–Fifth in a series– By Donald H. Harrison SAN BERNARDINO, California –As grandson Shor and I continued our tour up the Interstate 15 from Riverside, it seemed only a matter of minutes until we reached San Bernardino, site of the oldest Jewish cemetery in continuous use in Southern California. The Home of Eternity, at 8th […]
Home of Eternity: So Cal’s oldest Jewish cemetery Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USA
MADRID (WJC) –Spain’s world-famous Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum should return the Impressionist masterpiece ‘Rue Saint-Honoré’ to the heirs of the Jewish family from whom it was stolen by the Nazis shortly before World War II, the president of the World Jewish Congress urged on Friday. The Madrid museum is owned by the Spanish state. “Since 1988, Spain
WJC backs San Diego family’s art claim against Spain Read More »
International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USABy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel (TNA)–I literally trembled with emotion when I held the two volumes ofPogrom Night 1938: A Memorial to the Destroyed Synagogues of Germany. Together they comprise over seven hundred pages which are packed with information about the more than one thousand synagogues and prayer rooms that existed in pre-WWII Germany
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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History1177 B.C., the Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ; ISBN 978-0-691-14089-6 ©2014, $29.95, p. 176, plus Appendix, Notes, Bibliography, and Index By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, Calilfornia — The Late Bronze Age is prominent for its unprecedented financial, political, and social interconnectedness, along with the generation of great wealth
The year that ancient civilization collapsed Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, International, Jewish History
By Norman Greene CASABLANCA, Morocco — Dressed in her head-to-toe hajab or jalaba, she reminded me of an Arabic version of San Diego’s late travel maven Gert Thaler as she skillfully guided us on our quest around the old Jewish Quarter in Casablanca. She was effusive, charming, funny and full of energy. We had
Who do you know in Morocco? Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Travel and FoodBy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — In a well-run library, books are not only organized, kept in good repair, new books of interest added, but also those of less interest are withdrawn. In looking over Temple Emanu-El’s library collection of biographies I noted that the shelves were full and perhaps it was time to consider
Danish rabbi remembers his WWI and WWII career Read More »
Jewish History
NEW YORK (Press Release)- The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has congratulated U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-New York) for the successful passage of her Protect Cemeteries Act (H.R. 4028) in the House of Representatives. If Meng’s bill is next approved by the Senate (S. 2466) and signed by the President, the International Religious Freedom Act
By Richard L. Cravatts, PhD BOSTON–The disheartening, though not entirely surprising, breakdown of talks between Israel and the Palestinians marked yet another failure by the two sides to come closer to an agreement that would usher the way for a Palestinian state. Yet, no sooner had the talks collapsed than blame was being assigned by
Hatred of Jews is basis of Middle East conflict Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Richard L. CravattsBy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO –The history of the Jewish people is a long one – well, not just long – very long. Because our history is intertwined with so many other groups and countries it is also bound to be complex – with triumphs, tsuras (trouble) and lots of dates. However, it would be
A huge meal of history made digestible Read More »
Jewish History
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—At a student assembly in the Grundschule (Elementary School) of Neuhaus an der Oste, Germany, the town’s Mayor Georg Martens proudly received a copy of a proclamation signed by San Diego’s Mayor Kevin Faulconer celebrating the “sister” relationship between the school which Martens was visiting and the Cabrillo Elementary School
CANBERRA, Australia (WJC)–Australian authorities have barred a Holocaust-denying Catholic bishop from entering the country. Bishop Richard Williamson was scheduled to speak in rural Australia later this month but his visa was revoked this week, the ‘Australian Jewish News’ reported. The Jewish newspaper said it had contacted the Department of Immigration last week to alert them
Australia turns away bishop who denies Holocaust Read More »
International, Jewish History
PARIS (WJC) –The European Jewish Congress (EJC) has announced that it will file a lawsuit in a Paris court against Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder and long-time leader of the far-right French National Front, after anti-Semitic remarks by Le Pen about Jewish singer Patrick Bruel which caused outrage. LePen said, “We will do a full
EJC announces lawsuit against Le Pen for ‘oven’ remark Read More »
International, Jewish History
JERUSALEM (WJC) — Peru’s consul in Geneva during World War II, José María Barreto, became the first Peruvian on Thursday to be named by Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial institution, as Righteous Among the Nations, for helping to save Jews from the Holocaust. By 1938, the government of Peru had given instructions to all of
Peruvian honored as ‘Righteous Among The Nations’ Read More »
International, Jewish History
By Joe Gandelman SAN DIEGO — Many Americans probably yawned when they saw the news that Spain’s King Juan Carlos decided to abdicate the throne in favor of his son, Prince Felipe. But they should have been in awe of the King’s name. He’s a historical figure who displayed guts despite personal danger in helping
Juan Carlos was good for Spain, good for the Jews Read More »
International, Jewish History, Joe Gandelman