American Jewry, antisemitism, Quality of Jewish Life

Increased Security Measures Over High Holidays

Tree of Life Synagogue surrounded by yellow crime tape

Synagogues in California took special security measures to protect congregants over Rosh Hashana. So did shuls in Pittsburgh, and indeed, in all of America. Such measures included installing extra security cameras, having guards check handbags, and hiring extra security guards. Somehow, we have always thought this would not be needed here, in America. It is …

American Jewry, antisemitism, Orthodox, Quality of Jewish Life

Poway Suspect Will Stand Trial

Lori Kaye

A California judge has ordered John T. Earnest to stand trial for the murder of 60-year-old Lori Kaye and the attempted murder of others present on that fateful day at the Chabad synagogue in Poway. During the September 19 hearing, the 911 recording was publicly aired for the first time. Surveillance footage of the shooting …

American Jewry, antisemitism, Orthodox, Quality of Jewish Life

Why Doesn’t DeBlasio Do More about Antisemitic Attacks?

Paving stone used to attack Rabbi Avraham Gopin

This week, the opinion columns were flying thick and fast as the world rushed to condemn Mayor DeBlasio for not doing enough about antisemitic attacks in New York. The attack that seemed to make the journalists reach their boiling point, was the one in which Rabbi Gopin was beaten with a paving stone. A 64 …

American Jewry, antisemitism, Israel, Liberal Jews

Trump Calls Jews Who Vote Democrat “Disloyal”

The world is once again in an uproar over a statement made by President Trump, in regard to Jews who vote Democrat. The US president, at a press conference in the Oval Office, in response to Ilhan Omar’s call to cut the $3 billion in annual aid given to Israel, stated, “I can’t even believe …

Israel, Jewish pride

Tlaib Throws Grandma Under the Bus

Rashida Tlaib

Israel’s Minister for the Interior, Ariyeh Deri, decided not to allow the two Democratic representatives, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to enter Israel, on legal grounds. Israel’s No Entry law bars BDS activists from entering the country. After the decision was made, Tlaib appealed to Deri to visit her grandmother. On humanitarian grounds, Deri agreed, …

American Jewry, antisemitism

Anglican Church of Canada Replaces Prayer for the Conversion of the Jews

Historical building in Toronto, Canada, with Canadian flag

The Anglican Church of Canada intends to remove a prayer for the conversion of the Jews from its liturgy. The prayer is to be replaced with a text on the “Reconciliation with the Jews.” Bruce Myers, the Anglican bishop of Quebec, issued a statement saying that the changes are meant to move the community to …

antisemitism

France: Town Councilman Celebrates Birthday with Swastika Cake and “SS Friends”

Swastika cake

Djamel Bouzaam, a member of the town council of Montpellier (Herault) has posted on Facebook a photo of a cake decorated with a swastika he said was a “gift from my SS friend.” “I spent a beautiful day with my family, music, food in the home of my SS friend, then my birthday cake arrived, …