Cecil B. DeMille’s First – And Largely Unknown – Version Of The Ten Commandments

Upon its release, critics acclaimed and celebrated the Biblical Prologue, but they were generally highly critical of the Story section of the film, which was broadly characterized as clichéd in both its narrative and characterizations.

Rare Unpublished Notes Of The Chavot Yair

For centuries, this work was feared lost, until in the last decades a condensed version of this extensive work was discovered and published in 1982, under the title Mekor Chaim.

Ilan Ramon’s Jewish Space Odyssey

The barbed wire mezuzah that Ramon took with him into space – he joked about affixing it to the shuttle door – was by San Francisco Artist Aimee Golant, the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor.

Keeping History Alive

The oldest pieces from his collection are coins from the Bar Kochva period and Chashmonean dynasty. When I asked whether these coins shouldn’t be in a museum, he said that there are actually many of them floating around and the museums have enough.

Letters Written By Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz

A string of letters I had acquired recently, sent by Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz (1862-1939) to a famed American Philanthropist and supporter of Yeshivas throughout the world, Abraham Meyers, details the conditions that a European yeshiva in the 1932-1933 period had to endure.

The Zionism Of Rav Yitzchak Yaakov Reines And The Birth Of Mizrachi

Although Rav Reines may not have been the first Orthodox rav to support the idea of a Jewish return to Eretz Yisrael, Zion, it was he who answered Herzl's call to become involved in the political movement and it was he who almost single-handedly took on the anti-Zionist charedi rabbinate.

A Magnificent Mezuzah And A Militaristic Menorah

What an interesting chanukiah you have! It is apparent that it was completely fashioned by hand using a variety of tools, and there is a great deal of soldering work I can see from putting pieces together.

A Key 18th Century Book Of The Haskalah

Based in a large part on such works in German that were popular at the time, the author was tasked with describing things in Hebrew that were yet to be written about in the language.

The Ringelblum Archives

Recognizing that the full potential of the Archive was not possible absent a catalog that methodically and systematically organized and described its contents, the Jewish Historical Institute and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum joined forces to prepare and publish such a catalog.

The Chofetz Chaim’s Personally Inspected Books

The word mugah can indeed be found in many of the copies of the early editions of the Chofetz Chaim's publications, both in books that he authored himself or books that he had published, such as those of the Sha'agat Aryeh and Asifat Zekenim.

The Judaism, Zionism And Jewish Poems Of Emma Lazarus

Lazarus wrote several pieces on Jewish holidays, including The New Year (Rosh Hashana, 5643), in which she beautifully conveyed her vision of a people rolling homeward to its ancient source.

The Life-Long Friendship Of Rabbi Chaim Berlin And Rabbi Shmuel Salant

It is interesting to see how the network developed a life of its own and perhaps due to the distance and slow communications, decisions and the hiring of new emissaries was done without the knowledge of the organization's heads back in Jerusalem.

The Art Of Chanukah

Many of our greatest artists have produced striking graphic works on these subjects, and I present here a selection of original artwork and related items from my Chanukah collection.

In Unfunny Times, Orthodox Comic Gets Laughs As He Mocks Jew Haters

Concerning the question of comedy in a time of tragedy, Lebowicz said one has to be sensible and sensitive.

Living The Dream

I like to live on the edge, says Lilach and love for adventure and risk-taking seems to be something that runs in the family. So does life off the beaten track.

Yiddish Bibles Prefaced With Arguments

While the Jewish community in Amsterdam was founded first by Jews escaping from Spain and Portugal, the city was relatively tolerant at the time, and became a refuge to many Jews from different lands. In a short time, there was a substantial Ashkenazi community as well.

Henry Kissinger – No Friend Of The Jews And Israel

In America, Kissinger played down his Jewish roots and sought to assimilate. When he was sworn in as the first Jewish Secretary of State, he took his oath on Shabbat – his observant elderly parents were therefore forced to walk to the swearing-in ceremony – and on a Christian bible.

A Chanukah Heirloom Plus A Sotheby’s Treat

If you want to see some remarkable, museum-worthy pieces of antique Judaica (some dating as early as the 17th century!) or some modern-made, opulent, dazzling creations made by skilled artisans in Israel, I highly recommend you make the time to stop by.

The Brisker Rav and Chief Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog Exchange Letters Concerning An Agunah

Despite the Brisker Rav's known anti-Zionist stance, it is interesting to see the respect and honorary titles he bestows upon Rav Herzog, the official Chief Rabbi of Israel at the time.

Nelly Sachs And Shai Agnon: Joint Recipients Of The Nobel Prize In Literature

In Eli, Sachs made evident her belief that the future could not be built on the ruins of hatred and revenge; instead, she hoped that her poetry would be an agent of healing and a source of renewal.

The Prayerbook Of A Famous Agunah

This book has ownership markings and signatures of Milka Paks, wife of Meir Paks, the protagonist of a famous agunah case that the Chasam Sofer presided over during his period of rabbinate in Mattersdorf.

Charles Evans Hughes And The Jews

Although corporate interest underscored both his former clients and his campaign supporters, he showed independence in his two terms as governor, supporting the creation of a Public Service Commission with strong powers to regulate corporate activity.

Jackie Kennedy: A Good Friend Of The Jews And Israel

In a 1964 correspondence to a Jewish friend, she wrote, I admire and respect the Jewish people and their traditions and feel a kinship with them.

A Book Used To Sentence Its Author To Death

Chief Rabbi Heller was tasked with collecting the fines from the local Jewish community, with the brunt of the cost being placed on the wealthier class of the community. This led to much friction and complaints from the rich merchants who felt they were being burdened disproportionately.

The Zionism And Philosemitism Of Eleanor Roosevelt

Roosevelt visited Israel four times, the first in 1952, and the last eight months before her death in 1962... In many letters to her friends and in her newspaper columns, she frequently sang the praises of the extraordinary beauty of the Israeli landscape, and she often lauded Israel’s educational institutions and healthcare facilities.

Exceedingly Rare 1766 New York Siddur

This prayerbook, with an English translated by Isaac Pinto, is the very first prayerbook printed in the New World and the first translation into English.

Bronislaw Huberman And The Birth Of The Palestine Philharmonic Orchestra

For more than a decade, Huberman had been a regular performer with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and, even when Jewish musicians were being dismissed from major orchestras and blacklisted, he was one of the few Jews not fired.

London’s First Hebrew Book

The very first Hebrew book printed in London for Jewish use, this publication was named Ma'aseh Rav, and was printed by a gentile printer.

The Official Postcards Of The Eighth Through Thirteenth Zionist Congresses

In a previous Jewish Press article, I displayed and discussed the cards issued for the first seven Congresses, and I present here the official cards from the Eighth Zionist Congress through the Thirteenth Congress along with a brief discussion of the highlights of each.

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