By Dov Burt Levy , Special to JTNews Jewish angles in the presidential primaries? Here’s my take, so far. First, what a difference four years makes. In the 2004 democratic primary, we had Jewish connections everywhere: General Wesley Clark’s birth father was Jewish, so were John Kerry’s paternal grandparents, andContinue Reading
By Rabbi James L. Mirel , Temple B’nai Torah There is a passage in our Reform Jewish liturgy that states: “We are an ancient people well acquainted with sorrow.” The last part is, sadly, an understatement. But is the first phrase accurate? I am not referring to those revisionists whoContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist When I said to Steve Lawson: “Tell me about Jews and Christmas music,” he said exactly what I hoped: “I have two words for you: Irving Berlin.” Berlin, of course, was the composer of the iconic popular Christmas song, “White Christmas.” Lawson and his wife,Continue Reading
By Rivy Poupko Kletenik, JTNews Columnist Dear Rivy, I have come to the conclusion that Jews have a hang-up with hair. Think about it: first there’s Samson, then there’s women’s head coverings, and there’s the Hassidic men with beards and side curls. What is up with all of this attentionContinue Reading
By Rabbi Salomon Cohen-Scali, Congregation Ezra Bessaroth The Hebrew word machloket — dissension — contains the verbal roots halak and met. The first one means to divide and the second one means death. I always believe in the powerful message that is intrinsic to the words that make up theContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist What gives us inspiration? Moonlight on water? Flowers in bloom? In Carol Schiller’s case, it would be the copious drool of her son Jacob, 18 months. “The inspiration was definitely my son,” says Carol, who has launched a line of drool-busting bibs for the teethingContinue Reading
By Rabbi Alan Cook, Temple De Hirsch Sinai In 1955, the husband-and-wife songwriting team of Sy Miller and Jill Jackson wrote a song about their desire for world peace and what they believed individuals could do to bring their dream to fruition. They decided to teach their new work toContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist Lifelong Seattle resident Saul Rivkin, M.D. received Bank of America’s Local Hero award in a ceremony at the Seattle Art Museum in October. With his 36 years as an oncologist at Swedish Medical Center and his 14 years dedicated to ovarian cancer research, Rivkin fitsContinue Reading
By Rivy Poupko Kletenik, JTNews Columnist Dear Rivy, I don’t know where else to turn. I am very down — my father is a Hasmonean Maccabee and has been hiding out in the Judean hills for the entire winter. Before he left, I let him know I had little sympathyContinue Reading
By Shana Aucsmith, Sisterhood President, Temple B’nai Torah, Bellevue Yes, you can still shop for Judaica on the Eastside! Contrary to the statement in your article (“Judaica stores disappearing from Eastside,” Nov. 2), you do not need to cross the bridge into Seattle to purchase gift or ritual items. FromContinue Reading
By Cynthia Gamel, , Seattle tched our Jewish community undergo many changes. Some that I’ve agreed with and some that I haven’t. One that I became aware of many years ago was how the JTNews swung toward a much more liberal view. I recognize that the paper is trying toContinue Reading
By Josh Basson , , Seattle Tom Tugend’s column was very informative (“Tough talk on Jerusalem,” Nov. 2). I respectfully disagree with Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky, an Orthodox rabbi publicly advocating that his community consider a possible division of Jerusalem. Why divide Jerusalem when access to it has been open toContinue Reading
By Jeanette Friedman , JTA News & Features NEW YORK (JTA) — The director of the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust puts into print the question on everyone’s lips when the survivors were liberated from Nazi Germany in Daring to Resist: Jewish Defiance in the Holocaust,Continue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist The brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi, the only Jewish fraternity at the University of Washington, will build a giant hanukkiah (Hanukkah menorah) made of food cans this Hanukkah, which begins Dec. 4. The project is being created with the campus Chabad, and the cans, asContinue Reading
By Rabbi Zari M. Weiss, Rodef Tzedek This past summer, on a stunningly beautiful day, I went to Ellis Island. I had been there many years ago, but had not seen it since it had been remodeled in 1990. The exhibits there powerfully depict the experiences of many of theContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist ire appointed Bruce Heller of Seattle to a newly-created 52nd judge position in the King County Superior Court. He started work on October 1 with a round of orientations. “I’ve been going around meeting people in the courthouse, sitting in on various proceedings,” Bruce toldContinue Reading
By Josh Basson, , Seattle Daniel Levisohn’s insightful column was quite informative (“A long journey,” Oct. 19.) Bob Ross’s journey in finding hope and meaning in his brother Bruce’s death was very moving. Glad to know that Bob got spiritual guidance and helpful advice when he most needed it fromContinue Reading
By Diane Baer, , Seattle “Explaining the Tribe of Judah” by Diana Brement (Oct. 19), does an excellent job of covering the interesting Oct. 15 Seattle program featuring Aaron Kintu Moses from the Abayudaya Jewish Community of Uganda. It also provides background to more fully understand the origins of thisContinue Reading
By Marie (Sara) Wacht , , Seattle I just looked at the JTNews for the week and read the article about Halloween by Rivy Poupko Kletenik (“A treat that does the trick,” Oct. 19). I have two sons, 21 and 24, and my older son’s birthday is on Halloween. IContinue Reading
By Rabbi Levi Backman, Chabad of Whatcom County “My Lord, do not pass from before Your servant.” — Genesis 18:3 Our sages explain the above verse as Avraham addressing God Himself, asking Him to wait while Avraham welcomed his guests — the angels he saw passing by in the desert.Continue Reading
