Archive for the ‘Diaspora’ Category

French Anti-Zionist Party

File this in the “Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse” category:
France’s comedian Dieudonné M’bala M’bala has created a political party to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections.  The French high court threw out a petition to ban this party from running in the elections as a racist party.
Their platform essentially states the [...]

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Bosnian Anti-Semitism

Bosnia Jew seeks to reverse ban on running for president.  Today’s Haaretz reports http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1090694.html that under the Dayton peace agreement that ended Bosnia’s 1992-95 war, only Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats may run for the office. That means a Jew, for example, who was born and has lived his entire life in [...]

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Hungarian Anti-Semitism

According to the Jewish Agency, Hungary today has a population of approximately 50,000 Jews. In 1910, one hundred years ago, there were nearly one million Jews living there. The Nazis killed many, some emigrated to America, some to Israel, and others assimilated during the Soviet regime.
Hungary has a total population of just over [...]

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Thousands Celebrate Israel at Manhattan 5th Ave Parade

Today was NYC’s annual 5th Avenue Israel Celebration “Salute to Israel” Parade. Tens of thousands filled the streets of midtown Manhattan for the annual celbration.  The parade marks the anniversary of Israel’s independence in 1948.
I love a parade.  Everyone loves a parade.
I saw the headline and had fond memories of the time a few years [...]

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3 Men to Take Out the Torah – Peticha in America

An old joke waiting to be told:
How many Jews does it take to open the Ark and take out the Torah? Normally, the answer is one. Ok, I’ve seen in some synagouges two. How about three?
Background:
The synagouge service on days were the Torah includes an honor called “peticha” which litterally means [...]

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Israel Air Force Over Auschwitz

In preparation for Yom Hashoa / Holocaust Memorial Day:
This year Yom Hashoa falls out on May 1st
Last year, on occasion of Holocaust Memorial Day, a ceremony took place right on the rails leading in to Auschwitz.
During the ceremony the Israeli Air Force flew above in salute.
This is truly one of [...]

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You’re From Chicago? Fascinating!

A few years ago, I visited friends in New Jersey for Shabbat. We went to their synagogue for services and my friend introduced me to their Rabbi. The Rabbi welcomed me to their community and asked from where I had come.
I said, “I live in Bet Shemesh, Israel since 1994. I [...]

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