Category: NEWS

Rabbi popped into shul late afternoon sun streaming through the beautiful windows and was inspired to sing two songs 1) mimkomecha from Shabbat morning Shacharis kedusha where the congregation sings to Hashem asking Him to appear 2) psalm 30 From the depths I call to Hashem A psalm often recited in times of distress or just when in need of inspiration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Z46LsyAHU...

Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis, Inventors of Jeans Löb Strauss and Jãkobs Jufess are Jews from Bavaria and Latvia, respectively, who immigrated to the United States. One founded a textile and hardware company in Sacramento, and the other moved to Reno, Nevada as a tailor. Levi Strauss imported rugged canvas from the French city of Nîmes, dyed with an indigo blue from the Italian city of Genoa. Anglicized, the two city names become "Denim" and "Jeans. In 1872, Jacob Davis proposed to Levi Strauss to file a patent for pocket riveting work trousers made in "Denim" coloured in "Blue Jeans." Patented in 1873 and Levi's blue jeans makes history. To everyone wearing jeans today: (special note to anti-semites) you are wearing an invention by two Jews, Bavarian and Latvian, who settled in the USA, using a French cloth, an Italian dyeing, and sold to all the nationalities.  They have worked in the American West which allowed them to make a fortune, before conquering the world...

A tribute to Chaim Topol by his daughters His face in the memorial section at the Olivier Awards was heart-breaking. Reading the words of Adi Topol and Tevye's girls even more so.... Rosalind Harris lit a yahrzeit  candle. The actress who was Tzeitel in the 1971 film felt she had to, as the ‘eldest daughter’ then sent a photo of the flame to her screen sisters, each of whom cried when they heard that Chaim Topol had died. “It doesn’t seem real,” said Rosalind, as Michele Marsh, who played Hodol, wrote: “I am so saddened by the loss of my Fiddler [On The Roof] papa.” Neva Small, the movie’s Chava, knew Topol would be greatly missed and thanked him for “creating a beloved performance that helped the world to understand Sholem Aleichem’s concept of a Jewish dairyman and father of five daughters as universal.” Topol with his screen daughter Tzeitel – actress Rosalind Harris Although Zero Mostel originated the stage role of Tevye the milkman,...

  Sing for the King! Coronation marked with new melody for Adon Olam Watch 200 children sing the tune. BY SIMON ROCKER   The United Synagogue has marked the Coronation by commissioning a new melody for Adon Olam, the hymn that traditionally concludes the Shabbat morning service. The tune has been composed by Stephen Levey, former director of the Shabbaton Choir, and can be heard for the first time in a video released on major digital platforms today. It is performed by 200 children from five Jewish schools with strings and orchestration provided by a Ukraine-based ensemble. The new setting was arranged by the Portnoy Brothers - Mendy and Israel -  Jerusalem and New York-based musicians whose most recent album was No Complaints. Jo Grose, the United Synagogue’s chief executive, said: “While the world has changed dramatically since we were founded in 1870, two constants throughout our 153-year history have been the recital every week in our shuls of the Prayer for the Royal Family and ending our services with Adon Olam. The United...

A Jewish kid from Queens.., “Hello darkness, my old friend…” Everybody knows the iconic Simon & Garfunkel song, but do you know the amazing story behind the first line of The Sounds of Silence? It began 62 years ago, when Arthur “Art” Garfunkel, a Jewish kid from Queens, enrolled in Columbia University. During freshman orientation, Art met a student from Buffalo named Sandy Greenberg, and they immediately bonded over their shared passion for literature and music. Art and Sandy became roommates and best friends. With the idealism of youth, they promised to be there for each other no matter what. Soon after starting college, Sandy was struck by tragedy. His vision became blurry and although doctors diagnosed it as temporary conjunctivitis, the problem grew worse. Finally after seeing a specialist, Sandy received the devastating news that severe glaucoma was destroying his optic nerves. The young man with such a bright future would soon be completely blind. Sandy was devastated and fell into a deep...

We are delighted to announce that the JRC Greater Manchester Community Awards will be held on 7 September 2023.   The Community Awards are an opportunity for our community to recognise individuals, teams and organisations who have gone above and beyond in giving of their time and expertise to the Greater Manchester Jewish community, to the wider community and/or delivered exceptional service.   More details can be found here   The closing date for nominations is 30 June 2023.   ...

Is Rough Diamonds Netflix's new Shtisel? The diamond trade in Antwerp is the backdrop for the new series BY NICOLE LAMPERT - Jewish Chronicle Rough Diamonds (Netflix) Antwerp and diamonds are inextricably linked with more than 80 per cent of the world’s rough diamonds making it through the Belgian city’s Diamond Quarter. Antwerp diamonds and the Jewish community – in particular the Chasidim - are also inextricably linked with the industry being so dominated by Jews that traditionally the main language used was Yiddish and the exchange was closed on a Saturday. That is all changing; while more than half of Antwerp’s 20,000 strong Jewish community still works in the diamond industry, it is becoming increasingly controlled by acontingent from the Indian subcontinent. At the same time, the sparkly world of diamonds has, through some high-profile court cases, shown its darker face with Antwerp diamonds being used by drug smuggling gangs and fraudsters across Europe. So it is no wonder that Flemish producer Pieter Van Huyck knew he...