Stan Lee (December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018) was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Comics which later became Marvel Comics. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Stan Lee Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Celebrities, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
B’nai B’rith International is troubled—particularly during a holiday season that should unite the world’s religious communities and renew determination to address the actual sources of suffering globally—by a series of comments from Pope Francis that obscure key facts about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas-led terrorists. [B’nai B’rith International Leadership]
OpEd: In Reply to Pope Francis’ Comments about the War in Gaza Read More »
International, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) announced that the 8th annual International Holocaust Survivors Night (IHSN) will be held globally – and virtually – on the fifth night of Chanukah, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, at 11 a.m. Pacific Time. [Press Release]
Claims Conference to Host Star-Studded Salute to Holocaust Survivors Read More »
Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Press Release
People of all religions frequently describe some things as holy and devise sacred ceremonies that involve them without realizing they are false. They do so because others thought they were holy or because of superstition or flawed reasoning. The Scroll of Antiochus is an example. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Scroll of Antiochus, an Interesting Fiction about Hannukah Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Oscar Levant (December 27, 1906 – August 14, 1972) was an American concert pianist, composer, conductor, author, radio game show panelist, television talk show host, comedian, and actor. [Wikipedia]
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Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The office of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas representatives are lying when they said ceasefire and hostage negotiations are being stalled by Israel imposing new conditions. [SDJW staff]
Netanyahu Blames Hamas in Faltering Hostage and Ceasefire Negotiations Read More »
International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Why do we eat jelly filled donuts on Chanukah? The easy answer has to do with agriculture, food politics and the desire for something sweet. [Cailin Acosta]
When Chanukah Donuts Started Being Filled with Jam and Other Facts Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
Kitty Dukakis (December 26, 1936) is an American author. She is married to former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis. [Wikipedia]
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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The miracle of the oil is a foundation for why candle lighting, an act of pirsuma d’nisa (publicizing the miracle), is one of the two major commandments of Chanukah, with reciting Hallel as the other. Through lighting candles, we can display our hope, trust, and faith in Hashem and in His role in our lives. When they lit the menorah in the Temple, they did so from a belief, a hope, that the future is not preordained, that the future can truly be altered. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
The Deeper Meaning of Chanukah and its Symbols Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
On a recent visit to this port city, I was among a group of four Jews who were escorted by a guide to a five-month-old Sephardic congregation (Sinagoga Sefardi) established by Rabbi Joachim Montoya, a medical doctor who had converted to Judaism after learning that he was descended from a family of Conversos. [Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Whose Family Were Conversos Now Heads a Colombian Sephardic Congregation Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
On the 12th of December 2024, I set out with four colleagues of the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) to meet with members of the rural community of Tafza (Al Haouz province, Marrakesh region), located in the mountain range that bore the horrendous epicenter of the September 2023 earthquake. [Yossef Ben-Meir]
Jewish Bones Reburied in Solemn Ceremony after Morocco Earthquake Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Yossef Ben-Meir
Rod Serling (December 25, 1924 – June 28, 1975) was an American screenwriter and television producer best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his anthology television series The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen, and helped form television industry standards. [Wikipedia]
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Jewish Celebrities, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, WikipediaPresident Joe Biden announced he would commute the sentences of 37 of the 40 federal death row prisoners to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Among the three whose death sentences remain is Robert Bowers, who was convicted of murdering 11 people in 2018 at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue. [SDJW staff]
Killer of 11 Tree of Life Victims Remains on Death Row Read More »
International, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Jews were willing to meet with local advocates for Arabs and Muslims, but instead they confronted brazen hostility or stiff defensiveness from the Arab side. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Palestinian Advocates Refusing to Debate with Jews Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA