By Debra Rubin, JNS.org The Shabbat of Memorial Day weekend later this month will mark a first in American Jewish life: Three New York City congregations representing the three major U.S. Jewish movements will daven from the same prayer book. Produced by the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB) JewishContinue Reading
By Robert Gluck, JNS.org Dr. Gary P. Zola sees an inextricable connection between American Jewish history, American history, and global Jewish history. “The study of the Jewish experience in the context of the American nation sheds light on the story of the nation itself,” Zola, executive director ofContinue Reading
(JTA) — A California school district said it will change an eighth-grade assignment that asked students to argue whether or not the Holocaust happened. The writing assignment for eighth graders in the Rialto Unified School District asked students to write an argumentative essay about the Holocaust in which they mustContinue Reading
By Talia Bloch, JTA World News Service NEW YORK (JTA) — The group of young Jewish professionals had gathered to participate in the revival of a Sephardic tradition hearkening back to the days of their grandparents and great-grandparents. Arriving at an apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, they greeted eachContinue Reading
In a 5-4 decision handed down on Monday, the US Supreme Court reversed a lower appeals court decision in favor of a lawsuit brought by Susan Galloway (Jewish) and Linda Stephens (Atheist) in the upstate New York city of Greece. The plaintiffs held that the prayers should be nonsectarian, which the conservativeContinue Reading
Today, readers can find the full reprinted text of the Israeli Declaration of Independence from 1948 when opening the New York Times or USA Today. The full-page ad was funded by The Helmsley Charitable Trust and appeared in both paper’s Monday editions on the eve of Israel’s Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut). Continue Reading
Local Brooklyn blog reported today that a couple found a baby raccoon trapped within their apartment walls. When the couple realized the animal was reachable, they hammered through the wall and rescued the creature. The next day, the raccoon was collected by (and we’re not making this up) the NiceContinue Reading
WASHINGTON (JTA) — J Street failed to gain admission to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The vote of Presidents Conference members Wednesday was 17 in favor, 22 against and three abstentions, according to four sources. “This is a sad day for us, but also for theContinue Reading
This week, the world said farewell to beloved British-Jewish actor, Bob Hoskins.Hoskins was best known for roles like Lou in “Mermaids” and Eddie in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” His passing came after a bout of pneumonia. Read more on Tablet Magazine. Continue Reading
According to JTA today, while an incredible number of college campuses have ratified divestment resolutions, those same universities have not seen a surge in pro-Palestinian activity on campus. Following the example of several other schools around the county, on April 23, student governments at three Southern California public universities all votedContinue Reading
By Ron Kampeas, JTA World News Service J Street has the backing of the major Jewish domestic policy umbrella organization in its bid to join the major foreign policy umbrella organization. The ballot next week of the 50 or so constituent groups of the Conference of Presidents of Major AmericanContinue Reading
By Edwin Black, JNS.org If a small group of grassroots Jewish organizations have their way, more than one hundred protestors will assemble in New York City on April 29, each carrying a shofar. On cue, at 5:30 p.m., rain or shine, all will raise their curved rams’ horns, long and short,Continue Reading
UPDATE: WASHINGTON (JTA) — The suspect in the deadly shooting attack on two Jewish targets in a Kansas City, Kan., suburb was identified as a prominent white supremacist. The Southern Poverty Law Center, a hate group monitor, identified the alleged gunman as Frazier Glenn Miller, 73, of Aurora, Mo., andContinue Reading
Sure, we’re all familiar with the four cups of wine at Passover seder. But why be so restrictive when aside from wine, there are so many other creative concoctions to include at the seder table? Tablet Magazine cleverly put out a ten plagues cocktails recipes post today, incorporating kosher forContinue Reading
By: Felice Friedson/The Media Line Dr. Larry Norton is the Deputy Physician-in-Chief of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and hailed by many as one of the foremost cancer researchers in the United States. Dr. Norton was in Israel for a conference hosted by Soroka Medical Center in Be’erContinue Reading
After lengthy discussion and debate, it’s official: the Orthodox Union—one of the world’s foremost kashrut authorities—has declared quinoa kosher for Passover. Though many Jews have considered quinoa a “safe” kosher for passover food (since at least 2008), now that the community has the blessing of the Orthodox Union, many skeptics canContinue Reading
By Melanie Notkin, JTA World News Service NEW YORK (JTA) — We had just closed our Haggadahs to begin the dinner portion of the Passover seder when the conversation abruptly, yet not surprisingly, turned to my singlehood. There is a curiosity to some about a single, childless woman in herContinue Reading
By Julie Wiener, JTA World News Service NEW YORK (JTA) — This week, 73 North American rabbis will be missing something when they go to Shabbat services: their hair. As part of a campaign that raised more than $570,000 for pediatric cancer research, approximately 60 male and female rabbis voluntarilyContinue Reading
NEW YORK (JTA) — The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States decreased by 19 percent in 2013, but physical assaults against Jews increased, according to the Anti-Defamation League. In its Annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, the ADL reported that there 751 incidents in 41 states and Washington, D.C.Continue Reading
Anthony Weiss, JTA LAS VEGAS (JTA) — The GOP Jewish faithful descended in force on Sin City, turning out in record numbers and striking a feisty, combative tone at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual conference. According to organizers, some 400 people attended the gathering, where they were feted with pokerContinue Reading
