Two weeks ago I turned 90. I have seen some history in my days and I have a story to tellabout just one manbut its also a history lesson on a generation and a century.
I was born a Sephardi Jew in Sarajevo, in what was then a Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later Yugoslavia.
For both reasons, my life didnt develop according to my own plans. Instead, I was slapped around by world events.
“And the love they shared was a deep love…”
“And the love they shared was a forever love…“
“And the love they shared was a righteous love…”
I live for my parents – No
I live for my business – No
I live for my music, my writing, my running – No, No, No
I live for my husband – No
I live for my children – No
A group of Magen David High School students recently joined hundreds of other supporters of Israel at a protest rally outside the United Nations. Organized by StandWithUs, an organization dedicated “to informing the public about Israel and to combating the extremism and anti-Semitism that often distorts the issues,” this rally exposed the distortions, racism and lies that have marred the UN Human Rights Council and its Durban Conferences against Racism.
As the new school year began, a group of Jewish teenagers known as JTFC (Jewish Teens for the Community)-CTeen KH (Chabad Teen Kings Highway) got together to kick off the new year. The group, comprised of 15 Jewish teenagers, had their first event at Velocity 17 in Maywood, NJ.
Believe in yourself and you can do anything. Kids hear this all the time and a small group of 15 year olds recently took it to heart. These motivated teens raised $25,000 for the Sephardic Food Fund.
Their goal was to raise more than they did last year. They began working on their event last winter. First they sold SFF bracelets in all the yeshivot, and solicited sponsors for their Chinese Auction. Then, they held a great summer event, which included a scavenger hunt, a fantastic Chinese Auction and bake sale, and a split the pot raffle.
The Jewish Deaf Community Center was first organized in 1992 as an outreach group in Southern California. The organization expanded its mission and changed its name in August 1994, becoming a non-profit organization that now receives an overwhelming number of inquiries and requests nationwide. The Jewish Deaf Community Center (JDCC) exists exclusively for educational, religious, and charitable purposes and does not charge any membership fees.
It was a shattering story that could have ended in tragedy—were it not for the intervention of special people who cared enough to do the impossible.
*Mike, a father of a large family, was popular and well loved in his community. He successfully ran a network of respected kindergartens and elementary schools, until he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, after not feeling right for a few days. The doctors, in realistic pessimism, gave up from the outset, and issued dire predictions, telling his family that it was a matter of weeks. A second and third opinion echoed this view.
Rafael Eitan was a leading figure in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), of which he became Chief of Staff. He later entered into Israeli politics. Stocky, wiry and determined, with sharp, square features, Eitan knew no fear, and, as a field commander, always inspired confidence in the men he led.
Judaism boasts many of the most influential minds in the past 2,000 years. When we read about what chazal says about a matter, the term refers collectively to the consensus of authoritative opinion. Chazal is an acronym of the Hebrew phrase chachameinu zichronam liv’racha, which means, “our sages of blessed memory” or “our sages, may their memory be a blessing.” In its strictest sense, chazal refers to the final opinion expressed in the Talmud, but the term is sometimes used more loosely to refer to the generally accepted opinion of any of the wise people who have contributed to Jewish law.
The Jewish National Fund (JNF), through its Israel Advocacy and Education Department, has developed a number of ways to engage high school students across America to connect them to the land and people of Israel and prepare them to be Israel advocates when they go off to college.
…You’ll be the most famous of men, successful in your endeavors, with an unparalleled ability to influence those around you. Those you bless will be blessed. The land that lies before you will be yours and for your posterity…
Thus was initiated the formal relationship between Abraham and G-d, and the spiritual quest of humanity to build the world with courageous perspectives. It was at this point that the universal concept of a promise began to take shape.
The first Jews who settled in Japan were traders. As such, they were naturally attracted to port areas. They arrived soon after Japan was opened to Western commerce in 1862. In just a few years, by the late 1860’s, approximately 50 Jewish families lived in Yokohama.
During the 1880’s, Jews also settled in Nagasaki. By the turn of the century, Nagasaki was the biggest Jewish community in Japan. Kobe, by that time, had a functioning Jewish community with religious institutions and a Zionist organization.
There is no tuition crisis, there is a crisis of understanding. There isn’t a failure in the efforts of our young marrieds to support themselves, there is a failure in our conviction to support them. (Excerpt from: “Truth and Responsibility” featured in IMAGE Magazine, October 2011 Issue).
