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The Old Lithuanian Jewish Cemetery and Plans for a New Convention Center
The Lithuanian government has announced plans to build a new convention center over the Old Jewish Cemetery of Vilna. Although the Vilna Gaon's remains were removed from the Old Jewish Cemetery, the remains of hundreds, perhaps thousands of Jews are still buried in the Old Jewish cemetery. These include the remains of some of the greatest rabbis, Jewish martyrs, and pious women through the centuries, including R. Moshe Rivkes (d. 1671-2), author of the Be'er Ha-Golah on the Shulhan Arukh; R. Zelmele (i.e., R. Shlomo Zalman, d. 1788), brother of R. Hayyim of Volozhin and favorite disciple of the Vilna Gaon; R. Shmuel b. R. Avigdor (d. 1793), last Chief Rabbi of Vilna; R. Avraham b. Ha-Gra (d. 1809) ; the Ger Zedek of Vilna (d. 1749), whose remains were not removed from the Old Jewish cemetery (despite claims otherwise); and Traina (date of death unknown), mother of the Vilna Gaon; Chanah, first wife of the Vilna Gaon (d. 1782); and Gitel, second wife of the Vilna Gaon, who apparently outlived the Gaon (precise date of death unknown). Virtually every Jew who died in Vilna before the year 1831 was, in fact, buried in the Old Jewish Cemetery.
The petition does not call for the Lithuanian government to cancel plans for building a new convention center (funded largely by the EU). It simply asks that it be built at a different location in Vilnius - which can easily be done.
A wonderful Vilna resident, Ruta Bloshtein, has taken upon herself the responsibility of spearheading this write-in campaign. She started some three weeks ago and has about 250 signatories so far. She needs at least 1000 signatures; if she doesn't get them, it will be a signal to the Lithuanian government that Jews neither care nor count. If she gets 3000 signatures, the political authorities will have little choice but to take the petition into account before making any hasty decision. She needs, and deserves, our help. Click here for more information.
For close to five hundred years (starting in the 15th century), many thousands of Jewish residents of Vilnius (Vilna), the capital of Lithuania, were buried in its old Jewish cemetery at Piramont (in the Shnipishok /Snipiskes)
Send Messages to:
Hon. Dalia Grybauskaite: Please Move New Vilnius Convention Center Project AWAY from the Old Jewish Cemetery
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Inauguration Day
By the time you read this we may have a new President...he has chosen to be sworn in on "The Lincoln Bible" (same one that President Obama selected for both his inaugurations) and a second Bible given to him by his mother
in 1955 when he graduated from Presbyterian Sunday school. And the new Vice-President has chosen the Reagan Family Bible, opened to
II Chronicles 7:14 --
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Writing in yesterday's New York Times, French intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy warns about being too elated about the new President's pro-Israel position and his Jewish daughter and son-in-law. You may recall that some weeks ago I mused that all could go south quite quickly if Trump and Bibi cross swords. Reading Lévy's op-ed, I was reminded of the phrase from Psalms 146:3 "Put not your trust in princes, in mortals who cannot save," and Pirke Avot 1:10 "Seek no intimacy with the ruling power". We really don't know what is in Trump's kishkes-how deeply he loves Israel and Jews, like President Lyndon Johnson, who told the oh-so-proper Abba Eban, "Ah'm sittin' here scratchin' my ass and thin kin' about Is-ra-el."
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For International Holocaust Remembrance Day - January 27 - this year, in the largest organized Holocaust commemoration ever to take place on social media, we are asking millions of people to photograph (or selfie) themselves holding a sheet of paper with the words "We Remember" written on it in large letters, and to post the photograph to social media (Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram) with the hashtag #WeRemember. It can also be a video with the individual saying "We Remember." Participants may also email their images to
[email protected]
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We are going to be seeing this diary as part of our docent-led tour at the New York Historical Society on Thursday afternoon, February 2:
Lost diary of Tortured Mexican 'Converso' Features in Early-American Jewish Exhibit
I wonder if this gentleman is a descendant of the Carvalho whose diary we will see in the NY Historical Society Exhibit...
CARVALHO'S JOURNEY
Writer/Director: Steve Rivo
A real-life 19th century American western adventure story about Solomon Nunes Carvalho, an observant Sephardic Jew born in 1815 in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1853, traveling with John Fremont's Fifth Westward Expedition, Carvalho became one of the first photographers to document the sweeping vistas and treacherous terrain of the far American West. Living alongside mountain men, Native Americans and Mormons, Carvalho overcame enormous odds to produce beautiful art: daguerreotypes that became the lens through which the world experienced the West.
Narrated by Award-winning actor Michael Stuhlbarg (Boardwalk Empire, Hugo, A Serious Man).
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AIPAC
I don't care whether you support J Street or ZOA (or any other pro-Israel organization on the spectrum),
We all need to support AIPAC!
Why? Besause AIPAC
- is bi-partisan/non-political
- supports the policies of the Israeli Government-regardless of which coalition governs the country
- is the most effective organization in terms of depth, reach, and credibility when it comes to advocating for Israel
Won't you join me at this year's Policy Conference in Washington, DC, March 26, 27, 28?
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France
Sounds almost as if he is walking back what transpired at the UN and in his 75-minute speech... (and he also promised that there would be no further UN action in the waning days of the Obama Administration)
Kerry: U.S. Worked to Ensure Fair Paris Mideast Statement
And I was taken aback by this statement by the Israeli Human Rights Group,
B'Tselem ((which means
In the Image, taken from Genesis where it states that we humans were created in God's image). It does not sound at all like an Israeli group, not only in its repeated use of the word occupation, but in its mis-characterization of the 1948 Armistice Line/Green Line as the "internationally recognized borders."
B'Tselem on Paris Conference: the occupation will not end without international action
On the occasion of the conference being held in Paris today (Sunday, 15 January 2017), B'Tselem reiterates its position that the international community must act to protect human rights and bring about an end to the occupation, which is a fundamental violation of human rights.
In this context, B'Tselem welcomes the broadest international adherence to Article 5 of recent Security Council Resolution 2334 to distinguish between Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 and the internationally recognized borders of the State of Israel.
While B'Tselem does not take a position on any specific political outcome for ending the occupation, we welcome a human rights based future, one that will guarantee justice and liberty for all people living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. There are different paths to realize this future, but the continuation of occupation is not one of them. Israelis and Palestinians will one day end the occupation - but this will not happen without decisive international action.
From Yesterday's WSJ Editorial
In 2013 the French Court of Appeals in Versailles ruled that, contrary to Palestinian arguments, Jewish settlements don't violate the Geneva Conventions' prohibition against an occupying power transferring "its civilian population into the territory it occupies." The law, the court held, bars government efforts to transfer populations. But it doesn't bar private individuals settling in the disputed territories.
This next quote really ticked me off-and it is perhaps this misguided reasoning that led France to initiate last week's Conference: French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, writing in Ha'aretz, argued that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, left unattended, will
"continue to fuel frustration and will ultimately only worsen the vicious cycle of radicalization and violence. It will continue to give budding terrorists excuses for enlisting [in ISIS]." It implies that the Israel-Palestine conflict is the root and cause of all Europe's and the world's troubles stemming Muslim/Arab terrorism. Nonsense!-but that is both the pervading faulty logic and bad rap with which Israel is saddled. kas
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They also seems to be walking back the UNSC resolution:
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There are some beautiful sentiments mixed in with criticism of Israel in this piece by NTY op-ed columnist, Roger Cohen, and I do not doubt his genuine concern for Eretz Yisrael. I think his most insightful line is: "There's nobody and nothing to work with after a half-century of moral corrosion and progressive estrangement." Few have acknowledged Palestinian disarray and culpability alongside of Israeli intransigence. And this is what he considers balance even though the UNSC Resolution neglects to directly lay the blame for terrorism and incitement at the feet of the Palestinians:
"the twinning of criticism of Israel with condemnation under international law of "incitement" - a reference to persistent Palestinian practice (yes, a reference, but not a direct reference-kas)- was among the fresher elements."
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Antisemitism
I know that the Clarion Project editorializes far too much in its news items. I know that its agenda is right-wing. But the misguided logic employed by this court (and the lower one) should be of great concern. (And why were Muslim men drinking??!!)
If attacking Europe's Jews over the purported acts of Middle Eastern Jews isn't the definition of historical anti-Semitism, what is?
And the same faulty logic is at work here:
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Whitefish, Montana
The good citizens of Montana (shades of Not in Our Town -Billings 1995)
Of the white supremacists heading to town, the Whitefish chief of police said if 'they don't do it our way, we're going to kick their ass'
'To those who would promote these false ideas long since rejected by civilized peoples, we say, 'le'olam lo'-Never again!'
The march, scheduled for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, had been postponed because the organizers did not file the necessary paperwork
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Israeli - Palestinian Conflict
And the changes noted above are borne out in the vote on the House Resolution condemning the recent UNSC vote, where the measures co-sponsors Cong. Ed Royce (R) and Eliot Engel (D) had to overcome 2 very disparate trends within their own parties: Dems seek more room to criticize Israeli settlements and Israeli stonewalling, and Reps want to trash the two-state solution.
Israeli Arabs Seeking Integration into Israel
Jerusalem: An Arab View - Abed L. Azab (Summary of this essay from the Hebrew)
After the initial shock of the 1967 Six-Day War, the residents of eastern Jerusalem slowly began to integrate into the life of the State of Israel of their own free will.
I know that to say this is heretical, but there have been thousands of cases of residents who fought hard to gain an Israeli identity card. The direct contact with the Israeli economy greatly benefited the city's residents.
In the early 1980s, the Old City of Jerusalem experienced amazing economic growth. New businesses opened at a rapid pace and some residents became rich. Working in Israel also contributed to this prosperity.
I hate to say this, but if the government of Israel and the city improve the lives of the residents of eastern Jerusalem a bit more, I doubt very much if they will want the city to serve as the capital of Palestine.
Dr. Abed L. Azab is a chemist and teacher who lives in Israel.
Contrast the 3 items above with Life in Gaza and the West Bank in the next 2 articles:
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Sorry...I just couldn't get to everything last week:
'La La Land' Composer, Jewish Actors Take Prizes at Golden Globes
Israeli writer Daniel Gordis, novelist Michael Chabon, poet Stanley Moss, and children's author Deborah Levy are among this year's honorees
The Association of Jewish Libraries announces its picks for the year's best children's books
National Geographic's first scripted series is about the Novel Prize-winning physicist
There's a growing cadre of musicians who combine Jewish spiritual lyrics with genres like blues, bluegrass, folk and country.
Banai, who died January 14, at 55, was part of a wave of Israeli artists who derived meaning and inspiration from religious texts their secular Zionist forebears had spurned
In Praise of Nat Hentoff
The influential 'Voice' critic died January 7. His bohemian fearlessness became a popular culture.
And this is a fascinating Mystery:
I Wrote to Carlos the Jackal, and an Israeli's Assassination Case Was Revived
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I wouldn't be going to this even if it were not held on Shabbat, but I would being a disservice to those of you who might be interested in attending if I did not bring it to your attention. kas
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Calling all Jews and honorary Jews of New York City!
Please join us on January 25 at 7:30pm at JCC Manhattan for a live recording of Unorthodox with three very special guests: Podcaster extraordinaire Jonathan Goldstein, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, and comedian and Late Show writer Jen Spyra!
We'll also have copies of the latest issue of our print magazine for e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e, live music care of Jewbadour Jim Knable + band, a giveaway, and a few rounds of Jewish geography. We're working on a kiddush for after services but no promises, K? Buy your tickets here.
ICYMI, Unorthodox is our newest podcast-a smart, fresh, fun take on Jewish news and culture posted every Thursday. Hosted by Tablet editor-at-large andLos Angeles Times columnist Mark Oppenheimer, and featuring deputy editor Stephanie Butnick and senior writer Liel Leibovitz, the panel discusses the latest Jewish news, politics, and culture with equal parts seriousness and irreverence. From Amy Schumer to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, presidential nepotism to Drake, no topic is off limits.
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Traditional. Egalitarian. Modern...Masorti
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Join Masorti's Mission to HELP in Israel
F
ebruary 19th, 2017 - February 27th, 2017
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H
ear from rabbis and congregants who sustain our kehillot
E
xplore Masorti programs; see how they make a difference
L
earn about the challenges to religious pluralism
P
ray with Women of the Wall on Rosh Hodesh Adar
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Exciting and urgent news! The Masorti Foundation is organizing a mission to Israel in support of our Masorti Movement rabbis, lay leaders and congregants.
We will stand with our Masorti brothers and sisters in Israel to protect our core values: religious freedom, pluralism and the right to observe Masorti traditions honored all around the world. These values are being challenged today by those who will not tolerate--and will seek to discriminate against--all forms of observance other than orthodox.
The purpose of the mission is recruit and develop champions to be ambassadors for Masorti in their communities so together, we can make change and help create the Israel we want for our children, our grandchildren and ourselves. We know this is short notice and you will need to decide quickly if you want to go or if you want to recruit someone from your community, but we believe that the time is now for us to go.
Please join us. Stand with us!
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Protect Masorti Rights
Masorti stands for tradition. It also stands for inclusion, religious freedom and modernity. Our rights in Israel are being challenged. Raise your voice in Israel. For Israel. Stand
with
Israel...in
Israel.
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Meet Knesset Members
On our mission, you will meet with Knesset members, with Executive Director, YIzhar Hess, with the director of Jewish Pluralislm Watch, with mayors, rabbis and lay leaders. Get behind the scenes. Deepen your understanding. And help Masorti take action to assert our rights.
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Visit Kehillah Moriah
This oldest Masorti/Conservative kehillah in Israel was badly damaged by the fires in November. But with your help, the kehilla is rebuilding and restoring. Meet with congregants and the rabbi and learn first hand how important it is to stand with Masorti.
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New York Jewish Film Festival
The year 2017 marks the 26th edition of the New York Jewish Film Festival, a partnership between the Jewish Museum and the Film Society of Lincoln Center. This year's festival features a wide-ranging and exciting lineup of films and shorts from the iconic to the iconoclastic: Alon Schwarz's documentary Aida's Secrets, Dorit Hakim's debut feature Moon in the 12th House, Avi Nesher's daring 1977 trans-European odyssey Past Life and many, many others.
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Clarinet Trios at Lincoln Chamber Music Society with Inon Barnatan
Three dynamic artists who are close colleagues and longtime Chamber Music Society favorites offer an irresistible program of their choice. The sonically elegant clarinet and the earthy cello are enveloped by the all-encompassing piano in bracing early Beethoven, an autumnal masterpiece of Brahms, and a new work by the exciting young American composer Joseph Hallman.
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Ganze Megillah: Avner Moriah
In celebration of Purim, The Laurie M. Tisch Gallery is pleased to exhibit the stunning, large-scale illuminated Scroll of Esther created by the well-known Israeli painter Avner Moriah. This Scroll of Esther tells the ancient story by mixing Persian, Indian, and Islamic art miniature style paintings with Italian Renaissance styling and contemporary humor, politics and sensibilities.
Ganze Megillah (Yiddish for "The Whole Story") will feature 18 framed illuminated manuscript on parchment, along with process drawings and video of the artists.
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Global Sundays: ALON & JOCA
Israeli pianist and vocalist Alon Yavnai and Brazilian-Israeli singer/songwriter and percussionist Joca Perpignan combine their musical talents to create colorful sounds with influences from Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Join them at the JCC to celebrate the release of their new CD in a showcase of their original compositions and arrangements, featuring the Alon Yavnai Big Band!
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Inspector Pulse: Once More with Feeling at Lincoln Chamber Music Society with Shai Wosner
Inspector Pulse, the world's only private ear, is called upon to investigate a town where all the musicians have lost their emotions. They play music like they are robots! How can the wacky inspector cure them and bring feeling back to the music? Find out as Inspector Pulse urges them to play it once more with feeling! Featuring the music of Beethoven, Brahms, Bach, and more.
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Creative Action Network
Creative Action Network and the Anti-Defamation League are teaming up to invite artists to illustrate refugee stories from across time and geography. Maybe your family fled pogroms in Eastern Europe, from Nazism, from political oppression in Iran or the Soviet Union. Maybe you know someone who fled Uganda or other countries that persecute members of the LGBT community, maybe you are concerned about how many today have to flee extreme violence and persecution. No matter where refugees came from or their reason for fleeing, each story is unique--but connected. We hope to build a collection of pieces that rise above the noise and hateful rhetoric by humanizing the refugee experience.
Crowdsourced, creative campaigns that enlist artist and designers to create work around different ideas and causes. All designs that meet the requirements in their respective creative briefs will be published and made available for sale as prints and other merchandise. Artists retain ownership of their work but grant us permission to promote, license and sell it in exchange for 40% of the proceeds.
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TORAH Page 317 HAFTARAH Page 343
SH'MOT
In the years following Joseph's death, the Israelites became a sizable group within Egypt. Pharaoh, worried about a potential fifth column in the event of a war, enslaved the Children of Israel and had them build store-cities. He also ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all newborn Israelite males, but the midwives disobeyed at the risk of their own lives. Thereupon, Pharaoh ordered all newborn sons to be drowned in the Nile.
One Israelite couple, from the tribe Levi, spares their newborn son. When they can conceal him no longer they set him afloat in the Nile in a basket, while his older sister, Miriam, watches from a distance. Pharaoh's daughter finds the boy and adopts him as her own. She names him Moses, and at the suggestion of Miriam, who has now come forward, she engages the boy's mother as his nursemaid. Moses grows up in the royal palace, but he retains a compassion for the enslaved Israelites. He slays an Egyptian overseer who is beating a Hebrew. The next day he intervenes in a quarrel between two Hebrews, and one of them asks if Moses will slay him, too, as he had the Egyptian.
Moses realizes that his life is in danger and he flees to Midian where he works as a shepherd for Jethro, a Midianite priest. Moses marries Jethro's daughter, Tziporrah, and they have two sons. While out shepherding, Moses sees an unusual sight - a bush is covered in flames but otherwise undamaged - and he approaches it. God speaks to Moses at the bush and tells him that he will be God's messenger to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of bondage. God reveals his personal name to Moses and equips him with the power to perform certain wondrous deeds with which he will convince both the Israelites and Egyptians of his divine mission. These serve to reassure a reluctant Moses to return to Egypt.
The enslaved Hebrews welcome Moses' message from God and take courage, but Pharaoh rejects Moses' demand for the release of the people and he subjects the Israelites to increased hardships. The Israelites accuse Moses of worsening their plight; Moses is disheartened, but God reassures him that ultimately God's might will prevail against Pharaoh.
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