Jewish News

Nurturing an American Etrog Farm

Matt Bycer is like any other 33-year-old attorney who wakes up at the crack of dawn to exercise. Except that rather than sweating to a P90X regimen, Bycer, in a T-shirt, shorts and cowboy hat, lugs 170 buckets of water across his backyard in Scottsdale, Ariz., to water his etrog farm.The Phoenix native has been nurturing his citron project since ...

Iconic Israeli Newspaper on the Verge of Collapse

Throughout much of Israel’s history, the Maariv daily was known as the “country’s paper,” the newspaper with the highest circulation and a cornerstone of Israeli media. Now it is on its last legs – the victim, some say, of a Jewish-American billionaire who is a close friend of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson launched his free “Israel Hayom” ...

Jewish Cemetery South of Prague Vandalized

Czech police say unknown vandals knocked over 26 tombstones in a Jewish cemetery south of Prague.Police spokesman Miroslav Doubek says the tombstones were likely overturned in the last two months. The cemetery, which is no longer used for burials, is located in the woods near the village of Prudice, about 65 kilometers (40 miles) south of Prague.Doubek said Wednesday an ...

Goebbels’ Early Letters Show Controlling Behavior

The love letters, school papers and dramatic works of college-age Joseph Goebbels reveal a romantic young man beginning to show signs of anti-Semitism and egotistical and controlling behavior, according to a Connecticut auction house selling the pre-war writings of Adolf Hitler’s propaganda chief.Alexander Historical Auctions plans to sell the collection on Thursday in Stamford, Connecticut, saying it may prove invaluable ...

Chief Rabbi: Israel Will Win – With or Without US

Israel will be victorious over Iran, with or without the help of the United States, says Chief Rabbi Metzger, who asked Jews to focus on good relations with others.Speaking in a special Erev Yom Kippur with Arutz Sheva, the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi pleaded for Jews “to be careful to observe mitzvos relating to others” and not just those between Man and ...

Rubashkin Case Not on Supreme Court List ..So Far

An order list released this morning by the Supreme Court detailing which cases would be heard during its upcoming term did not include the Rubashkin case, leaving many wondering what that omission might mean.“Nothing can be determined at this point in time,” Rubashkin’s lawyer, attorney Nathan Lewin told VIN News. “The court practice is that the judges come back from ...

Poll Show Most Jewish Israelis Observe Yom Kippur

Approximately two-thirds of Jewish Israelis will fast this Yom Kippur and over 80 percent will use the day either to pray or for general introspection, a new survey published on Monday revealed.In the poll conducted by the Gesher social cohesion organization in conjunction with Ynet, 64% of respondents said they would refrain from eating and drinking for the duration of ...

Yom Kippur: 64% fast, 46% Pray

The Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur continues to unite the majority of people in Israel and is mostly marked – despite tempting alternatives – according to tradition, by fasting and praying.A Ynet-Gesher poll reveals that, as in previous years, the majority of the public plans to fast on the Day of Atonement and many will also visit their local ...

Kol Nidre Ushers in Yom Kippur Fast: Reflection and Atonement

Since Rosh Hashannah, Israel’s Egged buses have had the computerized signs above the driver alternating between the vehicles’ destination and the words “Chatima Tova” – “be sealed for a good year”.Israel radio closes its broadcasts preceding the Yom Kippur fast with the same words, said by one announcer to another and to all of Israel.That is one of the special things ...

Yom Kippur Fast Made Easier With the Help of IV Infusions

Fasting on Yom Kippur can be difficult for even the healthiest person. But for the elderly, infirm, pregnant, or those dependent upon medication, getting through the holiest day of the Jewish year without food and water can be a nightmarish ordeal.Ten years ago, Yitzchok Fleischer, the founder and executive director of the Bikur Cholim D’Bobov, sought to change all that ...

Team Israel Hopes World Classic Showing Will Boost Baseball in the Holy Land

Runs were scored in the craziest of ways, and runs slipped away in the most frustrating of ways.The marathon game, in other words, had everything. Just not the one thing most of those at Roger Dean Stadium came to see.Shortstop Yunesky Sanchez drove a two-out single up the middle to score Engel Beltre and Paco Figueroa to give Spain a ...

Senior Haredi Rabbi to Followers: Burn your iPhones

Apple’s smartphone market share in Israel has suffered another potential blow, following public censure by one of the most senior haredi rabbis in the country.Rabbi Haim Kanievsky, who ranks in some estimations among the five most influential rabbinic authorities, issued a public notice on Sunday saying that anyone who owns the company’s iPhone device should burn it.In the pronouncement, published ...