SCHENECTADY – The Schenectady Jewish Community Center (SJCC) will present the film “Shoelaces” to note Jewish Disability Awareness Month and as part of its annual Jewish Film Festival on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. at the Schenectady Center. Following the first presentation of the film on Saturday, people from The Alternative Living […]

SARATOGA SPRINGS– Sharona Wachs will lead and teach new and old expressions of Israeli folk dance during the Saratoga Jewish Community Arts (SJCA) Israeli Folk Dancing program on Sunday, Feb. 16. The 7 p.m. program will be at the Falstaff building on the Skidmore Campus in Saratoga Springs. According to organizers, Jews have a long dance history. The Bible and […]

History professor, author, and presidential historian Gil Troy will speak at two programs in the region Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. in the Gannett Auditorium in Palamountain Hall at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs and at a community event on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. at Beth Emeth, 100 Academy Rd., Albany. Both are free and open to the community. Troy will discuss his 2018 […]

By MIKE BLOOMBERG NEW YORK CITY (JTA) – The Jewish Telegraphic Agency has sent five questions about anti-Semitism and Jewish issues to all of the registered presidential candidates from both parties. Here is what Mike Bloomberg had to say. Anti-Semitic hate crimes are on the rise across the United States. In 2018, there were two deadly shootings at synagogues in […]

By AMEER BENNO Recently, in the wake of the attacks on Jews in Jersey City and Monsey, I joined 25,000 other people to march across the Brooklyn Bridge to denounce anti-Semitism. Pointing The Finger The march culminated in a rally where various Democratic elected officials spoke, each of whom has accused Donald Trump for the recent uptick in anti-Semitic violence. […]

CLIFTON PARK–The Congregation Beth Shalom Men’s Club will sponsor a program on security and safety, both for the synagogue and the home on Sunday, Feb, 16, at 10 a.m. The program will be at the synagogue, 688 Clifton Park Center Rd. and is open to the community. A representative from the NY State Police, Steven M. Roshwein, Sr. will speak. […]

Albany and Schenectady Jewish Community Centers (JCC) will send a joint delegation of athletes to the 2020 JCC Maccabi Games at the Pace University Campus in Westchester, NY. The Games are open to Jewish youth between the ages of 13 and 16. The JCC Maccabi Experience is set to begin Sunday, Aug. 9, with opening ceremonies at Pace University featuring […]

By SHIRYN GHERMEZIAN (JNS) – The first international herbalist conference in Israel, set to take place beginning Feb. 9, is facing threats by supporters of the anti-Israel BDS movement, which has already persuaded some professionals to pull out of the event. Herbalists from around the world are expected to attend the three-day Ancient Roots Herbal Conference in Ana Poriya, Israel, but two […]

By TOM TUGEND LOS ANGELES (JTA) – Kirk Douglas, the  actor who portrayed legions of tough guys and embraced his Jewish heritage later in life, died at his home in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, Feb. 5, He was 103. Over a career that spanned 87 films — including 73 big screen features and 14 on television — the blond, blue-eyed […]

By MARCY OSTER JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli military intelligence official’s desire to provide his commander with good tahini will cost him his rank and possibly his job. In an episode nicknamed Operation Tahini, several Israeli military intelligence personnel have been disciplined for sending an Arab undercover agent at least twice to purchase containers of the sesame paste from a […]