(JNS.org) German authorities have charged a 91-year-old woman for her role in the murder of 260,000 Jews in the Auschwitz death camp during the Holocaust. The woman, who has not been identified, served in the Nazi SS and worked as a radio operator for the camp’s commandant in 1944. Prosecutors plan to charge her as […]
Germany will prosecute Auschwitz radio operator Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryBy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — On 9/11 we recalled the horrors of that day when mass terror struck America. In less than a week, the US Congress will vote on the important Iran nuclear deal. A few days ago, I recalled another significant date – September 7. Not many people remembered what happened on that date.
Three historic dates in September: 7, 11, 17 Read More »
Barry Shaw, Jewish History, Middle East, USA
SAN DIEGO (SDJW) –Goldie Morgentaler, who was the subject of a feature story in San Diego Jewish World as well as a chapter in Donald H. Harrison’s recent book Schlepping Through The American West: There Is A Jewish Story Everywhere, will be retelling the stories of her mother, Chava Rosenfarb, a well-known Yiddish writer, as
Yiddish literature exponent among UCSD lecturers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
By Stanley Tiger SAN DIEGO — “I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry.” These words still ring in my heart. As a schoolboy about ten years of age on my way to afternoon Hebrew school, on the other side of the street I saw a young Chassidic boy, about my age, getting pushed to the ground by two
Why ‘The Jewish Genius Initiative’ started Read More »
Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Steve Kramer SUSIYA, Israel — The non-governmental organization (NGO) Regavim* concentrates on preserving Israel’s land on both sides of the 1949 Armistice Line. Along with that, Regavim schedules tours throughout the Land of Israel to acquaint Israelis and tourists with our historical homeland. We went on such a tour recently, to Susiya, located in the
Susiya’s Jewish history not open to debate Read More »
Jewish History, Steve Kramer
By Howard Wayne SAN DIEGO — My maternal grandmother immigrated to the United States from the Kingdom of Hungary in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in around 1910. She visited her family twice between the world wars, and afterwards sent some money to her father, Joseph Weinstein (or Weinstein Jozcef in Hungarian). As far as we
Persistence, patience triumph in search for ancestors Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryBy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — Those of us familiar with the word “shtetl” often conjure up mental images of a small town in Eastern Europe; the world of Tevye fiddling on the edge of his roof. These memories were handed down by our forebears along with faded pictures of grimy houses and dusty
From the Jewish library: ‘Shtetl’ Read More »
Jewish History
SAN DIEGO (SDONA)–After decades of delays, Jonas Salk Elementary School in Mira Mesa will open its doors to students for the first time Tuesday as the San Diego Unified School District begins its new academic year. The $24 million school is named after Dr. Jonas Salk, who invented the first successful polio vaccine and later
School named for Jonas Salk to open Read More »
Jewish History, San Diego County, USA
Uncovered by Leah Lax; She Writes Press; © 2015; ISBN 978-1631529955; $16.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This touchingly written, respectful yet controversial, woman’s odyssey from unhappy, repressed childhood to Hasidism and thence, in middle age, to freedom and the personal security found in lesbianism, is bound to be earnestly debated by readers.
Memoir relates journey from Hasidism to lesbianism Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish HistoryBy Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — It is interesting that while living in Paris, my parents resisted any French influence and continued their Russian way of life: eating Russian food, reading Russian newspapers and books, having Russian friends, and speaking Russian at home. My first tongue was Russian. In the U.S., they did the same
A musical Russian enclave in Beverly Hills Read More »
Jewish History, Natasha Josefowitz
By Eileen Wingard SHANGHAI, China — In the Ohel Moshe Synagogue, now a museum, the maroon velvet curtain of the Torah Ark bears a gold embroidered inscription: “Tribute to Hongkew People Who Provided Refuge to Jews In Time of Need.” This house of worship was part of the hub of Jewish life in the ghetto
3 waves of Jews came to Shanghai Read More »
Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish HistoryBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson DOMEYROT, France — I know I’ve written about this subject before, but it’s one that simply isn’t going to go away, and in fact is getting worse every day, every hour, every minute. Many of these unfortunates come from Africa, from countries where conflicts, poverty, corruption and hopelessness are endemic. Others come from
Jews can empathize with refugees Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East, The World We Share
Somewhere There Is Still A Sun by Michael Gruenbaum with Todd Hasak-Lowy; Aladdin Books © 2015; ISBN 978-1-4424-8486-3; 378 pages including after words; $17.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This book is what you might call a combination of a memoir and historical fiction—the two genres mixing in a tale intended for middle
A Holocaust tale for middle schoolers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
-18th in a series– Exit 6, Texas Street, San Diego — Old Tifereth Israel, Beth Jacob By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Although San Diego’s Jewish community started in Old Town San Diego in the 1850s, moving to downtown and environs in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was on the move again
I-8 Jewish Travel: Shuls on the move Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and Food