What to make of the news that a neo-Nazi gunman killed a security guard at the US Holocaust Museum in Washington DC? Rabbi Marvin Hier says it shows “that the cancer of hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism is alive and well in America.” According to President Obama, it means “we must remain vigilant against anti-Semitism and [...]
Archive for the ‘Holocaust’ Category
Holocaust Museum Post Mortem
Posted in Anti-Semitism, Fear, Holocaust, Terrorism on June 11, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Shandeh Du Jour: Pope Overly “Cosmopolitan” at Yad Vashem
Posted in Holocaust, Interfaith, Israel on May 11, 2009 | 4 Comments »
According to YNet, Rabbi Meir Lau criticized Pope Benedict for showing insufficient sensitivity during his speech at Yad Vashem today:
The visit ended with a somewhat strident tone, as Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, chairman of Yad Vashem, criticized the pope’s speech as being “devoid of any compassion, any regret, any pain over the horrible tragedy of [...]
Theater of Crisis in Israel/Palestine
Posted in Art, Holocaust, Israel, Palestine, Politics, Theater on December 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
It seems that two remarkable, powerfully self-reflective theater productions are currently being staged in the same little patch of land: “Gaza-Ramallah,” a Palestinian play produced by The Haya Theater in Ramallah; and “Bat-Yam-Tykocin,” staged jointly by The Habima Theater and the Contemporary Theater of Wroclaw in Tel Aviv.
For its part, “Gaza-Ramallah” appears to skewer [...]
Pretty Please With a Swastika on Top?
Posted in Current Events, Holocaust on December 17, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Prepare for the latest entry in the “you can’t make this stuff up” hit parade:
The father of 3-year-old Adolf Hitler Campbell, denied a birthday cake with the child’s full name on it by one New Jersey supermarket, is asking for a little tolerance.
Whaaaa? According to the AP, the disappointed parents claim they gave little Adolf [...]
A Legacy of Pain and Hope
Posted in Africa, Genocide, HIV/AIDS, Holocaust, Human Rights, International Health, JRC Africa Trip 2008, Poverty, Rwanda on July 11, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Day 2 in Rwanda:
Our first two destinations were two local community associations that are supported by WE-ACTx. Icyuzuzo is an association of Rwandan widows located in the Nyamirambo district. Icyuzuzo (Kinyarwanda for “compliment” or “complete”) serves 5000 clients in the surrounding districts, sponsoring clincs, vocational training, HIV prevention education, palliative care and capacity building [...]
Hitchin’ a Ride on the Hagee Train
Posted in American Judaism, Elections 2008, Holocaust, Interfaith, Iran, Israel, Politics, Religion, Religion/Politics, Zionism on May 28, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Pastor John Hagee’s outfit, Christians United For Israel is gearing up for their annual summit next month, and if you need to be reminded of just how troubling CUFI’s views are, check out journalist Max Blumenthal’s video report on last year’s summit. It includes the truly horrifying testimonials of Hagee’s followers [...]
Welcome to Swastika Acres
Posted in Current Events, Holocaust on March 17, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Apparently the good folks at the Wesley Acres Methodist Retirement Home in Decatur, Alabama decided that they didn’t like the way their facility looked from above. (Can you guess why?)
According to a news report:
Wesley Acres provides housing for 117 low income pensioners over the age of 62 – most of whom have no [...]
Choosing Life
Posted in Holocaust, Judaism, Religion, Spirituality, Torah Commentary on September 7, 2007 | 1 Comment »
From this week’s Torah portion, Nitzavim:
I call upon heaven and earth to witness against you this day: I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life – if you and your offspring would live… (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
From “Man’s Search for Meaning,” by Victor Frankl:
We who lived in concentration camps can remember [...]
Collective Guilt, Collective Atonement
Posted in Current Events, Darfur, Genocide, Holocaust, Human Rights, Judaism, Religion, Religion/Politics, Spirituality, Torah Commentary on April 27, 2007 | 3 Comments »
“This shall be to you a law for all time: to make expiation for the Israelites for all their sins once a year.” — Leviticus 16:34
The concept of collective guilt is central to this week’s Torah portion, Acharei Mot-Kedoshim. The parasha powerfully teaches that communities, just like individuals, are able to bear guilt. And just [...]
You Shall Not Hate Your Kinfolk…
Posted in Africa, Genocide, Holocaust, Human Rights, Judaism, Religion, Rwanda, Torah Commentary, Yom Hashoah on May 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove your kin but incur no guilt on their account. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against members of your people. Love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Eternal. — Leviticus 19:17-18
As I read these famous verses from this week’s Torah portion [...]
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