Israel uncovers Hamas plan for large-scale terror attacks
(JTA) — Israeli security services uncovered a Hamas plot to carry out several large-scale terror attacks on Israeli targets. More than 30 Hamas members involved in the plot were arrested in September, according to the Shin Bet security service and the Israel Defense Forces, which released information about the plotContinue Reading
Jewish groups call for civil discussion on race following Ferguson decision
(JTA) — Jewish groups called for civil and serious discussion about race, democracy and justice in the wake of the grand jury’s decision in fatal shooting of an unarmed African American teen in Ferguson, Mo. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs in a statement issued on Wednesday affirmed its supportContinue Reading
Rabbis condemn N.J. Rabbi Steven Pruzansky’s anti-Arab rhetoric
NEW YORK (JTA) – A growing chorus of Orthodox leaders are speaking out against the anti-Arab rhetoric of a prominent New Jersey rabbi, Steven Pruzansky of Teaneck. Following last week’s terrorist attack at a Jerusalem synagogue, Pruzansky, the spiritual leader of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, wrote a blog post titled “DealingContinue Reading
Polish town reconsidering plan to turn Jewish cemetery into apartment complex
WARSAW, Poland (JTA) — A town in central Poland is reconsidering a development plan that would turn a Jewish cemetery into a residential complex with underground parking. The Jewish community of Warsaw and local activist Robert Augustyniak, who is not Jewish, had protested the plan. The City Council in GrodziskContinue Reading
Report: Israel and Palestinians held back-channel peace negotiations
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel and the Palestinians held secret back-channel peace negotiations, the New Republic reported. The secret negotiations created substantial progress toward an agreement but collapsed when it became clear the Palestinian negotiator did not have the backing of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, according to the article publishedContinue Reading
StandWithUs speaker comes to Seattle to ‘tell the big story’
By Janis Siegel, Jewish Sound Correspondent Make no mistake: Dr. Einat Wilf is on the forefront of an intellectual war to recapture the global zeitgeist of her home country, Israel, and wrench it back from those who’ve hijacked its image by using political epithets as their weapons, looking to ultimatelyContinue Reading
With Herzliya condo project, East End rabbi pitches Hamptons-style Zionism
By Uriel Heilman, JTA World News Service NEW YORK (JTA) – If they buy it, they will come. That’s the philosophy behind a new luxury apartment project in Israel called The Hamptons in Herzliya Pituach that’s attempting to link two very swanky locales in the service of strengthening Diaspora Jews’ connectionsContinue Reading
The Top Ten best kosher foods to serve or gift this Hanukkah (and the ones to avoid)
By Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNews Nobody can blame us for not doing the heavy lifting. As we do every year, we bring far more kosher food than should be allowed by law, and taste all of them. Every single one. All so you, our dear reader, know the best foodsContinue Reading
On the bookshelf
By Diana Brement, Jewish Sound Columnist Dear readers who read: For over a decade I have written these quarterly book reviews, reading or skimming 15 to 20 books over six weeks, and reporting back to you. But the time has arrived when I no longer have the time for that, soContinue Reading
‘J Street Challenge’ drives down the middle of the community
By Janis Siegel, Jewish Sound Correspondent The Seattle premiere of “The J Street Challenge,” a documentary film critical of the self-described pro-Israel and pro-peace group J Street, drew over 250 adults to Congregation Ezra Bessaroth November 12, according to organizers, but the screening drew fire in a written letter ofContinue Reading
Jews, science, and intergalactic time travel: The Jewishness of ‘Interstellar’
Dear Rivy, I just saw Christopher Nolan’s movie “Interstellar.” I am baffled. The science is way beyond my comprehension — if it is science at all — and I just do not know what to make of it. I understand that the film has nothing to do with Jews orContinue Reading
The first and future Thanksgiving
By Rabbi Seth Goldstein, Special to JTNews One of my challenges as a rabbi is to make Judaism relevant across demographics. Part of the challenge comes from the fact that what necessitates how we teach Judaism to kids is different than how we teach Judaism to adults. And very oftenContinue Reading
Paean to a tragic, fallen heroine
By David Shayne, Special to JTNews “Haviva Reick: A Kibbutz Pioneer’s Mission and Fall behind Nazi Lines” by Zeev and Tehila Ofer (FAWNS, $16). Toward the end of World War II, the British and the Haganah (the underground army of pre-Israel Jewish Palestine) collaborated to train and insert some threeContinue Reading
Sephardic songstress carries her tune to Seattle
By Tori Gottlieb, Jewish Sound Correspondent If you’ve ever heard the Hanukkah song “Ocho Kandelikas” (“Eight Little Candles”) you’re familiar with Flory Jagoda’s music. Next week, the 90-year-old Sephardic songstress will visit Seattle to perform that and other songs — some her own, and some passed down from generation toContinue Reading
Vaad appoints ombudswoman
Emily K. Alhadeff, Associate Editor, The Jewish Sound Following the discovery of Washington, D.C. rabbi Barry Freundel’s breach of privacy for spying on women preparing for immersion in the mikvah and his subsequent arrest, the Rabbinical Council of America voted to appoint ombudswomen across the country to support women in theContinue Reading
Obituary | Solomon Leo Birulin
July 6, 1921-October 26, 2014 Born to Leo and Tamara Birulin in Tientsin, China, Sol passed away in Seattle at the age of 93. He greeted everyone with a smile and was instantly their friend. Working as a teacher, selling jewelry, or volunteering for numerous community organizations allowed Sol anContinue Reading
Bar Mitzvah | Harry Ephraim Jacoby
Harry Ephraim Jacoby Harry celebrated his Bar Mitzvah September 20, 2014, at Congregation Ezra Bessaroth in Seattle. Harry is the son of Beth and David Jacoby of Seattle and the brother of Anna. His grandparents are Michal Jacoby of Seattle and the late Samuel Jacoby and Dick and Joann Steinbock.Continue Reading
Jerusalem coexistence programs persist amid rising tensions
By Ben Sales, JTA World News Service JERUSALEM (JTA) — Rawan Masalha and Inbar Shaked-Vardi were in their ninth-grade geography class earlier this year when a fight began over the name of their textbook, “Israel: Its People and Area.” “The Palestinian students started saying, ‘Why Israel? Why not Palestine?’ TheyContinue Reading
Extreme views on Arabs don’t inhibit Orthodox embrace of Rabbi Pruzansky
By Uriel Heilman, JTA World News Service NEW YORK (JTA) – If Rabbi Steven Pruzansky of Teaneck, N.J., had his way, Arab rioters and stone throwers would be shot with live ammunition. Arabs would be barred from the Temple Mount for six months. Any village from which two or moreContinue Reading