The Holocaust is not a he-said, she-said debate
By Michael Gerson, The Washington Post Several years ago, I attended the bar mitzvah of a friend’s son. Uniquely in my experience — and, I’d bet, most people’s experience — all of the boy’s four grandparents were Holocaust survivors. In the middle of the ceremony, one grandfather interrupted: “I haveContinue Reading
Transitions
By Rabbi Jessica Kessler Marshall, Temple Beth Or I sat listening as a group of friends shared about their lives: One had an 85-year-old father who had just been diagnosed with cancer. My friend faced the uncertainty of his dad’s surgery and personal guilt that he lived far away, thusContinue Reading
Palestinian Women Will Again Play Decisive Role in Election
By Abdullah H. Erakat, The Media Line ABU DIS – Hala Kanaan recalls her disappointment at being one year too young to cast a ballot in the 2006 Palestinian election. A school girl at the time, Hala remembers arguing with her mother and older sister, both of whom failed toContinue Reading
Woman receives rabbinical divorce from husband in coma
A decision made two months ago by the Israeli government’s religious court to release a woman from her marriage to a comatose husband was made public Tuesday. The ritual divorce was allowed by the court using the Jewish legal concept of “get zikui” to allow the divorce, as the husbandContinue Reading
U. of Washington students reject divestment resolution
(JTA) – The student senate at the University of Washington voted overwhelmingly to reject a proposed measure on divestment from Israel. The vote Tuesday night of 59 against, 8 in favor and 11 abstentions followed a 3 1/2-hour debate, according to StandWithUs, a pro-Israel campus group. The resolution was sponsoredContinue Reading
Sabra trying to establish U.S. hummus law
(JTA) — If Sabra Dipping Co. has its way, the use of chickpeas and tahini in making hummus will become U.S. law. The hummus manufacturer, which is co-owned by PepsiCo and the Israel-based Strauss Group, has filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration to create a standard forContinue Reading
Seward Park man arrested on “immoral communication” charges
By Janis Siegel, Jewish Sound Correspondent As the Seattle Orthodox Jewish community recovers from the conviction of a local religion school teacher on child molestation charges, a second male adult, a Sephardic Bikur Holim volunteer was arrested and charged on May 2 with the same crime. Eli Varon, a 28-year-oldContinue Reading
Why is Greece the most anti-Semitic country in Europe?
By Gavin Rabinowitz, JTA World News ATHENS, Greece (JTA) — When the Anti-Defamation League published its global anti-Semitism survey last week, Greece, the cradle of democracy, captured the ignominious title of most anti-Semitic country in Europe. With 69 percent of Greeks espousing anti-Semitic views, according to the survey, Greece wasContinue Reading
Eight years after the shooting, a gun responsibility center launches at the Jewish Federation
By Joel Magalnick, Editor, The Jewish Sound Standing in the building where nearly eight years ago she lay on the floor, bleeding from a gunshot wound inflicted by a man who minutes later would kill one of her coworkers, Cheryl Stumbo stood before press, colleagues and former coworkers to launchContinue Reading
Shimon Peres to receive US Congressional Gold Medal
A voice vote in the US Senate Monday approved legislation that will award Israeli President Shimon Peres with the US Congressional Gold Medal. Peres joins the ranks of other recipients such as Natan Sharansky, Elie Wiesel, and Simon Wiesenthal. With his term ending in July, the 90-year-old president will meet atContinue Reading
Israeli intelligence experts sent to aid in missing Nigerian schoolgirls search
With the search for the over 200 missing Nigerian schoolgirls abducted last month by Islamist rebel group continuing, Israel has send a group of intelligence experts to Nigeria to aid in the efforts. The team, which Israeli official said included individuals with training and experience in dealing in hostage situations,Continue Reading
Macklemore responds
By Joel Magalnick, Editor, The Jewish Sound On his blog at Macklemore.com, the local rap star explains that the costume he wore at his concert Friday night was not in any way intended to depict Jewish stereotypes. As he wrote: Family, friends and fans alike who know me well, knowContinue Reading
Maccabi Tev Aviv upsets its way to Euroleague basketball crown
ROME (JTA) — Maccabi Tel Aviv upset favored Real Madrid to win the Euroleague basketball championship. Maccabi defeated the Spanish squad, 98-86, in overtime on Sunday night in Milan in the title game. Tyrese Rice led the Israeli club with 26 points, including 14 in overtime. The game was tiedContinue Reading
Israel sends aid to victims of deadly Serbia and Bosnia floods
(JTA) – Israel sent aid to help rescue efforts in flood-ravaged Serbia and Bosnia. Local media reported that Israel sent a first shipment of emergency aid this weekend including medicine, food, blankets and rain gear, and will soon send pumps. The aid was delivered by helicopter because submerged cities wereContinue Reading
Three quarters of Jews in France considering emigrating
With a rise in contemporary anti-semitism in France, a new survey reveals that 75% of Jews harbor a desire to leave the country. JTA reports today that, of the nearly four thousand Jews polled by Paris Siona organization of Sephardic French Jews, three quarters of French Jews said they haveContinue Reading
Israeli runners excluded from ‘peace run’
JTA reports today that six Israeli runners were excluded from the West Bank portion of a regional long-distance peace run, which ended Monday. Led by Australian ultra-marathoner Paul Farmer, the course began in Lebanon and made its way through Israel and the West Bank, with the finish line in Jerusalem. TheContinue Reading
Do We Really Care If Muslim Extremists Kidnap 300 Girls in Nigeria?
Tablet Magazine asks the question, given that it took a month before international media even began to pay attention to the nearly 300 girls kidnapped in Nigeria in April.Continue Reading
On Jews against themselves
University of Washington professor emeritus Edward Alexander slaps down Jewish proponents of the movement to boycott Israel and divest from companies that do business with it on university campuses. In the Algemeiner.Continue Reading
Iraq extends Jewish archive stay in U.S.
WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Iraqi government is extending the stay of the Iraqi Jewish Archive in the United States.“In order to continue this important work and to allow the exhibit to be displayed in other cities in the United States, the Government of Iraq has authorized me to extend theContinue Reading
George McGovern, Auschwitz, and the Nigerian schoolgirls
By Rafael Medoff, JNS.org U.S. officials say it would be “too risky” to send commandos to rescue the 300 schoolgirls being held hostage by Islamist terrorists in Nigeria. If that’s the problem, they should look to the late George McGovern for the solution. Back in 1944, theContinue Reading