Sunday, January 29th 2023 |
By CHARLOTTE ANTHONY
NEW YORK (JTA) — Roni Bibring was 15 when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Four years later, her treatment completed, she says her biggest challenge — having lost touch with many of her friends — is making new friends who understand what she’s been through. “Most people don’t even realize that they’ve completely lost touch with you and that’s the thing you need the most,” said Bibring, of...
By CHARLOTTE ANTHONY
NEW YORK (JTA) — Isaac Azose knew he had a treasure in his hands — a nearly century-old booklet for Ladino-speaking Jews immigrating to the United States that featured English, Ladino and Yiddish expressions to help them acculturate into their new communities. “I thought to myself, I’ve got a real find here,” said Azose, the cantor at Congregation Ezra Bessaroth in Seattle, Wash., whose family came from...
By BEN SALES
TEL AVIV (JTA) — Vered Kuza was standing with her daughter, Amit, on an airport shuttle bus at Sarafovo International Airport in Burgas, Bulgaria, when she suddenly heard a blast. “It’s an attack!” Kuza, 54, shouted at Amit, 26. “We need to get out of here!” She pushed her daughter through the door just as the bus exploded. Kuza was knocked unconscious. Her daughter landed on the...
Bulgarian officials released video surveillance pictures of the man they suspect was the suicide bomber in yesterday’s terrorist attack at Sarvofo Airport in Burgas, Bulgaria. The video pictures show a tourist wearing sunglasses, a cap, T-shirt and shorts and bearing an oversized backpack on his shoulders. The attack killed five Israelis, the bus driver and the bomber, whom officials stated was carrying a fake Michigan state identification card.
Authorities said...
Following the deadly bombing today in ‘Bulgaria, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) released the following statement: “We are shocked and saddened by the bus bombing targeting innocent young Israelis traveling to Bulgaria,” said Kathy Manning, chair of the Jewish Federations of North America’s Board of Trustees. “On behalf of The Jewish Federations, we offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and stand shoulder to shoulder...
By MATI WAGNER
JERUSALEM (JTA) — In an age of sound bites and celebrity seekers, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, who died Wednesday at age 102, represented a world apart. The head of the Lithuanian haredi Orthodox community in Israel, Elyashiv was a Torah sage who shunned the limelight, dedicating himself single-mindedly to the pursuit of Torah study.
The Lithuania-born Elyashiv, a reluctant leader largely lacking in charisma, was elevated to his...
As part of a continuing education series jointly sponsored by Congregations Beth Israel and Gates of Prayer, Rabbi Robert Loewy will be speaking on the character of Tevye, the poor, but pious dairyman that was the subject of Yiddish writer Sholom Aleichem in several short stories. The talk, sponsored by the education committees of both the Orthodox and Reform synagogues is part of a series titled “The World of Fiddler.”
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In what may well be one of the most unusual joint programs in the country, Reform Congregation Gates of Prayer welcomes its neighbor – Orthodox Congregation Beth Israel – for three weeks of continuing education called “The World of Fiddler on the Roof.” The three nights are all related to 19th Century Eastern Europe culture, especially to that of the Sholem Aleichem character Tevye, whose story became the basis for...
By URIEL HEILMAN
(JTA) – For the second time in just two months, the Israeli political universe was upended when Shaul Mofaz’s Kadima Party voted to quit Israel’s governing coalition. Kadima’s departure, the result of a breakdown in negotiations over reforming Israel’s military draft law to include haredi Orthodox Jews, shatters the 94-seat super-majority that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu controlled in the 120-seat Knesset. It also raises questions for the future...
By FRAN SIMON
(Reprinted by permission of Tulane University Publications)
The Jewish studies program at Tulane University has come into its own. When students attend fall semester courses, the program will be a stand-alone department within the School of Liberal Arts. Nearly 30 years after the Jewish studies program was established by Joe Cohen, the Department of Jewish Studies opened its doors on July 1. Jewish studies courses are in demand, with more...
