Two Holocaust Survivers Reunited 70 Years Later
Lemel Leo Adler, left, and Leon Schagrin are cousins, the sons of two sisters. After the invasion of Poland, they were transported to the Tarnow ghetto, and then to several labor camps, and finally to Buna, "a chemical plant taht also known as Auschwitz III." In there they met only briefly, between shifts. In January 1945 they were separated and didn't see each other again. "A far as they know, everyone else in their families were killed."
National Yiddish Theater to Honor Neil Sedaka
Bet you didn't expect to find those two components, Yiddish theater and Neil Sedaka in the same headline. Well, now you have! The National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene will be honoring pop singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, the son of a Turkish Jew father and a Polish-Russian Jewish mother, at its 2012 annual gala, June 12, at New York’s Town Hall.
German Federation Condemns Fans Who Hitler-Saluted Israeli Player
The German soccer federation condemned an anti-Semitic act involving Kaiserslautern's Israel striker Itay Shechter, 24, and says such abuse has to be "nipped in the bud" and "we must act decisively." Sunday's taunts came the day after his team's 4-0 defeat by Mainz – their fourth straight loss – in which Shechter did not play.
Drake: ‘I’m a Proud Young Jewish Boy’ and I Want My Re-Bar Mitzvah
Drake says: "When I had a Bar Mitzvah back in the day, my mum really didn't have that much money. We kinda just did it in the basement of an Italian restaurant, which I guess is kinda like a faux pas. I told myself that if I ever got rich, I'd throw myself a re-Bar Mitzvah. That's the concept for the video."
Is Ryan Good for the Jews? Make that ‘Are the Jews Good for Ryan’
The selection of Paul Ryan, with his proposals for a trimmed-down federal budget, may not bode well for the Republican ticket among Jewish voters. And since Florida is the largest of the swing states, its Jewish voters will have a huge impact on the presidential election. On the other hand, the "Israel first" Jewish voters, after three years of constant conflict between Obama and Netanyahu, are not likely to stick with the president. Finally, what does it mean when Romney concedes the independents at the center and pick a VP to the right of him politically?
‘Peaceful’ Olive Pickers Stoning Jews on Shabbat
On Saturday, at noon, local Jews out on a walk at the Aner springs west of the village of Neria in Samaria were attacked by dozens of Arabs throwing rocks, Tazpit reported. The official reason for the Arabs to be in the area was the olive harvest. What can be more peaceful than the olive harvest? And yet, despite the peaceful properties assigned to the olive, despite all those olive branches everywhere – those Arab olive pickers put down the olives and picked up the rocks.
Two Hamas Terrorists Earn Darwin Awards in August while Caring for Explosives
A member of the military wing of Gaza's ruling terrorist movement Hamas died when a bomb he was securing accidentally exploded, the Hamas Ezzedine al Qassam said on Friday. He and another Hamas terrorist this month joined several other Palestinian terrorists who have been the recipients of the much coveted Darwin Award, which recognizes individuals who contribute to human evolution by self-selecting themselves out of the gene pool.
VIDEO: Pamela Geller Drowned Out at 9/27 MTA Meeting
Pamela Geller's attempt to stop the New York City MTA from changing the rules in order to block her anti-Jihad subway ads.
‘First Jewish Leader of the Labour Party’ Enjoys Yiddish, Chicken Soup, But No Marxism
"I am not religious. But I am Jewish. My relationship with my Jewishness is complex. But whose isn’t?" writes the leader of the Labour Party and of the opposition in parliament, Ed Miliband, in the New Statesman.
Barbara Boxer Bashing Bibi on Obama
It's the stuff of early education: "my deep disappointment" and "contrary." The deep sense of betrayal oozing from every well chosen word...
Foster Son of Jewish Mom Leads Italy to Final
Mario Balotelli, who scored two amazing goals against Germany June 28, to take Italy into the Euro 12 soccer championship final against Spain on Sunday (which they lost 4-0, and were totally outclassed by the world champion) – grew up as the foster son of a Jewish mother. Balotelli talked about his adoptive Jewish mother when the Italian national squad visited Auschwitz ahead of the start of the games.
I Want to have Your Baby, Sarah Silverman
Let's talk about motherhood and babies, and why some young girls start planning their weddings at age 7 and have the albums to show for it.
Designer Leon Max Is Buying Up Britain
The Sunday Daily Mail features a colorful spread on fashion designer, owner of the Max Studio upmarket fashion chain, Leon Max, or Leonid Maxovitch Rodovinksi, "one of a clutch of rich Russians buying up chunks of Britain." The piece recalls another billionaire, Roman Abramovich, who bought the London Chelsea soccer team. But instead of buying soccer clubs, Max has purchased "a spectacularly beautiful English stately home." Love those Jews and their wonderful money…
Reporters, Dog, Irate as PA Won’t Share Supermodel
Why, you might ask, does a supermodel require representation by PA security officials? This, as Fido might say, is where the best bones are buried. An irate Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the Palestinian Authority's "heavy-handed treatment of reporters on Tuesday covering a supermodel's visit to Bethlehem."
My Son the Pioneer Jewish Doctor
While some religions place ultimate responsibility for healing in divine hands, “Jews don’t see a conflict between faith and medicine,” says Alan M. Kraut, a professor of history at American University who helped put together the exhibition “Trail of the Magic Bullet: The Jewish Encounter With Modern Medicine, 1860-1960,” on view at Yeshiva University Museum in Manhattan.
Technology Can Save Lives, Even in Borough Park
The Asifa was a sober and responsible approach to a real problem, and I was impressed by the quickness with which the organizers responded to the potential pitfalls of being portrayed as Luddites, which does not befit a nation of scholars and questioners.
Embarrassed by J Street’s Olmert Connection, B’Tselem Lies, Gets Caught… By Palestinians
As sponsors of the upcoming J Street conference, B'Tselem has had to explain to its Palestinian allies how it can be part of an event featuring as keynote speaker former PM Ehud Olmert, "the Butcher of Gaza." B'Tselem's response was typical – a lot of backpedaling and revisions. But what works for the op-ed pages of Ha'aretz and the NY Times does not wash with the Palestinian Center for Human Rights…
Presidential Conference “Facing Tomorrow” While Facing Away from Observant Jews
Who on those panels has any connection whatsoever to me, to my shul, to our children? What does any of those folks know about the explosion of Torah learning in Israel, about our packed houses of worship, about our proliferation of loan societies, about our irrepressible demographics?
Swiss Politician Wants ‘Kristallnacht for Mosques’
Alexander Müller has resigned from the Swiss People’s Party after a tweet sent from his account called for a repeat of the Night of the Broken Glass, this time targeting Muslims. His tweet read: “Maybe we need another Kristallnacht… this time for mosques.”
Arafat’s Ninth Life Was Clipped by Poison
Man, that really unpleasant looking man had the force of life in him. Remember how many times he almost died?
At Last, Shimon Peres Gets his US Citizenship
Of course, it's just a typo, but, you know, come to think of it, wouldn't many of us have preferred it if Shimon were to do what he does on the other side of the pond?
9th of Av Message of Peace and Messianic Yearning from Turkish Muslim Leader
We long for the days that we will see the reestablishment of Solomon's Temple and hopefully we will pray there together in the near future. This will definitely happen as the days of Messiah—Yamot HaMashiach—are imminent.
Gaza – You Won’t Recognize the Old Place…
What do you think of when you hear the name "Gaza?" Gut wrenching misery of a devastated people under siege. Not if you judge by this music video, shot against images of the thriving, beautiful, totally modern city of Gaza, with thousands of folks gathering in a stadium for a celebration, and the obligatory images of armed Hamsniks in training. Everyone looks well fed and quite happy.
Supreme Court Won’t Hear ‘Birther’ Appeal, Obama May Be American After All
Believe it or not, the birther effort to de-legitimize the Barack Obama presidency may be officially over. The Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to Obama's U.S. citizenship and, consequently, to his eligibility to be the country's commander in chief.
Really Scary Pep Talk on How to Have a Safe Trip Abroad, Courtesy of...
The world is not a safe place, is the bottom line of what our State Dept. wants you to know. But if you insist—heaven knows why—on leaving your safe bedroom and risk setting foot in one of those awful places you hear about in the news, there's a lot you need to know. Travelers can become victims of crime and violence, or experience unexpected difficulties, says the special page titled "A Safe Trip Abroad" on the DOS website.
Jewish Black Youth Wins Third Irish Dance Competition
What's a good Jewish Press Story for the Irish national day of beer and more beer? We've got one for you! It's about Drew Lovejoy, 17, from Greenville, Ohio, who is the son of a black Baptist from Georgia and a white Jewish mother from Iowa. But his fame is international, after winning the all-Ireland dancing championship in Dublin for a third straight year.
Egyptian President Giving Chutzpah a Bad Name, Lecturing the US on Respect
Instead of stressing his friendship and loyalty to a country which, despite its own economic woes is generously helping to feed his 80 million plus citizens, Morsi is actually lecturing the United States, saying it needs to "fundamentally change its approach to the Arab world, showing greater respect for its values and helping build a Palestinian state, if it hoped to overcome decades of pent-up anger." For the record, since 1979, an annual contribution which totals, give or take, $30 billion has yielded the United States "decades of pent-up anger."
Holy Smokes, Rabbi
According to the State, Rabbi Meshulam Rothschild, 26, was moving about 3,600 cartons a week of illegal cigarettes with no tax stamps out of his warehouse on Spencer Street in Williamsburg. At $50 a carton in taxes, that's a very nice income, although not so steady, it turns out…
Jerusalem Festival of Lights: Exercise in Overselling, Underdelivering
My family and I were certain it was going to be a tasteful, Jerusalem version of some of the better Disneyland rides, like Pirates of the Caribbean: dark, with stunning images and light displays and haunting music.