The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of TBS   Published on December 17th, 2014 | by LedgerOnline Remembering Julie HAMDEN – Julius “Julie” Hyatt died last Dec. 6 at age 94. The Hamden resident and founding member of Temple Beth Sholom was remembered this year as the congregation prepared for Sukkot, in the shadow of the new memorial plaque bearing his name. This was the first year since 1950 that Hyatt wasn’t physically present to help put up the Beth Sholom sukkah. Hyatt was born on June 26, 1919 in Clinton, the son of Morris and Dora, and brother of Eve, George, Hy, and Helen. He graduated from Commercial High School in 1937 and served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II. A resident of Hamden…

The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of TBS The intro to this article strikes a chord in my hearth. I used to belong to my school choir where I enjoyed singing an assortment of American folk songs, Stephen Foster songs and a sprinkling of Xmas songs. I rather enjoyed the Xmas song melodies, as later I found many were written by Jews, and I would slur the assorted words referring to Jesus and his status. My crisis point came upon becoming a freshman when the choir started preparing for the annual Xmas concert. One day we were asked to report for costume fitting. The costumes were red and white choir boys and girls outfits. The symbolism of belonging to a group that wasn’t me was unacceptable and I resigned. George A. …

The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of TBS Ashkenazi Jews are not white – Response to Haaretz article Hila Hershkovitz is an Israeli-born teacher of English and Tanach. She lived in California for five years and now lives in Israel. In response to Haaretz article “Jews, white privilege and the fight against racism in America” (by Benjy Cannon 4/12/14) I would like to say loud and clear: Ashkenazi Jews are not white. Every time I read about a Jew somewhere identifying as a white person, I cringe. As an Israeli Jew, who like most other Israeli Jews, is completely foreign to the concept of Jews being “white” I would like to address this article to my Jewish brothers and sisters in America. Ashkenazi Jews who identify as “white”, please understand the…

On the Question of Palestine

The speech by Israel’s ambassador at the UN General Assembly, November 24, 2014, is a cogent overview of modern Israeli history. Share widely.

by Ron Prosor

The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of TBS Countering the Big Lie by Naomi Ragen on November 1st, 2014 There was a time during one of the so-called intifadas (forgive me for not remembering if it was the first, second, or in-between; all that savagery and murder runs together seamlessly in my head these days) that the Palestinians claimed that the Jews had no connection at all to Jerusalem, or the land of Israel. A statement like that, similar to denying the Holocaust, is so insane it leaves one sputtering in wordless confusion. It’s like being asked to prove you aren’t dead. Were we not living in a world unspeakably degraded by dumbed-down college programs, propaganda pamphlets parading as newspapers, and the general degradation of moral and intellectual levels in every…

The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of TBS How to Pay a Proper Shiva Call Proper etiquette and practical advice. by Rabbi Efrem Goldberg“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…a time to keep silent and a time to speak.”The wisdom in this song is not for the Byrds, it comes from the wisest of all men, King Solomon. While the picture of many shiva homes today filled with people, food, and conversation is anything but silent, the Midrash interprets “the time for silence” as proscribing our behavior when comforting the bereaved. When Job, the very symbol of human suffering, experienced devastating loss, three of his friends came to comfort and console him: “They sat with him on the ground for a period…

The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of TBS Desalination is great – but it’s taking away some of the magic that our winters once had. By LAWRENCE RIFKIN   10/23/2014 Desalination plant (illustrative photo). (photo credit:INGIMAGE)   At the kibbutz where I lived for my first years in the country, there was an outside faucet where I’d fill the crew’s water jugs on the way out to the orchards. Above the faucet was a sign that said “ Haval al kol tipa .”Before I appreciated the finer points of idiomatic translation, its message was the ungainly “A pity on each drop” rather than the more utilitarian “Each drop counts.”Yet to this street-trained Hebrew speaker it still made perfect sense.We were located near Rehovot but because of the funnel-like topography and resulting meteorological…

The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of TBS The Beggars of Lakewood By MARK OPPENHEIMER   OCT. 16, 2014     Elimelech Ehrlich (seated), a beggar who travels each year from Jerusalem, talking with students outside Beth Medrash Govoha. Credit Peter van Agtmael/Magnum, for The New York Times Once a year, Elimelech Ehrlich travels from Jerusalem to Lakewood, N.J., with a cash box and a wireless credit-card machine. During the three weeks he typically spends in town, Ehrlich — a white-bearded, black-suited, black-skullcapped, wisecracking 51-year-old — haunts the many local yeshivas, schools where Jewish men, mostly in their 20s, study the Talmud and other texts. Sometimes he loiters around the condominium complexes where students live with their young wives and growing families. Some days he hires a driver to take him to…

The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of TBS Israel: A failed state Charles Abelsohn March 6, 2014, 8:42 am   I grew up in South Africa and left for Israel in the 1970`s. So I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable on South African apartheid. In view of the criticisms of Israel as an apartheid state, I felt it my duty that my understanding and knowledge of apartheid should be put to good cause by exposing the evil manifestations of apartheid in Israel. I started in my neighbourhood. I went to the municipal park. In South Africa, only whites would have been allowed to enter. I could not believe my eyes. Arabs and Jews were mixing peacefully, Arab and Jewish children socialising and shouting at each other in their home languages. This cannot…

The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of TBS Published on Aug 13, 2014 The video was edited together from different sessions of Israeli dance over the course of 12 days. The videos came from all over the world: from USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and even the Far East! The outpouring of love and support for Israel and it's brave men and woman is amazing! Thank you to all who participated! Thank you to Shlomi Shabat for re-recording this beautiful song by Effi Netzer and Amos Ettinger! AND TODA RABA to the Soldiers of Tzahal! Click the triangle on the picture to view and listen. GOLANI SHELI    Golani sheliHi torei anashimGolani sheliHi shemot ufanimMekomot uzmanimVekolot meshunimHashavim Ve'olim lemuli.Golani sheliHi milchemet shich'rurGolani sheliHi oto hasipurShel matzli'ach ya'elShel kol am YisraelHashavim ve'olim lemuli.Golani,…