Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on July 18, 2021

Background:

The land of Palestine is called: The land which We (The Almighty) had blessed for all beings. (Quran 21; Genesis 17, 28). The land of Palestine is the work-place and the resting place of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) and Moses (a.s.).

The second Caliph of Islam, Omar Faruk (r.a.) conquered Jerusalem in 638 AD from the tyrant Christians and permitted all Jews to return and live in peace there. It remained under Muslim rule till 1099 AD at a stretch. In the first crusade (15th July, 1099), Godfrey de Bouillon captured Jerusalem from Muslims. Then, after a brief period of 88 years, on Oct. 2, 1187, Kurdish General Salahuddin Ayyubi rescued Jerusalem from tyranny. The Muslim rule, under Ayyubids and Mamluks continued there, till 1517 AD. Then, Jerusalem came under another Muslim governance, the Ottomans empire till 1917 AD. So, Palestine was under long and almost uninterrupted Muslim rule in historic time from 638 AD to 1917 AD.

Meanwhile, in 1897, some Jews started a fanatic movement called Political Zionism in Europe, which prescribes the establishment of a Zionist State for the Jews on the land of Palestine where there were 93% Arabs (88% Muslims) and merely 7% Jews. To be clear that Zionism is different from Judaism. The later is only a Semitic religion, but the former is an apartheid and fascist political supremacy over all.

After the defeat of the Turkish Muslim State in the 1st World War, the Great Britain occupied Palestine in 1917 and without wasting any time, immediately (Nov. 2, 1917), as per their hand-in-glove plan, the English Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour sent a letter to Lord Rothschild stating, His Majestys government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.. This is known as the infamous, Balfour Declaration. Consequently, in 1947, the UN recommended giving away 56% of Palestine-land to the Jews State, despite the fact that this group represented only about 30% of the total population, and owned less than 7% of the land! As, this recommendation has never been approved by the Security Council, so, it was not a binding for its implementation. In spite of this, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish agency, during the first Arab-Jews war (May 14, 1948), proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. In an unprecedented hurry! The U.S. President, Harry S. Truman recognized the illegal baby State on the same day! The Zionists committed at least 33 massacres and expelled over 7.5 lakh Palestinians from their own home and State!

In the background Egypt, Syria and Jordan formed Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in May, 1964. They fought with the apartheid, colonial Zionist in 1967, in Six Day War, where Israel occupied the final 22% of Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Later on, Palestinians, in Oslo Accord (1993), agreed to accept only 22% of Palestine and recognize Israel within the 1949 Armistice Line recognized internationally as the border, the Green Line border. It also created the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). But, Israel imposed an unprecedented blockade on Gaza from 2007, following the Hamass victory in free and fair peoples mandate.

It is hopeful that the world slowly shows the signs of support to the just cause of Palestine against the Israeli colony. On 29 Nov., 2012, Palestine was granted Non-member Observer State status at UNO which was voted by 138 member States in favour and nine in against. Consequently, on 26 Sept., 2013, Mahmoud Abbas, President of the PNA, was officially recognized as the Head of State for the State of Palestine.

Palestinian refugees are the largest remaining refugee population in the world. 1.3 million Palestinians live in Israel as Israeli citizens, who are termed as present absentees a second class citizen. Gaza, the largest open prison, where 1.5 million people are held under a catastrophic condition, as described by the UNO. Gaza Strip is today one of the most densely populated areas in the world, averaging 2,422 inhabitants per sq. km.! More than 70% population depends on humanitarian aids but Israel has blocked donations here! Israel has abolished Palestinians capacity to have any personal property or wages in its brand of democracy! Due to bombardments, shelling and daily killing, 99.2% of the children there have been suffered of post-traumatic shock. 28th July, 2015, UNICEF released a statement titled No safe place for children in Gaza! The code words of peace and security to Israelis are in reality a call to end of Palestinian resistance to Zionist colonialism and genocide. In spite of all these atrocities, the people of Gaza are not protected by any international law!

Israel: Israel which claims to be the only democracy in the Middle East, feels comfortable with no declared official borders and no written constitution, till date! Zionists view about Palestinians, was clearly stated by a Mayor of Tel Aviv, We have to kill all the Palestinians unless they are resigned to live here as slaves. So, oppression is a mere tool towards the annihilation of Palestines innate spirit of emancipation.

America and European Union: They view Israel as its first line of defense against a people (Muslims) that may turn to them if the line is erased. The Christian world sees Muslim civilization in clash with them. And thus, as part of their crusade war against Muslims (in modern form bombing on innocent Afghans and Iraqis), Zionist Israeli colony is being carefully nurtured in the heart of Islamic civilization the Middle East in order to keep them busy in tackling this rascal child of the West put on Muslims shoulder. Thus, US give Israel the highest amount of donation, an average of $8 million per day, since its creation.

UNO: The theoretical guardian for the worlds justice and peace, this body has only dry sympathy for the oppressed Palestinians!

Other Countries and India: They are observing the situation carefully and trying to align with their comfortable side. Russia and China may play a big role against the rise of a Fascist Zionist Nuclear Power in Asia itself, particularly in the support and design of the West. Since the time of M.K. Gandhi, India consistently supported the Palestines just cause. But the present Hindutwa nationalist Govt. is trying to be favourably tilted with their ideological Zionist nationalist friend, Israel.

World People: It is a good omen that majority people in the world, particularly the young generation, see Israel as a threat to world peace. In 2013, the renowned academicians - Noam Chomsky, Stephen Hawking and more than 300 UK scholars declared an academic boycott of Israel on the issue of Palestine.

Muslim Govt's: Except few (Turkey, Iran, etc.) majority of the Muslim Govt.s are not aware of the dangerous consequences of this Zionist colony breathing on their shoulder. Unfortunately, they are busy to save their monarchy by pleasing their Western lords!

Muslim People: The Muslims, in general, throughout the globe are much conscious as a part of their Iman to save Al-Aqsa, the first Qibla of Islam and the sacred soil of Palestine, the land of Prophets.

There are two dimensions of the philosophy guiding the U.S. and European Union to support all inhuman and illegal acts of the apartheid and fascist colony of the Zionist Israel. (i) Capitalist Imperialist Dimension:- To take control on the vast reserve of the fuel oil in the Middle East, Israel is needed as a Western colony in the heart of the oil-field. In fact, Israel is a piece of America in Middle East. (ii) Islam-phobic Dimension:- As stated above, Israel is the first line of defense of the Western Christian world from their imagined crusade enemy, the Muslims.

On the Western World: Around 65 UN resolutions accuse Israel for violation of International Laws. This shows the internationally bullying and suppressive attitude of this nuclear Zionist Israel. Western World surely has to taste the burn from this fire! Israel, after setting its solid foundation in Palestine (with the help of America & EU), it will turn to other Arab countries, one after another to grab the oil and territories. The continuing disunity among the Arab rulers will provide golden opportunity for Zionist Colony. After that, the Zionist Israel will turn to be a real Frankenstein to its Western lords. It is to see how they tackle this demon?

On the Eastern Powers and Whole World: Israels military is the fourth most powerful on the earth which possesses hundreds of sophisticated nuclear weapons. The presence and strengthening of such deadly power with inhuman Zionist colonial mentality, in the vary neighbourhood, in Aisa is definitely a great threat to the peace and progress in the Eastern World particularly. China and Russia the great Asian powers surely understand its dangerous consequences. Israel Shahak, a Jewish Professor, has clearly stated this danger as, In my view, Israel as a Jewish State constitutes a danger not only to itself and its habitants but to all Jews and to all other peoples and states in the Middle East and beyond.

In order to establish and sustain peace and progress on the earth, the following things must be done with top priority by the peace loving world-habitants:-

(i) The Muslim rulers must sense their coming danger from a nuclear power Zionist fascist colony, named Israel - as their neighbor; and get united for their own survival.

(ii) The peace and progress loving all countries need to demand in UNO to (a) stop expansion by the apartheid Zionists Israeli colony, without delay. (b) To accept the One State formula of the State of Palestine in her own historic land including the present day Israeli colony, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. All the Arab and non-Arab inhabitants of this land including those about 7.5 lakh who were driven out of their homes by Israels brutal aggressions will be the honoured citizen of this singular State under a humanitarian secular democratic constitution. (c) To scrap Veto Power from the UNO, as its the killer of democracy (USA misused its Veto power not less than 29 times in the UNO in order to shamelessly support the Israeli aggression and ethnic cleansing of innocent Palestinians). All non-veto countries, led by the Muslim countries, must demand, Scrap Veto or We, Majority are Making Exit. (d) The world Muslims should tell the Saudi Kings that if today Al-Aqsa, Muslims the first Qibla, is snatched, tomorrow the second one, can be on which its economy depends heavily.

Israels power consolidation in the oil rich vast Middle East, and unilateral capture on the world power source by a Fascist force, in collaboration with the West, will disrupt the present power balance on the globe. The other world leaders need to make aware and / are getting aware about this coming danger. Peoples support towards Palestinians and Hamas throughout the world (even in the Israels ally and sympathizer countries) have increased squarely and is increasing day by day. After decades of occupation and years of persistent blockade, however, Israel failed to kill their spirit to resist, love for freedom, hope of a better future. Last but not the least, as Palestine is fighting an ideological war so she will win and as Israel is bullying for mere material gain it will loss. Truth dispels falsehood the holy Quran proclaims.

The author is Principal, Saheed Nurul Islam Mahavidyalaya, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal.

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The Milli Gazette

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Posted By admin on July 18, 2021

Ramallah, Occupied West Bank As Palestinians suffer through severe water shortages in the searing summer, illegal Israeli settlers nearby enjoy unlimited quantities not only for drinking but to fill swimming pools, irrigate crops, and wash their vehicles.

Black-and-white water tanks are ubiquitous on the roofs of Palestinian homes across West Bank cities and towns, to be filled when their water taps literally run dry for weeks at a time.

In contrast, such tanks are rarely seen in the neighbouring settlements because water is available around the clock and is never shut off because of shortages.

The Israeli authorities refuse to grant the necessary licenses to the Palestinian water authorities to operate freely in the areas classified as C and under complete Israeli security and administrative control, whether drilling additional wells or installing booster pumps.

Israel directly controls 85 percent of water resources in the West Bank and has a say in how the rest is distributed, Palestinian officials told Al Jazeera. The Palestinian Authority, meanwhile, is seeking Israeli licenses to dig additional wells in the West Bank to fill the enormous need for more water.

Adel Yassin, director-general of strategic planning at the Palestinian Water Authority, told Al Jazeera the Israeli water company Mekorot that supplies the occupied territories controls 42 water wells, 34 of which are located in the Jordan Valley.

The problem is not a shortage of water but the occupations control of our water, said Yassin.

We demand the drilling of new wells in the West Bank to increase the quantities of available water and not be subject to Israeli control, because water is one of the basics of stability and liberation, and any state without water is a state without sovereignty.

The Palestinian Authority recently demanded that Israel increase the quantity of water it sells. Israel responded that the infrastructure was not ready for any boost in supply. However, it did offer increased quantities in return for higher fees.

Since the summer of 2018 until now, there are villages that receive water only once every 15 days. This summer we suffer from a greater water crisis than the previous summers and we have to deal with it, said Bassam Sawalhi, an engineer with the Jerusalem Water Undertaking, which sources water from the Israelis and produces its own supplies for about 400,000 Palestinians in 56 communities.

However, the average daily consumption rate is 60,000-65,000 cubic metres of water during the scorching Palestine summer season, while the Jerusalem Water Undertaking only has 53,000 cubic metres a day available to its customers.

The population of the Jerusalem and Ramallah governorates has doubled repeatedly, and the water demand has increased in an unprecedented way, said Sawalhi.

He said this summer the Israeli water company Mekorot reduced the quantity it supplies to 35,000 cubic metres of water a day from 38,000 cubic metres in previous years.

The difference of 3,000 cubic metres was transferred to the settlements surrounding the Ramallah area, and they do not care that Ramallah is thirsty. The important thing is that the settlements enjoy all the water they need, Sawalhi told Al Jazeera.

This is our water they steal and sell to us, Sawalhi said.

Jerusalem Water Undertaking devoted 10 million shekels ($3m) from its budget to restoring and rehabilitating water wells, upgrading old networks, and installing pump stations. But even still it is nowhere near enough.

The water used to cut off for a week, but this summer the duration of water deliveries may reach between 15-25 continuous days, said Ali Khassib, head of the local council of Aroura, a village near Ramallah.

I couldnt sleep because of the continuous calls from the many angry citizens. We tried to file complaints with the Ramallah government and Jerusalem Water Undertaking, but in the end people want to get water, not justifications for cutting it off. So they have to buy water through mobile tankers where the price of 250 litres (66 gallons) of water is $61.

Mohammad Abu Khater owns a tanker truck that sells potable water to Palestinians in the village of Ain Arik near Ramallah.

The problem of water shortage starts from April and continues until November of each year as we are busy selling water to homes, cafs and restaurants. But this year the water crisis is more severe and stronger than previous years, Abu Khater told Al Jazeera.

Hanna Shamiya, 38, from Bethlehem, also owns a water truck business: This summer the water demand has increased in an unprecedented way, and in light of the coronavirus pandemic, there is a greater need and demand for water for personal hygiene and sterilisation.

Bassam Rayan, 34, is the supervisor of five buildings in the Ramallah area with about 60 apartments.

Every day I receive between five to six calls from tenants who ran out of water from the tanks in their apartments for more than three days. Even me personally, I do not have water at home at the moment. I advise them to buy [personal] water tanks.

Israels Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the body that deals with Palestinian issues, told Al Jazeera it is the Palestinian government in Ramallah that is in charge of supplying water to its people.

According to the agreements, the Palestinian Authority is responsible for providing water to the Palestinian population in [the occupied West Bank], COGAT said in a statement.

In addition to the PA, Israel provides an additional 76 million cubic metres of water per year, using 200 connection points through which the Authority also supplies water to the Palestinian consumer.

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Palestine runs dry: Our water they steal and sell to us - Al Jazeera English

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Posted By admin on July 18, 2021

Health salads sweet and tangy slaw-like, cabbage-based salads that often include carrots, bell peppers and cucumbers are a fixture of New York Jewish delis. Theyresold by the pound in the deli case or sometimes generously arrive alongside your complimentary plate of pickles. While the dressing is typically sweetened with sugar, the purported health is derived from the volume of raw vegetables and the notable absence of mayonnaise.

If youre from New Jersey, you may also know this dish as Claremont salad. In the 1950s, the Bauman brothers operated the beloved Claremont Diner in Verona. The North Jersey eatery was famous for its cheesecake, but was known as well for its courtesy cabbage salad that came with every meal. Morris and Leo Bauman never claimed to have invented the salad, but it became so popular that local supermarkets started offering Claremont salad in their own deli cases.

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While the exact origin of health and vitamin salads is unknown, they have been popular among Ashkenazi Jews for decades. In the Vilna Vegetarian Cookbook by Fania Lewando, published in 1938, there are four separate vitamin salad recipes. (Lewando, the first woman to publish a Yiddish vegetarian cookbook in Europe, died in the Holocaust while trying to flee the Vilna ghetto.) Each features a different combination of seasonal raw vegetables, shredded or chopped, and dressed with oil and lemon juice.

Ingredients

Directions

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Why Russian Jews are obsessed with this health salad - The Jerusalem Post

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Posted By admin on July 18, 2021

JERUSALEM Arel Moodie, the son of a white Jewish mother and a Black father, experienced a core identity struggle through most of his teenage years.

It was one of the biggest pieces of turmoil in my adolescence, said Moodie, who was raised in a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Brooklyn and attended Jewish camps every summer.

I asked myself, Who am I? Where do I fit in? I felt like I had to make a choice between the Jewish side, the white side, the Black side.

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I went up to him expecting that this incredible, long-lost brother would hug me, he said. It was like, Omigosh theres more of us! I sort of pantomimed, Youre a Brown Jew, Im a Brown Jew. Thats amazing! But he told me, No, were just Jewish.

Moodie said the encounter led him to own his Jewishness, whereas previously he would elide the issue by telling himself and others that he was simply raised Jewish or that his mother was Jewish.

I had always put a qualifier to my Jewish identity, Moodie said. I realized I can just be Jewish while honoring my African-American identity. I dont have to choose between my identities.

Today he goes to synagogue regularly and his children attend Jewish day school.

Since its inception in 1999, Birthright has had a mission to ensure Jewish continuity by strengthening the Jewish identity of Jewish young adults as well as their connections to Israel and each other through an all-expenses-paid trip to Israel.

Birthrights open-tent approach to recruitment has meant that many of its participants have a hyphenated identity, either ethnically or religiously, or both. So being a Black Jew or Asian Jew or Latino Jew or Persian Jew has made their lives richer but often more complicated.

For some Jews of color, what seems to be societys insistence on choosing one identity over another for example, youre Black in one space and Jewish in another has led to internal identity struggles, said Tema Smith, a diversity advocate and Jewish community builder. What is needed now is for the Jewish community to broadcast loudly that Jews can hold multiple identities and that there is no conflict between a Jewish identity and being from another group.

From its outset, Birthright enthusiastically welcomed Jewish young adults regardless of their racial or ethnic background, affiliation with Jewish institutions or religious observance.

Zohar Raviv, Birthrights vice president of educational strategy, described it this way: We believe that whereas unity among Jews has always been a value, uniformity between Jews has never been a value.

Amy Albertson, a Chinese-Jewish resident of Sacramento, California, who came on Birthright in her early 20s and ultimately lived in Israel for several years, said the experience exposed her to a Jewish diversity she never knew existed. Ultimately that made her feel more comfortable in her own identity as both a Jewish and Chinese American.

I grew up around Jews who looked a certain way: Eastern European, Albertson said. Until I went to Israel I didnt know there were so many other types of Jews. In Israel, there were Jewish people from everywhere: I was able to interact with Mizrahim, Russians, Ethiopians and so many others.

For Albertson, now 30, the opportunity to meet a diversity of Jews in Israel was a happy revelation.

I didnt grow up with a lot of Jewish tradition, and I would always get nervous in Jewish spaces because I didnt know how to do this or that religious ritual, she said.

Although Albertson became very Jewishly active in college, it wasnt until she traveled to Israel for the first time with Birthright that she realized to feel Jewish, all you have to do is exist. In Israel, Shabbat feels like Shabbat. It doesnt matter if you go to shul or light Shabbat candles.

Albertson recalled a Birthright activity with the Israel soldiers who accompanied the group.

We were asked to share a Jewish memory, but I was like, I dont have many Jewish memories, she said. The soldier I was paired with said, I guess all my memories are Jewish, but Im secular. Thats when I realized that I dont need to do anything to be Jewish. I am Jewish.

Benjamin Sklar, 29, visited Israel several years ago on Birthright Excel, a 10-week professional experience designed to foster economic and social partnerships between Jews from the Diaspora and Israel. An experience on the trip inspired him to decide to move to Israel and join the Israeli army (he later moved back to the United States and become a lawyer).

The group met with the Arab-Israeli CEO of Jerusalems YMCA and learned about how the Y builds bridges between Palestinians and Israelis in Jerusalem.

Even as he decided to join the army, Sklar said he wanted to devote his career to helping the Palestinian-Israeli relationship.

I just had a feeling on Birthright that I wanted to be an Israeli soldier; I felt they were superheroes, Sklar said. I wanted to serve the country and be part of the team. I thought to myself, Are they more Jewish than me? I served in the paratroopers.

For Emily Nassir, whose mother is an American-born Ashkenazi Jew and her father a Persian Israeli, growing up in a diverse home helped her appreciate the various customs and rituals practiced by different communities.

It taught me to respect other peoples ways of living, said Nassir, 25, of New York.

Nassirs trip to Israel with Birthright in March 2019 exposed her to an even wider swath of Israeli culture.

My favorite part of the trip was sleeping overnight in a Bedouin tent, engaging with Arab culture, she recalled. It was the most eye-opening experience, immersing for a time in another culture, watching someone in their own space. I realized that so many peoples and cultures exist in this one small country.

At a time when antisemitism is rampant, Nassir said that engaging with Israelis with different viewpoints, as she did during her Birthright experience, is the only way to understand Israel as a living, breathing place.

Albertson said experiencing Israel and Israelis firsthand has enabled her to fight antisemitism and anti-Zionism with facts.

When people are yelling lies about Israel, I can feel more confident that I know they arent true, she said.

Israel as a Jewish country and homeland is not just a story or an idea. Ive seen it, tasted it, touched it. Ive witnessed and felt the Jewish connection to the land, and that is a powerful feeling.

When I face antisemitism, Albertson said, I know that I am part of this legacy and this nation. And I know that in the worst possible case scenario, I always have a home as a Jewish person.

This story was sponsored by and produced in partnership with Birthright Israel, which aims to give every young Jewish adult around the world the opportunity to visit Israel on an educational trip. This article was produced by JTAs native content team.

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For US Jews of color, meeting Israels diversity was affirming experience - The Jerusalem Post

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Posted By admin on July 18, 2021

In matters of lunch, I am not a sunny individual. I try to be. When these, the summer months, roll around I imagine myself to be one of those heat-kissed, carefree types in a loose white linen shirt, doing sensitive things with natures seasonal bounty. I desperately want to be the man who dreams of halving the pertest of cherry tomatoes, then showering them with the petals of purple chive flowers. Add glugs of peppery olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, a crunch of sea salt, then push the plate into the middle of the table while whispering: When the ingredients are this good you just need to let them shine, dont you?

I want to be the man who pairs curls of charred squid with fronds of balsamic-slicked rocket; who places ice cubes into bowls of brilliant red gazpacho with a self-satisfied sigh; who does interesting things with berries and a dollop of creme fraiche. I want to be this man but I am not. My heart and, more importantly, my stomach arent in it. I must acknowledge my true nature. I am a winter cook currently forced to endure the summer months.

My first Saturday job was as a butchers boy, forever smelling of the bleach I used to wipe down the walls. One weekend in the middle of a heatwave, the shop fell empty. Theyre all at home eating mangy salads, said Ken, the head butcher, eyeing the unmolested doorway, while sucking noisily on a fag. A profound truth was revealed to me that day. Hot days are the enemy of good eating. I know that in the summer months I am meant to swoon at the thought of vivacious salads. I dream instead of pies.

I like to imagine that this is all some profound genetic inheritance; that, buried deep in the Ashkenazi Jewish genome, is the Mittel European coding that encourages the storing of calories against the bitter cold of the winter months, and the consumption to facilitate that. It would be the same coding which graces me with thighs for which the words monumental and girth were invented. I may no longer be living in Slutsk or Slonim, one of those Belarussian stetls with a name that sounds like a condiment made with soured cream, but my body still craves chicken fat and carbs. It cries out for the thumping flavours of the deepest of stews, made from the cheapest of cuts.

I like to imagine this whole genetic thing because it is much easier than acknowledging a tendency to plain old greed. Or is it just good taste? We are meant to be utterly delighted by the vivid, saturated colours of summer; to celebrate the blousy edible charms of the warmest months. And sure, it looks great and some of it tastes great. But is it as much of a crowd pleaser as whats on offer in winter? In the cold months there is a place for suet crusts and for dumplings. There is a place for potatoes both roasted and mashed, for pies and puddings and crumbles and for custard, the proper thick kind. Any season which sneers at custard has to be a bad idea.

And theres something else. While the hot summer months mitigate the good things, the cold winter months do not exclude the feeble pleasure of summeriness. If you want a tomato and chive salad alongside your steak and kidney suet pudding in December you can have it. Knock yourself out. That doesnt work the other way round, does it? No, it doesnt. I rest my case. The problem is, the strength of my argument doesnt change the fact that it is still July. And I am hungry.

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Summers here and salad days go on for ever mores the pity - The Guardian

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Posted By admin on July 18, 2021

JTA Rabbi Yoel HaKohen Kahn, whose job was to memorize and transcribe the extemporaneous talks by the Lubavitcher rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, died on July 15. He was 91.

As the rebbes chief chozer, or oral scribe, Kahn was adept at the arts of memorization, repetition and transcription, according to Chabad.org. Schneerson would deliver lengthy, complex Torah homilies to his followers, and Kahn and a team of scribes would memorize them and submit them later to Schneerson for editing.

Kahn also was a scholar of Lubavitch and other Hasidic thought and a teacher at the Central Lubavitch Yeshiva. He was the lead editor of Sefer HaArachim, an encyclopedia of Hasidic concepts.

Born in Moscow, Kahn immigrated to Mandatory Palestine with his family in 1935 and to New York City in 1950 to continue his studies at Lubavitch headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.

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Rabbi Yoel Kahn, scholar who preserved Lubavitcher rebbes words, dies at 91 - The Times of Israel

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Posted By admin on July 18, 2021

AJT asked a few of Atlantas rabbis known to have pets about the experience of owning a furry family member. They spoke about the joy and fulfillment their pet in some cases more than one brought to their personal and spiritual lives. Here are their answers.

Rabbi Josh Hearshen with wife Carrie, daughter Ayelet, newborn Galit, and Zahavah.

Rabbi Josh HearshenRabbi, Congregation Or VeShalom

Tell us a little about your pet. Our dog is named Zahavah. She is 7 years old and is a mutt that has a lot of yellow lab in her.

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How long have you had your pet and what made you decide to get one?We have had Zahavah since 2014. Our older daughter Ayelet had wanted a dog for quite some time. When we were in Israel, she actually believed that she would ask for a dog at the Wall and she would be handed one right after as we were leaving. She was so sad afterwards when we were leaving sans dog.

One night while I was meeting with conversion students, they told me their hobby was rescuing dogs. I jokingly said that we had been talking about a dog and they told me they had just rescued one that day. My wife came over to the synagogue that night to meet her and the next night she came to meet Ayelet our younger daughter had not been born yet and they hit it off. We had told Ayelet that a friend was just bringing her dog over to play. When Ayelet woke up the next morning, Zahava was in our room and we told her that we had adopted her.

What has a pet added to your life?Zahavah is a caring dog and has taught us to love more and to also look out for those who cannot look out for themselves. She also reminds us that having fun matters.

Are there Jewish values you believe align with having a pet?We believe tzaar baalei chayim, treating animals with compassion and love. My wife Carrie loves to always remind me that we are required to feed the dog before we eat as she cannot feed herself.

Whats the best aspect of having a pet?Seeing her interact with our daughters.

Opal with Rabbi Josh Lesser and Alessandro.

Rabbi Joshua LesserRabbi emeritus, Congregation Bet Haverim

In brief: Here are some reflections on our pup Opal.We won the dog lottery when we adopted Opal, a Labrador and possibly a Whippet mix from the [Atlanta] Humane Society.

Pet decision: My husband Alessandro and I had been looking to adopt a puppy for nearly a year, but the day of the 2016 election, I turned to my husband and said, Its time. We need some joy in our household. When we arrived at the shelter, a new litter of puppies had just arrived. In a mix of brown puppies, there was this one cinnamon swirl cutie; she was the only female. With her brindle color, and my penchant for naming my previous dogs after jewels, we brought our Opal home. Imagine our delight to discover that she was born on the exact same day as our engagement. It was meant to be. Weighing in at 100 pounds, she is a sweet and loving dog that can be very protective of her daddies. Her worst habits are shedding more than any short-haired dog can, drooling profusely at the sight of any cooked food, and eating sticks. My husband is the one who spoils Opal with table scraps. He cannot resist her dramatic eyes. Whereas I am the one who is the disciplinarian, to whom she listens and obeys.

What added to life: Opal has added so much love and joy, but during the pandemic she truly became a lifesaver for me. During the pandemic, I worked from home and so Opal was often by my side or at my feet. Just out of sight from the Zoom screen, she would be there waiting for me to pet her. During this, my insomnia increased and without the outlet of the gym, I started running outdoors at 4 in the morning. Opal became my running companion. Not only did I feel safe with her, the joy she had running was infectious. In many ways, she encouraged me. And we would return home, both ready to sleep a bit more before tackling the day.

Jewish values: There is much debate in traditional halachah (Jewish law) about having dogs and pets, most of it concerning the prohibition of having an evil dog, whose definition varies but almost always includes a dog who bites. We are very fortunate that Opal is a source of much blessing and no evil. Instead, I am guided by the tradition mentioned in Talmud Berachot 40a that interprets the verse I will give grass in your fields for your animal, and you shall eat and be satisfied. (Deuteronomy 11:15) as a dictate to feed your animals first. But I would even expand this teaching as a directive to empathize with our pets needs so that we do not see ourselves as owners, but rather as guardians taking care of the well-being of these animals in our care.

Best aspect: The best part of being a guardian to Opal is that she is a significant part of our family. She is silly, loving and playful, and during a time when there has been so much serious and challenging news, she brings delight and invites us even demands us to be in the present tending to her.

Rabbi Shalom Lewis and Jack

Rabbi Shalom LewisRabbi emeritus, Congregation Etz Chaim

In brief: Jack is our Shih Tzu and hes 13 1/2 years old, weighs 8 pounds, pretty grey hair. Jack has a sweet temperament and always likes to be near us. He will follow us from room to room. His favorite spot is the low living window where can survey the front yard and watch the world pass by.

Pet decision: This is the first dog that I have ever owned, but for Cindy, she has always had dogs.

When Cindy and I were discussing marriage, I knew that unless I adopted her last dog Bandit, I would have remained single. Having a dog was part of the marital package. I knew where I stood in the pecking order.

What added to life: Jack has given us a sense of responsibility and what it means to express unconditional love.

Jewish values: Jewish tradition has great respect for animals. One of the seven fundamental principles known as the Noahide laws is compassion for animals. A bold statement underscoring Judaisms respect for all life. Tradition requires that we feed our pets before we feed ourselves.

Best aspect: Always someone there to greet you after a long day at work. Inspiring source of love. Jack is a paragon of forgiveness. Ive locked him in the basement accidentally. Kicked him in the dark accidentally. Left him outdoors on the deck in the chill of winter accidentally. But never is he vindictive. Nasty. Cold. He doesnt pout nor storm away into another room. He is quick to forgive. Dogs can help prepare us for Yom Kippur. Though occasionally wronged, they quickly move on with a lick and a wagging tail.

They are remarkable exemplars of loyalty, devotion and forgiveness.

Rabbi Larry Sernovitz and Peaches

Rabbi Larry SernovitzSenior rabbi, Temple Kol Emeth

In brief: Peaches is a 10-month-old Aussiedoodle. She came into our family just after the High Holy Days last year.

Pet decision: When we were getting ready to move to Atlanta, we were in the middle of COVID. My kids never got to see Atlanta or to go house hunting. We bought our house after an iPad tour with our real estate agent. My kids wanted something in return, and asked for a puppy. Of course, they wanted to name her something that would connect with our new life in Georgia. So, they chose Peaches.

What added to life: Peaches is an Aussiedoodle and is a herding dog. She makes sure she is everywhere we are. She does not like to be alone and when you least expect it, she is there. That includes Peaches opening up the bathroom door! She was an instant friend and a perfect addition to our family. When we wake up and when we go to bed, Peaches is there with her tail wagging, her tongue out, bringing joy to a challenging 2020. The love she has shared with us, and everyone who meets her, has been so well worth it!

Jewish value: Peaches reminds us every day what loyalty and love is all about. In a world that has struggled to see the holiness and humanity in the other, Peaches recognizes everyone and makes them feel welcome. Everyone is created in Gods image to Peaches. She also reminds us of the interdependence of the world. We all depend on one another and without each other, we will not survive.

Best aspect: When she cuddles with us, licks us, and makes sure we are not alone, we know that there is plenty of hope and love to go around.

Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner and Duncan

Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-WeinerSenior rabbi, Temple Beth Tikvah

In brief: Duncan is a little bit golden lab, with a shepherds tail and bark a lovely Holy mix. He was a rescue; he and his siblings were dumped on the side of a road in rural Missouri. Thankfully, someone found the litter and turned them over to an animal rescue group.

When we adopted Duncan, he weighed maybe 3 pounds. He was so small. Sitting toward the back of his cage, he caught our attention, with his mascara rimmed eyes and sweet little bark. My daughter Zoe and I knew immediately that Duncan needed to come home with us.

He turned out to be rather sickly; he had mange and almost died from double pneumonia, but he was a fighter.

Today Duncan is 13 and while an old guy, still makes his presence known!

Pet decision: Once the children came along, we always had pets. Goldfish, hamsters, hermit crabs and dogs.

Animals bring companionship and comfort. They help a child learn responsibility, commitment and compassion.

At the time when we adopted little Duncan, we had an older dog at home named George. He, too, was a rescue. We all adored George; he was the family dog. Duncan was a gift for our youngest child Zoe, who was then just entering eighth grade. She had been asking for her own pet for a number of years and we felt that she was old enough for the responsibility.

George taught Duncan how to be a dog (since Duncan had no mother to teach him) and the kids learned so much by watching Duncan and George interact.

What added to life: Unconditional love! NO matter how rough the day might be, when you come home, that dog is so incredibly happy to see you. Sitting and stroking his fur calms the soul and makes everything else melt away. The miles and miles of walks keeps you fit, too!

Jewish value: Having pets has certainly taught our children the Jewish value of tzaar baalei chayim, the compassionate treatment of animals. All of our children, now adults, have pets of their own (We have four grand-dogs, all rescues, three of whom spent time with us during the pandemic.)

Our children all engage in activities that focus on relieving suffering in the world human and animal. Two practice veganism as their religious food ethic and they all strive to leave a softer footprint on the planet. Much of their way of being comes from their time learning from the pets they had growing up.

Another thing that our pets have taught us is how to grieve. All of the children experienced the death of a beloved pet, bringing many important life lessons.

When a pet becomes part of the family it brings everyone together and teaches love and kindness. Theres nothing better.

As members of the family, the dogs all participated in all the holidays with us, sitting under the seder table. Duncan sits at the Shabbat table and waits for his challah, especially the homemade challah! They have attended Shabbat in the Park services with the family.

As a rabbi, I have arranged special programs for people to learn mitzvot for caring for their animals and special days for bestowing blessings for their pets.

Rabbi Mark Zimmerman, Rafi and Coco.

Rabbi Mark ZimmermanRabbi, Congregation Beth Shalom

In brief: We have two rescue dogs:a) Older white dog is Rafi. Hes a rescue mixed poodle, around 9 years old.b) Brown dog is Coco (admittedly my favorite due to her sassy, playful personality). Shes a rescue mini goldendoodle; a beautiful dog that we ended getting when Linda saw her on a rescue list. When we applied to adopt her, she is such a gorgeous dog that 80 people applied for her that very same day. We somehow got in the top 10. And when the foster mom brought Coco over to interview us, the two dogs couldnt stop playing with one another. So they were immediately sold on letting us adopt Coco.

Pet decision: We have ALWAYS been dog people; and have always had at least one dog. We used to have a 70-pound standard Poodle, but now that we are a little older, we decided to downsize to the minis!

What added to life: Snuggling! All they care about is hugs and love. You are a rock star whenever you come home, and they always greet us with over-the-top joy! Both dogs make an excellent alarm system (oftentimes too excellent).

Jewish value: Dogs give us unconditional love, ahavat chinam. Pikei Avot teaches that you always greet your fellow bsever panim yafot, a cheerful disposition. That they always do, and I wish people always acted that way! We can learn a lot from dogs. Our dogs join us for dog-friendly Jewish activities like Tashlich down by the river. And weve brought them to our synagogue Alefbet Preschool to play with the kids on Pet Day.

Best aspect: They love to take us on walks, play with our grandchildren, or enjoy a movie and popcorn with us on movie nights.

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Rabbis and Their Pets - Atlanta Jewish Times

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Posted By admin on July 18, 2021

Stuart Altshuler has a love of Jewish culture and education.

The 68-year old rabbi enjoys many things about his position as a leader in the Jewish community but says he might love making a tangible difference in his community the most.

That love of Jewish culture has accompanied Altshuler to many places, first in his native California and then inEngland where Altshuler recently finished more than 10 yearsas a rabbi at a synagogue in London.

Now, that passion for education will be apparent in Sarasota. Altshuler has accepted a position as a rabbi with Temple Beth Sholom. Temple members have already met Altshuler with a warm welcome by attending a celebratory get-together in June. Altshuler had his first official day on July 1 and is excited to see what he and the community will do together.

It wasnt always Altshulers plan to become a rabbi. He decided on the path during his third year at UC Berkeley when one of his mentors who noted Altshuler had a charismatic speaking style and had a way of working well with people recommended he pursue the rabbi position to have a career that was enmeshed in the Jewish community. Plus, Altshuler reasoned, there wasnt anything stopping him from gettinghis Ph.D down the road.

Altshuler started his career as a rabbi in 1980 after attending school in California, Israel and finally the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. He later receivedhis Ph.D in Jewish history from the same research institution.

That really set me on my course for my life, Altshuler said.

He lived in Chicago for some time before moving back to California to serve as a rabbi at a small congregation while also teaching at Chapman University in Orange County.

He enjoyed focusing on academia for some time but eventually felt a need to exclusively return to rabbi duties. He spent time studying in London and was eventually invited to serve as a rabbi at the Belsize Square Synagogue.

I said to my wife (Ella) Lets see what happens, it could be an interesting diversion in our lives, Altshuler said. I figured Id be there two or three years and then come back to the States. I ended up being there 10 and a half years.

Altshuler says hes proud of his time there, particularly working on building up membership and establishing an educational center.

That emphasis on community and education is something he wants to continue at Temple Beth Sholom. Altshuler was considering between retiring and continuing his career as a rabbi and decided he had too much passion to stop now.

People are looking for answers and meaning in life, Altshuler said. People trying to turn a very difficult year from despair into hope. I do believe its going to be a return of institutions like this and churches and mosques that can bring new hope and optimism to a world that needs it.

He sent in his application to Temple Beth Sholom last November and was eventually accepted. Hes familiar with Sarasota having visited years prior and also has friends in the area.

Altshuler has many plans for his new home andwants to start a series of guest speakers to visit the synagogue to promote education in the local community.

He and staff are inviting writer Thomas Harding with whom Altshuler is friends to speak in October as well as planning appearances from Dr. Henry Mendoza with the Henry Jackson Society think tank in London. Altshuler is excited for Temple members to become acquainted with some of these figures hes become acquainted with during his time in London.

Were really going to rock this place, Altshuler. Were going to be the hub of Jewish visitors here (in Sarasota). Special scholars and leaders will be part of this community.

It feels good for Altshuler to be back in the United States preparing to engage with an all-new community. He recalls times people have come up to him remembering him as the rabbi overseeing their bar mitzvah years before. He wants to bring that kind of connection and meaning to the community at Temple Beth Sholom.

I dont feel my age, I have energy plus. Altshuler. This is a tremendous community and Ive been welcomed with open arms. I hope we can make a contribution not only to the Jewish community but to the wider Sarasota area.

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Temple Beth Sholom welcomes Altshuler as new rabbi - YourObserver.com

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Posted By admin on July 18, 2021

(LEX 18) Rabbi Shlomo Litvin, the director of the Chabad of the Bluegrass, is back in Lexington after spending a weekend in Washington, D.C., where he spoke at a rally organized in response to the rise in antisemitism across the country.

"I focused on the idea of no fear," Rabbi Litvin told. "Hiding has never worked. Assimilation has never worked. The answer to antisemitism--the answer to hatred--has to be pride in who you are."

The event, titled "No Fear: A Rally in Solidarity with the Jewish People," was sponsored by several national groups, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Alliance for Israel. It featured speakers that included victims of antisemitic acts and elected officials across the political spectrum.

"To see that excitement that we aren't going anywhere," Rabbit Litvin recalled. "That we're filled with Jewish pride and we're going to be engaged in our faith and that America on its very basic ideals is the place for us to do so was incredibly uplifting."

The rally was held amidst a rise in attacks on members of the Jewish community. Preliminary data from the Anti-Defamation League found that there was a "rise in online and real-world incidents of antisemitism in the U.S. in the wake of the recent conflict in Israel."

In 2020, the ADL tracked 2,024 incidents reported antisemitic incidents. Although that represented a slight decrease from 2019, the ADL said it represented the third-highest year on record since the organization began tracking the data in 1979.

The ADL also found that in 2020, antisemitic attacks in Kentucky were at their highest level since 1979.

"It is both the highest it's ever been and remarkably underreported," Rabbi Litvin remarked. "And it's not just Kentucky. It's across the nation."

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Rabbi on speech at DC rally against antisemitism: 'Hiding has never worked' - LEX18 Lexington KY News

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Posted By admin on July 18, 2021

At some point, there was a parting of the ways. Two identities formed: Judaism and Christianity. Some scholars date it to the fourth century. Others date it earlier.

But at some point, people began asking: To what group do I belong? Who is in? Who is out? Through texts, doctrines and practices, the rabbis and early church leaders defined differences that marked the boundaries between Judaism and Christianity.

From its conception, the Christian faith has defined Jews explicitly as the religious Other, said Rabbi Tovia Singer. It has committed itself to converting Jews.

Rabbi Singer is a counter-missionary. Hes the founder and director of Outreach Judaism, an international organization dedicated to countering the efforts of fundamentalist Christian groups and cults which specifically target Jews for conversion. He is the author of the book, Lets Get Biblical: Why Doesnt Judaism Accept the Christian Messiah? He is a frequent guest on television and radio shows.

Rabbi Singer will speak on The Battle for the Jewish Soul: Are the Missionaries Winning? on Friday, July 23, at 6 p.m., in the Barg Sanctuary at Congregation Beth Yeshurun, and on Sunday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m., at the Techniplex Conference Center, 4810 Techniplex Dr., in Stafford.

Nobody uses terms like convert to Christianity anymore, Rabbi Singer told the JHV. They use terms like messianic Jew or completed Jew. Even the term, Hebrew Christian, is out of vogue.

The messianic community seeks to blur the distinction between Judaism and Christianity. They do this in order to lure Jews who would otherwise resist a straight-forward Christian message. Theyve done this successfully by appropriating Jewish symbols and rituals in order to convince people they dont have to abandon the Jewish faith in order to believe in Jesus.

Rabbi Singer emphasizes that its important for people to know that most Christians dont engage in the practice of missionizing or actively attempting to convert the Jewish people.

For instance, the Roman Catholic Church and the mainline Christian denominations are generally not involved in specifically proselytizing Jews. Were speaking about evangelical Christians, who are uniquely committed to seeing the Jewish people come to the cross. They sponsor groups like Jews for Jesus. They spend millions of dollars annually to missionize the Jews. They believe in order for Jesus to make his second coming, the Jews must convert to Christianity.

No denomination of Judaism considers messianic Jews to be a form of Judaism. One major reason: Messianic Jews believe the entire Christian Bible to be sacred scripture.

All messianic Jews believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, which includes the New Testament. There is no theological distinction between what they believe and a Southern Baptist church down the street believes. Their leaders are trained at the Moody Bible Institute and the Dallas Theological Seminary. They are simply Christian, although they may light candles on Friday night and may not celebrate Christmas.

Why is the mission of getting Jews to convert central to messianic Jews?

Three reasons, answered Rabbi Singer.

The Christian Bible prioritizes conversion of the Jews.

Second is eschatological: Only the mass conversion of the Jews will trigger the second coming of Jesus. The Jews play a critical role in this.

Third, the Jewish rejection of Jesus is problematic for the church and always has been. Its the conversion of Jews to Christianity that lends credence to the church, rather than the conversion of the gentile.

The interest on the part of Jews is related to their education. If you dont have a Jewish education, youre more [susceptible] to their message. When you strip anyone of knowledge of their faith and all they know about is Holocaust and culture, then if they are spiritually hungry and seek G-d, either we can provide spiritual answers or they will. The success of Jews for Jesus represents the unpaid bills of the Jewish people.

Rabbi Singers strategy for dealing with missionaries involves education.

The work of my organization is to provide information so that Jewish communities understand the dangers they face. It is important to know who is preying on the community. Education that teaches Jewish values is like spiritually inoculating our sons and daughters, said Rabbi Singer.

The most important thing I do is get to people before they encounter organizations like Jews For Jesus. Im happy so many Jews see my lectures, watch my videos and read my books so they never turn to these groups. Preventative measures, spiritual and physical, are always easier than trying to intervene after the fact.

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Rabbi Tovia Singer, anti-missionary man, to speak at Beth Yeshurun later this month - Jewish Herald-Voice

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