(Author: Bernard Katz, Vol. 64, #3, Chanukah 2009) The history of Spanish Jewry has been characterised by periods of extreme oppression and hardship, but also by periods of significant growth, creativity and genius. The 19th Century Spanish historian Jose-Amador de los Rios wrote that
(Author: Tony Leon, Vol. 64, #3, Chanukah, 2009) The Jews of Harbin existed for only 82 of the 6000-plus years of Chinese history recorded since the advent of the Xian Dynasty founded in 2100 BCE. Yet, in many ways, like the Jewish community of
(Reviewer: Gary Selikow, Vol. 64, #3, Chanukah 2009) In this pivotal contribution to the discussion about Israel’s fight for survival and about that country’s essential nature, Daniel Gordis takes the bull by the horns, grappling both with the seemingly insurmountable challenges facing Israel today
(Author: Irina Shub, Vol. 64, #3, Chanukah 2009) One day, a print-out from a local newspaper appeared on my desk. One of the articles was entitled ‘Lieut. Albert Isaacs’ and reported on the funeral of that individual, describing him as a “victim of the
(Reviewer: David Saks, Vol. 64, #3, 2009) How exactly does an organised Jewish community – that is, one whose members are served by and brought together under formal communal institutions – come into being? Those born into a society where such institutions are already
(Ben Krengel, Lewis Levitz, Tamar) The interned Intern in SA (or, Why are there so many SA doctors in Australia?) Its 4 am in the morning the sun peeps up behind the towers, Soweto slowly stirs, The police dogs circle in their hokkies anticipating the
(Author: John Simon, Vol. 64, #3, Chanukah 2009) After the Biblical hero Samson had been defeated and blinded by the Philistines, he lived in captivity in the humblest quarter of Gaza, and despite repeated requests by his comrades from Judaea, he constantly refused to
(Marcia Leveson, Vol. 64, #1, Pesach 2009) In November 2008 Joseph Sherman, Yiddishist par excellence, visited Vilnius, a centre of lost Jewish culture. He was overwhelmed with emotion. Perhaps it is fitting that this so rewarding returning to roots should have been one of
(Volume 64, #3, Chanukah 2009) Editor’s Note: The Jewish Chronicle, organ of UK Jewry, enthusiastically backed the British war effort in South Africa. Its wartime issues regularly carried war news, specifically relating to the Jews on active service. The example of the latter was played
(Author: Milton Shain, Vol. 64, #1, Pesach 2009) Late in 2008, I was struck by two virtually concurrent news headlines: the South African Jewish Report of 19 September led with the headline ‘Low anti-Semitism in SA – but don’t be complacent’, and a week