry Klinger]
Ariel is a Stop of the Lion’s Trail through Israel Read More »
International, Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
In his 1902 fictional outline for the new Jewish state, Altneuland, the Old New Land, Theodor Herzl wrote, “The plan for building a homeland for the Jewish people must also take into consideration the founding of a Hebrew cement factory.” [Jerry Klinger]
The Herzl Family and The Lion of Nesher Read More »
Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
David Ben Gurion toyed with the idea of a revived Mamshit becoming the Capital of Israel if the state ever came to be. Necessity was reality. Ben Gurion declared Israel’s independence in Tel Aviv in 1948. Dimona was too remote, too hard to get to, and endured a harsh climate [Jerry Klinger]
OpEd: The Lion’s Trail Passes Through Desert City of Dimona Read More »
Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
Fabrication completed, the Lion of Kiryat Shemona was placed prominently. It sits proudly at the city’s entrance. What was not expected was the deep feelings the Lion of Kiryat Shemona evoked after October 7 to the people who lived there. [Jerry Klinger]
The Lion’s Trail in Kiryat Shemona Read More »
Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Looking to the east, from the viewing platform, are the Mountains of Moab; present day Jordan. Moses stood atop one of the Moab Mountains, Mount Nebo, his heart breaking. God permitted Moses to see the “Promised Land” only from afar. Moses was not permitted to enter the “Land” because of the sin he committed, doubting God, in front of the Jewish people. [Jerry Klinger]
The Lion’s Trail: Gush Etzion Read More »
Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
The Golan Heights had been a significant area of Jewish life. After the earthquake of 749, Jews could not and were not permitted to return to live in the Golan by the occupying Muslim powers and later the Ottoman Turks. Jews could not return to live in the Golan until after the Israeli victory over the Syrians in the 1967 war. [Jerry Klinger]
Lion’s Trail in Golan Recalls 749 Earthquake-Destroyed Synagogue Read More »
Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USAThe haroset is a mixture of fruit, especially those things with laxative qualities such as prunes, nuts and wine. It is very sweet and quite enjoyable. Is this really what the Rabbis intended to convey? The sandwich of Matzah, bitter herbs and cement is actually a tasty appetizer. Let me get this straight, the symbols of slavery are tasty? [Jerry Klinger]
Jewish Fiction: Another American Passover Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish Fiction, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Jerry Klinger BOYNTON BEACH, Florida — Benny Kashriel, the mayor of Ma’ale Adumim, a bedroom community of 30,000 just over the Green Line from Jerusalem, shared with me in November 2022 that Ma’ale Adumim is mentioned in the book of Joshua 18:17. The mayor presented me with a special recognition. Judy and I
The Lion’s Trail Through Biblical Israel: First in a Series Read More »
Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
At first glance, the Tree is a giant, massive, dead olive tree. But, like the Jewish people, when you get closer to it, scan the upper truncated Tree arms, and coming out of them is life, renewed, fresh shoots of green leaves. Atop the highest of the tree arms, on the highest branch of green leaves, is a Dove. The Dove is the most heartfelt symbol of peace all recognize and desire in this contentious land. [Jerry Klinger]
A Tree of Life is Sculpted in Ma’ale Adumim, Israel Read More »
Israel, Jerry Klinger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The word “Jew” appears in Oliver Twist, 326 times. The name “Fagin” appears 306 times, almost always linked to the word Jew. The linkage was intentional. [Jerry Klinger]
Was Novelist Charles Dickens an Antisemite? Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Hamas threw themselves at the Mefalsim gate, their bodies piling up on top of the murdered corpses of Jews who had tried to escape the Nova Music festival about a kilometer down the road. Hamas made certain no Jew reached the gate. The defenders of Mefalsim made sure no monster made it inside the perimeter. Mefalsim took losses, houses were smashed with RPGs, members died in their safe rooms. [Jerry Klinger]
A Big Angry Statue of a Lion for Mefalsim Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jerry Klinger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
By Jerry Klinger YOKNEAM, Israel — The Wilfrid Israel Memorial was an idea proposed by the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation (JASHP) over a year ago. JASHP was going to pay for it. The hard part was getting permission to site it. JASHP has a message that needed to be said: Jews rescued Jews
Wilfrid Israel: The Unintentional Gaza War Memorial Read More »
Holocaust, International, Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion
By Jerry Klinger Boley, Oklahoma, Creek Nation, Indian Territory, was established as an all-Black town on the land of Creek Indian “Freedwoman” Abigail Barnett in 1903. When the Five Tribes, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminoles, were forcibly removed from their homelands in the 1830s–40s, people enslaved by the tribes also made the long
Okfuskee County, Rosenwald Schools, and Boley Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion, USA
By Jerry Klinger A cemetery stone on a street is a strange site, even in London. It is even stranger considering that there is no body buried beneath. The black and gold stone of honored memory is for a Jewish secret agent, a member of the British Special Operations Executive, SOE, Captain Lionel Lee. Lee
Captain Lionel Lee: Extraordinary Courage and Dedication Read More »
Holocaust, International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion