Mark D. Zimmerman

MELVILLE, New York — Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom has aroused controversy by her critical remarks concerning Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. There have been Jews in Sweden for many years. What is perhaps the first record of a Jewish presence in Sweden?   A. Jews were well established throughout much of Europe by the Middle Ages; however, there […]

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — What is David Bowie’s Jewish connection?   A. Bowie performed at a concert at Park Hayarkon in Tel Aviv in 1990, during the time of the first Intifada. During the performance, he altered the lyrics of his song, Space Oddity, singing, “Ground Control, we need Salaam. Ground Control, we need Salaam.

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — The Orthodox Union has given kosher certification to a medical marijuana product produced by Verio Health of New York. In regard to this, Rabbi David Bleich, a Yeshiva University professor and authority on Jewish medical ethics, did NOT make which of the following statements? A. He said that medicinal marijuana

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — The Beatles are once again in the news, as they have finally allowed their music to be streamed on such music services as Spotify and Apple Music. What was the Jewish connection to the Cavern, the Liverpool nightclub where the Beatles performed regularly at the start of

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Shmaltz Brewing Company offers a beer for Chanukkah. What is it called? A. Shmuel Adams.B. Chai-neken.C. Lone Six Pointed Star.D. Judah Maccabeer.E. Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass the Beer. Link to answer: http://rrrjewishtrivia.com/answers/chanukkah-beer-answer.html * Mark D. Zimmerman is the author of Rashi, Rambam and Ramalamadingdong series of Jewish trivia e-books. Learn more at rrrjewishtrivia.com.  

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Which of the following online deals is being offered from Israel for Cyber Monday shoppers?   A. El Al is offering round-trip first class fares between Tel Aviv and New York for $7040, a 20% discount off the regular fare of $8800. Travel must take place during Chanukkah week,

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Because the turkey is native to America, it is not mentioned in the Torah. Therefore, a name was devised for this bird in modern Hebrew. What is that name? A. The turkey is called tarnegol hodu. Tarnegol means chicken. Hodu means thanks (the same root as todah.). By the time President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving as a

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — To what did Ronald Reagan attribute his strong negative feelings about anti-Semitism? A. He credited his father, John Reagan, a traveling salesman, who told of checking into a hotel while on a sales trip. The clerk said to Mr. Reagan, “I’m sure you’ll enjoy it here; we don’t allow any

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Bill Clinton was the first president to hold a candle lighting ceremony for Chanukkah at the White House, in 1993. What did a 6-year-old girl do at the event? A. She wandered off in the White House, eventually coming upon Chelsea Clinton in her bedroom. Chelsea and the girl played games

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — President Abraham Lincoln sent a Jewish man, Issachar Zacharie, as an emissary to New Orleans to promote loyalty to the Union and to spy on Confederate troop movements. How did Lincoln know Zacharie?   A. Zacharie was an attorney who gave Lincoln his first job in Springfield in 1836 after Lincoln