Mark D. Zimmerman

By Mark D. Zimmerman Jews worldwide are preparing for Passover, with the first seder taking place this coming Wednesday. Traditionally, Jews do a thorough cleaning of their houses, removing all chametz, or forbidden foods, particularly leavened bread. Dishes are changed, shelves are lined, and kosher-for-Passover products replace the year-round foods in the kitchen. Sadly, however, […]

By Mark D. Zimmerman A recent study at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Academic College confirmed that Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men have a higher rate of what medical problem than the general population? A. Spinal problems including herniated discs and sciatica, as a result of shuckling, the rapid front to back swaying that Haredi men perform while praying, to

By Mark D. Zimmerman Israeli actor Chaim Topol died last week at the age of 87. The actor, who professionally used only his last name because too frequently people would mispronounce his first name, Chaim, as “shame,” is most famous for playing the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Topol starred as Tevye

By Mark D. Zimmerman Purim will be celebrated this week, with costumes, hamantaschen, Megillah reading, and Purim shpiels. Purim has occasionally made an appearance in popular culture, including the 1960 movie Esther and the King starring Joan Collins as Esther and The Bible Collection: Esther, a 1999 made-for-TV movie starring F. Murray Abraham as Mordecai.

By Mark D. Zimmerman Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, a Haredi authority in Israel on legal and ethical practice, died in March 2022 at the age of 94 in Bnei Brak. Among his rabbinic rulings was that it was forbidden to own a smartphone without first receving permission from a halahkic authority, and that the owner could

By Mark D. Zimmerman The Carter Center issued a statement that following recent hospital stays by President Jimmy Carter, the 98-year-old former president “decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention.” Among President Carter’s greatest accomplishments was the 1978 Camp David Accords, agreements

By Mark D. Zimmerman  The United States recently shot down a Chinese spy balloon which had sailed across the American continent. Since that time, there have been reports of previous Chinese spy balloons. And the United States military has now shot down three additional unidentified objects, over Alaska, Canada’s Yukon Territory, and Michigan. Of course,

By Mark D. Zimmerman Bob Born, former president of Just Born, the candy company founded by his Russian Jewish immigrant father Sam Born, died last week at the age of 98. The Just Born company makes Peeps, the marshmallow treat which is a popular Easter candy. Under Sam’s stewardship, the company had developed chocolate sprinkles

By Mark D. Zimmerman Attempts at censorship continue to be contentious, as those with opposing views try to shut down debate or sharing of controversial or offensive comments and materials, or even ideas which simply are in disagreement with others’ beliefs. For example, a Hamline University professor was recently fired for showing images of Muhammad

By Mark D. Zimmerman Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the classified documents found in Joe Biden’s garage and office. While there are significant differences between this situation and that of Donald Trump and the documents found at Mar a Lago, at the very least this has created

By Mark D. Zimmerman Congressman Kevin McCarthy was finally elected Speaker of the House on the 15th vote, following negotiations with a group of approximately 20 far right-wing Republicans who demanded and received many concessions from McCarthy. Surprisingly, McCarthy was supported by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, herself a right-wing member, who referenced McCarthy’s conservative views

By Mark D. Zimmerman Journalist Barbara Walters died last week at the age of 93. Walters was the granddaughter of Russian Jewish immigrants. She began working in television in the early 1950’s, eventually becoming the Today Show “Today Girl,” presenting weather and light news assignments. She went on to become the first female and the