UAlbany, area synagogues set Yom HaShoah observance

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Editor

Professor Gerhard Weinberg

ALBANY
Professor Gerhard Weinberg, a German-born American diplomatic and military historian, will present the University at Albany Center for Jewish Studies’ 2012 Yom HaShoah lecture, A New Look at Hitler and the Beginning of the Holocaust, at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 19, at the university’s performing arts center, 1400 Washington Ave.

Weinberg, author of A World At Arms: A Global History of World War II, will discuss his recent re-examination of previously known sources as well as some that had been previously neglected or unavailable. His talk will offer a different perspective on how the Holocaust came to be initiated and implemented. Continue reading →

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BBYO embraces anti-bullying documentary, taking its message to Jewish teens

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Editor

“BBYO HAS RALLIED AROUND THIS FILM in a way that has absolutely been inspirational to me as a filmmaker and as a Jew,” filmmaker Lee Hirsch said. “It’s been an extraordinary thing to witness.”

By DEBRA RUBIN
WASHINGTON D.C. (JTA)–Emotional. Raw. Frustrating.

That’s how Oz Fishman describes his reaction to “Bully,” a documentary that follows five students who face bullying daily. The movie also focuses on two victims of bullying who killed themselves. Continue reading →

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Jerusalem mall violence shines light on dark side of Israeli soccer

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Editor

SOCCER HOOLIGANISM in Israel took on a particularly violent tone last month, after a game in Teddy Kollek Stadium, hundreds of Beitar Jerusalem supporters assaulted cleaning personnel in nearby Malha Mall. 

By EETTA PRINCE-GIBSON
JERUSALEM (JTA)–Sports fans aren’t the only people lately paying attention to Israeli soccer. A string of ugly incidents has caused Israelis to focus on the problems of violence and racism within the sport.

In mid-March, thousands of Hapoel Tel Aviv fans rioted on the field after their team lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv. A few days later, two fans of Maccabi Petach Tikvah attempted to attack a referee. In late March a Hapoel Haifa player was hospitalized after being headbutted by a Maccabi Petach Tikvah coach and then kicked in the head by a team associate. Continue reading →

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Jewish Writer’s series at Agudat Achim April 15

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Editor

SCHENECTADY–The third annual Community of Jewish Writers Series, featuring experienced and emerging Jewish writers from upstate New York will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 15, at Agudat Achim Synagogue, 2117 Union St.

Participating writers include:
Terry Bat-Sonja, a writer and painter earned a master’s degree in fine arts from the University at Albany. Born in South Africa, she has lived in Israel, Ireland and in Brazil. She is working on a collection of poems.

Susan Comninos, a journalist and poet, last year served as a judge for the Forward’s Triangle Fire Poetry Competition. In 2010, she won the Yehuda Halevi poetry contest run by Tablet Magazine. Her poetry has been published in the Forward, TriQuarterly, Quarterly West, Lilith and Tikkun. Continue reading →

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Peter Beinart meets the Jewish establishment

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Editor

Peter Beinart

By SHIRA SCHOENBERG
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (JTA)–Peter Beinart has had some harsh words for the Jewish establishment. In 2010, he shook up the communal debate over Israel with his essay “The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment.”

Last week, Beinart debated a leader of that very Jewish establishment—and their exchange was decidedly respectful, even if there were points of significant disagreement.

Speaking at Harvard University, Beinart assailed Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians, warned that young American Jews were abandoning Zionism and criticized American Jewish leaders for what he depicted as their unquestioning support of the Israeli government. Continue reading →

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Yom HaShoah: Monument honors helpers of Czech Jewish family that hid in woods from Nazis

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Editor

EVA VAVRECKA contemplating the horrific living conditions that her mother and grandparents endured in the forest to survive World War II. (Bruce Konviser)

By BRUCE KONVISER
TRSICE, Czech Republic (JTA)–Nearly 70 years after a Czech Jewish family sought refuge from the Nazis by retreating into a nearby forest and relying on non-Jewish locals for help, an American high school teacher has helped erect a permanent monument to their memory. Continue reading →

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Obama administration is ready for Iran talks—but is Iran?

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Editor

IRAN IS READY FOR TALKS IN ISTANBUL on April 13 with the world’s major powers. It is not clear what the U.S. bottom line is, but Obama administration officials repeatedly have said that they will not ease the sanctions until Iran meets criteria set by the U.N. Security Council to make its nuclear program transparent.

By RON KAMPEAS
WASHINGTON D.C. (JTA)–The Obama administration has its Iran ducks in a row: Tehran is coming to the table, Israel is sitting still, most of the world’s major oil buyers and sellers are on board with the sanctions effort, and Congress is in an agreeable mood.

Ducks, though, have a tendency to wander off. Iran might not stay at the table, or it might offer delaying tactics that peel off support for sanctions by U.S. allies. Israeli leaders are skittish about alleged Obama administration leaks that they believe are aimed at heading off an Israeli military response. Republicans in Congress, while pleasantly surprised at the administration’s diligence at keeping to the sanctions timeline, are worried that the administration could offer too much at the talks. Continue reading →

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2012 has a Jewish tune

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Editor

THIS YEAR’S ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME inductee class includes eight Jewish musicians and artists, many of whom set the stage for future bands in their respective genres. Above are the Beastie Boys, from left, Adam Horovitz, Michael Diamond,  and Adam Yauch.

By MATT DeFAVERI
CLEVELAND (Cleveland Jewish News)–Michael Belkin knows plenty about the music industry; he was born and raised in it.

More than 40 years ago, his father Mike and his uncle Jules founded Belkin Productions, which helped launch the careers of such artists as Johnny Carson, Tiny Tim, Janis Joplin, Wild Cherry, Joe Walsh, Maureen McGovern, and The Michael Stanley Band. Continue reading →

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Tunisia’s Jews keep wary eye on political developments

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Editor

JEWISH LIFE IN TUNIS is more developed than in most other Arab capitals. Although only 500 Jews remain in the city, it boasts a Jewish school, a yeshiva and a kosher food service—as well as the Grande Synagogue de Tunis (above), a 1930s art-deco masterpiece still topped with a colossal, gilded Star of David.

By ARMIN ROSEN
TUNIS (JTA)–Tucked on a quiet side street blocks from the Mediterranean Sea, the last kosher restaurant in the Tunisian capital is a thriving center of Jewish tradition in a country of 10 million with nearly an entire Arab and Muslim population. Yet Jacob Lellouche, who has owned and operated Mamie Lily since it opened 16 years ago, says his business is hardly a Jewish bubble. Continue reading →

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Dr. Chaudhry to receive Interfaith award April 18

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Editor

Dr. Mussarat Chaudhry

SCHENECTADY–Dr. Mussarat Chaudhry of the Islamic Center of the Capital District will be presented the Dorothy and Robert Ludwig Interfaith Award for her years of championing women’s rights and furthering the understanding of Islam in the community during the dialogue dinner of the Interfaith Community of Schenectady at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 18, at Faith United Methodist Church, 811 North Brandywine Ave.

Wisdom Tales, a free program, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. by the Children of the Well of the Interfaith Story Circle of the Tri-City area, a group of teenagers from various faiths. Continue reading →

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