By Manny Frishberg, JTNews Correspondent Finding new ways to promote Jewish culture has moved two prominent members of the local Jewish community in new directions. Matthew Brogan and Michele Yanow will steer the direction of Nextbook, a project promoting a deeper understanding of Jewish culture in the Puget Sound areaContinue Reading
By Joel Magalnick, JTNews Correspondent With Wednesday’s approval of the two-year budget by state lawmakers, many social service agencies can breathe a small sigh of relief. Tens of millions of dollars that had been slashed from Gov. Gary Locke’s budget proposal in January were put back on the table, whichContinue Reading
By Robert Shay, Special to JTNews I normally speak to you on these pages about Jewish films. This time, in honor of Memorial Day, the editor has graciously allowed me to tell you about some very real American Jewish war heroes of the United States. I will be upfront toContinue Reading
By Joel Magalnick, JTNews Correspondent On May 14, approximately 30 members of the Jewish community picked up their signs and marched outside of National Public Radio affiliate KUOW’s headquarters in Seattle’s University District. The demonstration, one of nearly three dozen nationwide, protested NPR’s coverage of Israel. Organizers say that overContinue Reading
By Joel Magalnick, JTNews Correspondent When Tipper Gore gives a slide show, she likes to cover her entire life as a jumping-off point for telling her stories. She also likes a large audience. In the case of her recent Seattle visit, that audience was 850 well-dressed members of the SeattleContinue Reading
By David Chesanow, JTNews Correspondent Washington has a new hate-crime law, which prohibits insurance companies from canceling or refusing to renew coverage on targets of bias attacks. House Bill 1128 was signed by Gov. Gary Locke in Olympia on May 7. “By signing this bill into law, we are takingContinue Reading
By Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNewsContinue Reading
By Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNews Educator and author Dr. Tamara Cohn Eskenazi will join Temple B’nai Torah as a scholar in residence this June. Dr. Eskenazi is Professor of Bible at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, the training institution for Reform rabbis and educators, where she was the firstContinue Reading
By Jessica Davis, JTNews Correspondent Playwright Lee Blessing’s 1988 political drama, Two Rooms, about Middle East policy, terrorism and the disconnect between government and the media, is as pertinent now as when it was written. “I think that, given the focus of the world on that region right now andContinue Reading
By Jessica Davis, JTNews Correspondent For local filmmaker Ann Coppel, Jewish vocalist and composer Debbie Friedman is an inspiration. Her current documentary film project, “A Journey of Spirit,” explores Friedman and a story of community building, spirituality and healing, as well as overcoming personal and professional obstacles along the way.Continue Reading
By Emily Moore, JTNews Correspondent Who better to receive a Mother’s Day food tribute than our Jewish mothers? Even outside Jewish culture, jokes and stories have long informed society of their attributed characteristics: Strong and loving, critical yet utterly compassionate, too worried about us and infuriatingly long suffering. Above all,Continue Reading
By David Chesanow, JTNews CorrespondentContinue Reading
By David Chesanow, JTNews Correspondent In 1944, Raoul Wallenberg became Marianne Balshone’s hero, “and over half a century later,” she says, “he still is.” Balshone was speaking of the 31-year-old Swedish diplomat in Nazi-controlled Budapest who issued protective passes to Hungarian Jews and saved as many as 100,000 —Balshone andContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Correspondent Poetry The Transcript rarely receives poetry to review (poetry presses can rarely afford book promotion), so Circe’s Island (Silverfish Review, $12.96, softcover) by local writer and teacher Judith Skillman is a special treat. Skillman’s lyrical poems weave Jewish imagery with Greek mythology and visions ofContinue Reading
By Diana Brement, JTNews Correspondent History is a means of placing current events in context. Can looking back also help us glimpse the future? During the Golden Age of Spain, one man’s vision created a haven of cultural and religious tolerance and sharing between three religions. Ornament of the World:Continue Reading
By Alex Lawson, Special to JTNews Like many members of the area’s Jewish community, they made their own Seder plates and hagaddot. They prepared their own charoset, boiled eggs and even made their own matzoh. These aren’t your typical family members preparing for Passover, however; they’re the children at twoContinue Reading
By Manny Frishberg, JTNews Correspondent Navah Hesetz was born in Tel Aviv. Her parents had emigrated from Italy in 1947, a year before the founding of Israel, and she grew up in what she called “a very secular Israeli family.” “In my childhood I never had any contact with JewishContinue Reading
By Manny Frishberg, JTNews Correspondent Wearing both an embroidered kipah and his metaphoric Amnesty International hat, Middle East expert Marty Rosenbluth spoke to Jewish audiences around the Seattle area at the end of April. He called for respect for human rights on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At theContinue Reading
By Janis Siegel, JTNews Correspondent Dr. Ra’anan Gissin says the Israeli government welcomes a new Palestinian government. That was Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s senior advisor and the lead spokesperson’s message when he came to Seattle as a part of Caravan for Democracy on May 1. As Gissin took the podiumContinue Reading
Designed using Magazine Booster. Powered by WordPress. © 2026
