Jewish History

Jewish Biography: Stanislaw Jerzy Lec, Satirist who Survived the Shoah

Stanisław Jerzy Lec, a prominent Polish satirist of Jewish origin, said: “The tragedy of an epoch is best conveyed by its laughter.” Lec, Yiddish for “jester, clown, mocker,” lived a short life full of suffering, during which he made people laugh. Sholom Aleichem said: “a Jew laughs to keep from crying.” Lec suffered a lot and, in order to endure this suffering with honor, he laughed a lot. He wrote: “When people do not have time to laugh – satire is born.” [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Memoir Describes Nasser’s Egypt from a Jewish Boy’s Perspective

Elio’s bitterly divorced parents were among those who lingered notwithstanding the hostile political climate.  His mother was a queen bee of a social circle that included prominent Muslims, Coptic Christians and Jews.  His father, a merchant, delayed his emigration decision and subsequently was unable to secure an exit permit even after paying bribes. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Nine Who Survived the Holocaust as Children Narrate Their Stories

This is a cross-section of Holocaust stories selected for young readers in cooperation with the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center.  The recollections of juvenile Holocaust survivors who resettled in the United States after World War II are compelling reading.  Youngsters can easily empathize with the nine narrators. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Dumisani Washington Rebuilds Bridge Between San Diego’s Black and Jewish Communities

The weekend of February 21-23 was one to remember for me as an African American, as a Jewish American, as a woman. It was deeply rewarding to be affirmed on multiple levels by the teaching and preaching of Dumisani Washington, Pastor and CEO of Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel on the Stronger Together Weekend. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Mountain Climbing Mother and Daughter Celebrate Pesach on Top of the World

This is the true story of a Jewish mother-daughter team who have been summiting the world’s mountains ever since Nikki, at the age of 5, climbed Mount Masada in Israel following her mother, Cheryl Bart. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Jewish Biography: Paul Ehrlich, Discoverer of a Drug to Battle Syphilis

Paul Ehrlich performed pioneering research work in chemistry, medicine, physiology, histology, bacteriology, hematology and oncology and became the founder of immunology and pharmacology and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on immunology (1908). He invented the first effective drug against syphilis. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

American-Born German Countess Defied Nazis, Helped Jews, U.S. POWs

Although she was not immune to the antisemitism that was characteristic of socialites at the time, she evolved.  Evidence of her change of heart was recorded by Norman Ebbut, a Berlin correspondent for The Times of London, who quoted a portion of a 1937 conversation with a Nazi party official during a dinner in honor of Tom Watson, chairman of IBM. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Kemp: Arafat, Abbas Were KGB Agents

Kemp provided a fascinating historical perspective, revealing that both Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas were KGB agents, each assigned ID numbers and code names. He explained how the concept of ‘Palestinians’ was a Soviet creation, with Russia acting as the mastermind behind the movement. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Albert Kreimerman, International, Israel, Jewish History, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Holocaust Education Fund Proposed by State Senator Stern

This critical legislation will establish the Holocaust and Genocide Education Grant Program to provide direct allocations to districts to help them establish relevant courses and professional development opportunities around Holocaust and Genocide Education (HGE). [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education

Founder of Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel Visits San Diego County This Weekend

Dumisani Washington, founder and chief executive officer of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel (IBSI), will participate in five Jewish communal events in San Diego County from Friday, Feb. 21, through Sunday, Feb. 23.  [SDJW staff report]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Jewish Biography: Arnold Schoenberg, Composer and Latter-Day Jew

After the Nazis came to power, Schoenberg emigrated to the United States. On his way there, in 1933, he underwent a rite of conversion to Judaism in a synagogue in Paris. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Plaque Celebrates Historic Indian and Jewish Amity

A remarkable historical plaque was recently presented in the Kalikotta Palace here in Cochin, India. It honored His Highness, Rama Varma Pareekshith Thampuran, the Last Maharaja of Cochin. The brass, 2’x3’ plaque, in English and Hebrew and mounted on rosewood, hangs below the Maharaja’s portrait. [Jerry Klinger]

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International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors