יום שלישי, י״ט אלול תשפ״וTuesday, September 1, 2026
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Amidst this most dramatic period of our 2,000 year exile, this medieval Ashkenazic Jew has somehow retained his sense of purpose, his own internal value, and his unbreakable bond.
By Deborah Katz
In October 1941, the Nazis halted all immigration from Europe. The last refugee boat arrived in Sosua (which by now had 500 immigrants) on December 8, 1941 – a day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
After the Talmud was burned, all remaining Hebrew books had to be submitted to the Catholic Inquisition for censorship.
Walt never met with Hitler, but it is beyond dispute that the Fuhrer adored Disney’s work.
All through Shabbos I saw men and women engaged in animated conversations, and a number of young men and women approached the shadchanim for help, which was forthcoming.
By Yaffa Ganz
Nothing can compete with that which we love, which is our own. Think of children. There is no doubt in my mind that my grandchildren are the most beautiful, intelligent, delightful grandchildren around.
By Deborah Katz
In April 1942, three Jewish women of Polish and Austrian background living on Guernsey were handed over to the Nazis and sent to Auschwitz where they were killed.
Each product was marked "J. & D. Miller, N.Y., Guaranteed," and the brothers were well known for repairing or sharpening their products as needed, even years after their purchase.
In the wake of its election loss, the Black Panther movement essentially ended. It had failed to radicalize most Mizrachim. Nonetheless, the issues and needs of Mizrachim subsequently took a front and center position in Israeli politics.
By Judy Waldman
Kesser Israel is the stronghold for Torah Judaism, for Yiddishkeit, in the Pacific Northwest, and for Oregon in particular. Located in the progressive city of Portland, it is a laidback congregation that is attracting new young families and individuals. It’s origins date back to the California Gold Rush, which, from 1848-1856, brought approximately 300,000 people […]
During the month of June in New York, two Judaica auctions were held; each offered ceremonial objects, paintings, and printed material that were of significant interest to collectors, dealers, and museums worldwide. Beginning with Sotheby's: An exceedingly rare pair of silver Torah rimonim (finials that adorn the tops of a sefer Torah) from Hamburg, Germany […]
The Hebrew text has vowels below it, similar to the way Hebrew is vowelized today.
Out of 13 candidates, mostly from Germany, Rav Adler made the “final four” list for chief rabbi along with Rabbis Samson Raphael Hirsch, Benjamin Hirsch Auerbach, and Hirsch Hirschfeld.
Given that only 80 copies of it survived, it is possibly the rarest of all early volumes covering the proceedings of Congress.
By Baruch Lytle
Mr. Dershowitz is a man who helps a lot of Yidden. In my case [as well]. And for that we’re thankful.
By Deborah Katz
While studying the chair one day, Syl thought: Why not place a basket on the seat and wheels on the legs?
By Tzvi Fishman
Back when I was a child, if a lizard ran across the road in the heat of the day, that was the biggest news story of the day.
The exhibit covers three floors. The first floor depicts pre-war Poland and Germany, the second floor covers the “camps," and the third floor highlights the individuals who populated Auschwitz.
Thanks to the member from Washington, whose name I desire to know, and to you and your associates, Maryland has wiped from her escutcheon the stain of intolerance.
Mussolini had a brother, Arnaldo (1885-1931), who was one of the most important developers of fascist ideology.
He also longed for the children he had left behind in Poland and therefore returned to Poland, albeit with a love for Eretz Yisrael that he carried with him until his death.
Leeser's work, therefore, no doubt helped combat the influence of missionaries and Christian Bibles.
Many of our greatest artists have produced striking graphic works on these subjects, and I present here a selection of original artwork from my Shavuot collection.
The earthquake that devastated Tzfat in 1837 put an abrupt end to Back's activities in Tzfat, but by 1841, we find him in Jerusalem, where he founded the first Hebrew printing press in the city, with the support of Sir Moses Montefiore.
By Deborah Katz
Over 200 refugee children ages 15-16 years inhabited the castle: 60 from Bachad; 129 from Youth Aliyah, and 43 from Llandough Castle who evacuated it after it was bombed by the Germans.
Although Eisner later wrote many comics featuring overtly Jewish characters, “The Spirit” (which was created at a time when clearly identifying the religious affiliation of leading comic book characters was strongly disfavored) was not explicitly so.
By Judy Waldman
It is impressive to see the standing room only crowd on Shabbos.
By Tzvi Fishman
We don't say: 'Either Medinat Yisrael with Mashiach or reject the state and stay in galut.' This is not proper reasoning.
I’m a lover of Yiddish, read some every week, and believe in its future, though that’s a complex subject.
In the early days of the chassidic movement, as well as in Kabbalistic circles, sitting for a portrait was often frowned upon and sometimes even forbidden.
Although Rubinstein’s maternal grandparents, with whom he and his family lived in Lodz, were strictly Orthodox, his parents were not, and he received little religious education, despite the plethora of Jewish schools in Lodz.
In On the Jewish Question, Marx contemptuously criticized Judaism (and, to a lesser extent, Christianity) from the standpoint of social emancipation, regarding Jews as the embodiment of capitalism and the creators of its evils.
By Yaffa Ganz
Gone are the days when culture connoted fine art, music, refinement or even polite behavior. Good taste is no longer governed by rules.
By Tzvi Fishman
He said that in the Death March toward the end of the war, he drank his urine, again and again, to survive.
The study and teaching of Jewish history established his own Jewish identity and constituted for him the ultimate proxy for Judaism itself.
Zishe’s parents wanted him to learn a trade, but wherever he was apprenticed, his masters took advantage of him by using his strength for business and taught him nothing.
Although not observant, Ramon understood his role as Israel’s first space diplomat. During the mission, he ate only kosher food, made Kiddush Friday night, and recited Shema Yisrael as the shuttle flew over Jerusalem.
After the Holocaust, chalitzah complications also arose since many widows had no information on the status or whereabouts of their brothers-in-law.
[I]n every generation, our enemies stand up against us to destroy us, but G-d always saves us from their hands.
Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a British writer best known for his iconic Sherlock Holmes detective stories, but he was also a physician (Holmes was modeled after his former university teacher, Joseph Bell) and a prolific writer in the fields of science fiction, fantasy, humor, romance, poetry, theater, history, historical fiction, medicine, politics, architecture, and […]
By Yaffa Ganz
Life is full of surprises. The party did much better than expected and Yechiel found himself a member in good standing in Israel’s new government.
Never has there been such a debased situation whereby the Jewish people are so dependent on the nations as today....
However, Hitler’s rise to power presented a great challenge to Einstein who, though a pacifist, understood that to prevent war, it was sometimes necessary to use force, especially against a threat as monumental as that posed by the Nazis.
By Judy Waldman
It was time to not just start a new synagogue, it was time to create an atmosphere that assured that davening with kavanah was an attainable goal.
Secular educational experts argue that the state has the right – indeed, the duty – to prepare children to become responsible members of a democratic society, based upon Jewish values, including dignity, tolerance and love for the land of Israel.
It was customary to hang decorations such as yours on the synagogue wall at the start of the month of Adar, and for them to be taken down once the Purim holiday concluded.
Guided by his parents and other family members, Tzvi spent seven months polishing the text. “His writing was so simple and yet so powerful,” Rivkah said.
Much like the leadership of the Zionist Entity today, Haman came up with a dastardly plan to destroy...every living Palestinian.
By Deborah Katz
As they walked towards the camp escorted by guards, locals lining the streets threw stones at them and shouted, "Spies!" Jewish refugees shared their lodgings with Nazi spies.
In his memoir, Asimov writes that although he was never physically abused for being Jewish, he was occasionally attacked verbally by anti-Semitic “louts,” which he accepted as just the nature of things and deemed himself powerless to change.
π appears not only in geometry, but in number theory, algebra, analysis, statistics, and other mathematical disciplines. In physics, π is truly ubiquitous.
Purim celebrations in Tel Aviv, which began in 1908, were the largest public events in Eretz Yisrael during the British Mandate period and an important exemplar of Jewish culture. The sometimes outrageous carnivals became both a source of pride to the citizens of Tel Aviv and a broader demonstration of the accomplishments and capabilities of […]
A psychology major at the University of Central Florida, Malka said most Jews on his campus lean right. That is not the case on many other campuses, however – which is why, in part, YJC was founded.
Charles Lindbergh (1902-74) earned worldwide fame for making the first solo, non-stop flight across the Atlantic on “The Spirit of St. Louis” in 1927. When “Lucky Lindy” returned from Paris, thousands of New Yorkers welcomed him with a ticker-tape parade and a celebration reportedly unparalleled in the city’s history. His public stature following this historic […]
The fate of the Exodus and its crew commanded international attention, and journalists who covered the dramatic struggle described to the entire world the brutality of the British.
By Judy Waldman
This time period covered the sons of Baron Hirsch members serving in wars, including the American Civil War, the Spanish American War, World Wars and I & II, and the Korean War.
If I were to walk into a retail store, I doubt I could purchase your chanukiah for anything less than $5,000.
Teddy Roosevelt became the first president known to donate personal funds to a Jewish cause.
In the early days of the chassidic movement, as well as in Kabbalistic circles, sitting for a portrait was often frowned upon and sometimes even forbidden.
After its 1949 elections, Israel filed yet a third application for membership, and this time the request was approved by the Security Council by a 9-1 vote on March 4, 1949.
By Judy Waldman
The Sisterhood arrived at the decision to create the “Young Ladies’ Club of Congregation B’nai Israel," where there would be interesting activities for young women in their late teens and twenties.
Incredibly, five of the original signatories to the Buttonwood Agreement were Jews, all members of Shearith Israel.
By Rhona Lewis
Suddenly, more than eight hundred years fall away and the legacy of the Rambam comes to life.
We need to remember that as important as marriage is, it's not our final destination.
By Yaffa Ganz
Somewhere inside all the confusion, bits of truth and wisdom struggle to emerge.
Recent studies indicate that Lie and the American government played a more important role in the armistice negotiations than previously understood.
By Sandy Eller
“We created a full beit medrash and kollel where we are building future rabbis and community leaders,” said Meirov. “The future is looking very bright.”
By Judy Waldman
Although some Memphis Jews were slaveholders and slave traders, they mostly favored secession primarily due to their Southern acculturation rather than by the defense of slavery.
The constant upheaval, violent persecution and expulsion of various Jewish communities in Europe has had an acute effect on extant Jewish ritual objects.
By Deborah Katz
He was disappointed by the world’s response to Kristallnacht and commiserated with the Jewish people.
In the early days of the chassidic movement, as well as in Kabbalistic circles, sitting for a portrait was often frowned upon and sometimes even forbidden.
While the Vaad Halashon and others supported Amikam’s letter to the British and sought financial support from the Zionist Organization, the response was, at best, lukewarm...
This is a difficult time for the Coast Guard, nationally and here at home in Staten Island. To see the outpouring of concern during this trying time is beyond heartwarming.
By Deborah Katz
My grandparents and my father stayed in their own apartment. A sign was displayed outside saying, ‘Salvadorian Citizens Live Here.’ It was very risky living there as everyone knew they were Hungarian Jews.
Despite his own many accomplishments as a novelist, poet, composer, and musician, Max Brod (1884-1968) is perhaps best known as Kafka’s friend, supporter, and patron.
For better or worse, Hashem has designated this world as the exclusive place where we can create greatness.
Since this is a very frum wedding, men and women do not sit together. And it is all glatt, perilously close to glatt gluttony.
Luke, who previously served as Great Britain’s Governor of Jerusalem, thought he could nip the violence in its bud by summoning Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, admonishing him for the rioting, and ordering him to cease and desist.
That is unique. It is extremely rare for someone to donate a kidney and then a liver, but he was so very motivated to give this gift to someone.
Many commentators characterize Straus’ appointment as a key early step in the depoliticization of the diplomatic service and its rendering as a true meritocracy.
Given the centrality of Torah study to Jewish life... it is not surprising that Jewish artists have frequently featured it in their work.
Editor’s note: Antique Judaica Roadshow will appear monthly. We encourage readers to email pictures of their Judaica to Tsadik Kaplan at tsadik613@gmail.com. He may choose to assess your antiques in his future columns. Perhaps the most ubiquitous piece of Jewish ritual art in our society is the menorah. The Chanukah menorah as we know […]
Perhaps the Nazis could destroy the bodies of the Jews but not the Torah and the soul...
Although some argue Bush’s foreign policy was a complex mix of support and opposition to Israel’s foreign policy, a strong case can be made that the Bush administration was the most hostile to Israel in American history – until Barack Obama indisputably seized the presidential anti-Israel crown.
By Deborah Katz
No visas to the U.S. were issued until mid-1940. The U.S. consulate informed the refugees that their arrival in the U.S. would deprive Americans of jobs.
By Rhona Lewis
In recent years, Shavei Israel has facilitated the immigration and absorption of 3,500 Bnei Menashe Jews from India.
Raphall emphasized that the “slave,” in whom vests fundamental human dignity, must be served the best food and, if there is only one mattress, the slave gets it and the Jewish owner must sleep on the floor.
I could not believe that the evidence that my great-grandparents were renowned rabbis, and their names, was right in front of me all my life.
When the Rebbe died, everyone grieved, but no one grieved like Pappa did.
It is also broadly credited with playing an important role in turning American public opinion against England and forcing the British to end the Palestine Mandate and to withdraw from Eretz Yisrael.
As Israel’s fourth president, he used his personal standing and the prestige of his office to galvanize academics to address the danger of assimilation in Diaspora communities.
August 28, 2026 
