French motorist rams car into crowd for ‘children of Palestine’
(JTA) — The French motorist who slammed his car into a crowd shouting “This is in the name of the children of Palestine” did not commit a terror attack, a prosecutor said. At least 13 people were injured, two critically, in the incident Sunday in the city of Dijon, theContinue Reading
Take JTA’s 2014 news quiz
By JTA Staff (JTA) — What made headlines (in Israel, the U.S. and around the world) in 2014? Test your knowledge with JTA’s annual news quiz: Palestinian officials apologized to Czech authorities after the Palestinian envoy to Prague, Jamal Al-Jamal, was killed in an explosion in his home because: a) aContinue Reading
At White House Hanukkah party, Obama emphasizes freedom and food
By Ron Kampeas, JTA World News Service WASHINGTON (JTA) — I’ve been JTA’s Washington bureau chief for 11 years, but this was the first time I scored a coveted invitation to the annual White House Hanukkah party. A Washington tradition started by President George W. Bush, the party has actually expandedContinue Reading
What’s a Jew to do?
It’s that time of the year again. “All I Want for Christmas is You” has been stuck in your head since Thanksgiving, your bank account balance is frighteningly low, your pants don’t fit, and every time you enter a public space you get mauled by cheer. But who’s calling meContinue Reading
Maybe we’re finally fitting in. Maybe.
By Ed Harris, Jewish Sound Columnist Is it just me, or has the sense of not completely fitting in, which Jews traditionally experience at Christmas, been a bit lacking this season in the Pacific Northwest? As a child growing up in suburban New Jersey in the 1960s and ’70s, aContinue Reading
Jewish Day School: Jewish values in small classes remain an integrated part of core programs
By Dan Aznoff, Jewish Sound Correspondent The smaller class sizes at private schools do not necessary translate into a superior education or higher test scores, according to the new administrator at the Jewish Day School in Bellevue. Fewer students often translates into the need for more individualized attention, which canContinue Reading
MMSC: A ‘haimish’ place to learn
By Tori Gottlieb, Jewish Sound Correspondent Editor’s Note: As the year draws to an end, parents are beginning to think about how they will educate their kids in the fall. Private school application deadlines are looming, so The Jewish Sound has met with each of the primary Jewish day schoolsContinue Reading
Seattle Hebrew Academy: Embracing technology and empathy for a positive learning environment
By Boris Kurbanov, Jewish Sound Correspondent Editor’s Note: As the year draws to an end, parents are beginning to think about how they will educate their kids in the fall. Private school application deadlines are looming, so The Jewish Sound has met with each of the primary Jewish day schoolsContinue Reading
Seattle Jewish Community School: Bringing in the whole family
By Janis Siegel, Jewish Sound Correspondent Editor’s Note: As the year draws to an end, parents are beginning to think about how they will educate their kids in the fall. Private school application deadlines are looming, so The Jewish Sound has met with each of the primary Jewish day schoolsContinue Reading
Torah Day School: Teaching children according to their ways
By Emily K. Alhadeff, Associate Editor, The Jewish Sound Editor’s Note: As the year draws to an end, parents are beginning to think about how they will educate their kids in the fall. Private school application deadlines are looming, so The Jewish Sound has met with each of the primaryContinue Reading
More from our creative tribe
By Diana Brement, Jewish Sound Columnist A couple of issues ago, I mentioned King County Metro’s Poetry on Buses project and poet Merna Ann Hecht, whose poem about bread is one of 50 poems currently featured on the system’s Ballard Rapid Ride line. The project is managed by Bellevue nativeContinue Reading
The Hanukkah hammer
By Rabbi Marc D. Angel, Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals The Shabbat of Hanukkah was observed among Sephardim of the Ottoman Empire as “Shabbat Halbashah,” the Shabbat of providing clothing for the needy. Traditionally, the rabbi would deliver a sermon that day on the mitzvah of charity and lovingkindness.Continue Reading
Jews in Seattle and beyond light Hanukkah candles for racial justice
By Deborah Gardner, Special to The Jewish Sound Against all odds, the struggle prevailed. A miracle followed something terrible. Is this the story of Hanukkah or the story of the Black Lives Matter movement? It’s both, said Jews in Seattle and around the country who on the first night ofContinue Reading
A taste of Old Jerusalem, right here at home
By Joel Magalnick, Editor, The Jewish Sound Somewhere in the deepest nooks and crannies of Jerusalem’s old city is a small factory that churns out thousands of pieces of round pita bread each day. Softer and more pillowy than the more dime-a-dozen variety found in the local shouks, it wasContinue Reading
Highlighting campus sexual assault, Jewish groups have taken a lead
By Ron Kampeas, JTA World News Service CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (JTA) – Jewish campus groups were ready for the painful national dialogue that took place in the wake of murky rape allegations at the University of Virginia. That’s because organizations like Hillel and historically Jewish Greek houses such as Alpha Epsilon Pi, ZetaContinue Reading
Will U.S. Jewish groups pivot left if Herzog wins?
By Ron Kampeas, JTA World News Service WASHINGTON (JTA) – Come early next year, there might be yet another world capital that opposes Israeli settlement expansion and sees Benjamin Netanyahu as principally responsible for Israel’s isolation: Jerusalem. Isaac Herzog, the Labor Party leader, is faring well in the polls sinceContinue Reading
Alan Gross released amid major U.S.-Cuba reforms
WASHINGTON (JTA) – The Obama administration announced the release of Alan Gross amidst sweeping changes in Cuba-U.S. ties, including a return to full diplomatic relations. Gross, a Jewish American contractor, was released Wednesday morning and is flying to Washington with his wife, Judy, where he will be met by U.S.Continue Reading
True or false? Test your Hanukkah knowledge
By Rivy Poupko Kletenik, Jewish Sound Columnist Dear Rivy, Two issues, both Hanukkah related. Every year we host our family’s Hanukkah party, which is lovely and we are happy to do it. Issue number one: I feel as if most of my family knows nothing about what Hanukkah is reallyContinue Reading