At least 40-50,000 people living in Poland today have one or more Jewish ancestors. Although a few thousand have recently discovered this long hidden fact, the majority of Poles with Jewish roots are unaware of their Jewish heritage. Now that Poland is a free country at last, an increasing number of members of the older […]
Is Poland A Valley Of Dry Bones?
To understand this passage from the Biblical book of Ezekiel, you must know that the Hebrew word Ruach has four different meanings; wind, breath, spirit and inspiration. Our passage uses these various meanings in teaching God’s message to the depressed and despairing Jews living in exile in Babylonia. While living among the exiles from Judah […]
Jewish Youth Still Arrive In ‘An Israel Under Rocket Attack’
Despite rocket fire from Hamas terrorists in Gaza, six thousand young Jews including several from Poland who are searching for their Jewish roots, have arrived in Israel in the last several weeks to be part of a ten day ‘summer in Israel’ experience. “Seven groups arrived on July 24 just from from North America” said Gail […]
Becoming Jewish Is Like Falling in Love
The transition from not being Jewish to feeling and thinking Jewish is a gradual one. In Islam and Christianity God comes first. The proclamation that “Allah is God and Muhammad is his Prophet” makes a person a Muslim. Accepting Jesus, the son of God as your savior, makes a person a Christian. But for […]
Awesome Jewish Women
In the Land of Israel during Biblical times there were Jewish women like Miriam, Deborah and Huldah who were Prophets (Exodus 15:20, Judges 4:4, and 2Kings 22:14) yet in Poland during the reign of Orthodox Rabbis there were no female rabbis. The first female rabbis were ordained by the Reform Jewish movement in England, Germany, Israel […]
Envisioning the Future
By Judy Maller Simchat Hochmah (The Joy of Wisdom) is a new ceremony celebrating reaching the age of wisdom (70). It is significant that four women chose to share their 70th year focusing on their commitment to Judaism. The American Jewish community is blessed with smart and generous teachers. One of those teachers is Judy […]