Unique in Jewish history!
Enter a world of fascinating articles, vibrant illustrations, timecharts and maps to discover the heroes and villains who changed the path of Jewish history. Stand at the crossroads of progress and meet the Jews who made a difference. Encounter colorful communities and learn how Judaism survives in exotic and far-flung locations. Read Segula - the bi-monthly magazine from Jerusalem that brings Jewish history to life!
The Prime Ministers, Yehuda Avner, Toby Press, 715 pages
While Yehuda Avner focuses on the characters of the prime ministers he worked under, it is the convivial, generous character of the writer himself which shines through
The Eichmann Trial, Deborah E. Lipstadt, Nextbook-Schocken, New York, 2011, 240 pages
Lipstadt analyzes Adolf Eichmann’s testimony to point to a distinct connection between those who perpetrated the Holocaust and those who deny it
Yehuda Halevi, Hillel Halkin, Nextbook-Schocken, New York, 2010, 368 pages
Hillel Halkin’s depiction of the life and works of Judah Halevi resounds with the richness of the great philosopher’s poetry while plumbing the depths of the Cairo Geniza to reveal the details of his personal life
Wisdom of the Heart: The Teachings of Rabbi Ya’akov of Izbica-Radzyn, Ora Wiskind-Elper, The Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 2010, 273 pages
Long relegated to the margins, the teachings of Izbica-Radzyn peel away the external assumptions of human existence to explore the dark spaces of the inner self
Take a virtual tour of the Western Wall Tunnels on the website of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. Despite the numerous political hurdles and structural challenges involved, the lengthy excavation of the Western Wall Tunnels proved to be a treasure trove of information and archeological finds. The tunnels exposed the monumental dimensions of the Western Wall, and the ruins of the former Herodian street leading up to the foot of the Temple Mount. Other discoveries included ancient cisterns and a primitive water channel dating from the Hasmonean era, all of which are featured in the site's photo gallery.
www.archives.jdc.org/sharedlegacy
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) was founded in 1914 to assist starving Jews in Israel and Eastern Europe during the First World War. It also played a crucial role during the Holocaust, distributing aid to European Jewish communities and attempting to help those trying to emigrate. After the war, the JDC was similarly active in the displaced persons camps, even branching out into education. The JDC website includes all their archival materials from the time of the Holocaust and includes rare and moving photographs as well as testimonies of Holocaust survivors.
www.navrasaafreedi.blogspot.com/search/label/English
The mysterious disappearance of the lost tribes continues to perplex and intrigue. One theory proposes that the Afridi tribe of Muslim Pathans (also known as the Pashtuns) who live on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan and in India are actually descended from one of the ten lost tribes. Dr. Navras Jaat Aafreedi was the first researcher to explore his tribe's ancient Israelite connections and his blog features newspaper articles describing his anthropological studies and a radio interview in Hebrew.
22 Shevat, 4855
February 6, Germany
Hands off my Jews!
Henry IV of Germany (reigned 1056-1105) issued a charter of rights to Jews and prohibited forced baptism. Despite opposition from the Catholic Church, he also permitted Jews baptized against their will to return to Judaism. Henry even sought to protect his Jewish subjects during the Crusades, but he was no philo-Semite. He viewed the Jews as a valuable economic asset - and as his property, not the Pope’s.
1336
4th of Adar, 5096
February 25, Spain
In a public disputation between the apostate Alfonso of Valladolid (previously Abner of Burgos) and the Jews of the town, Alfonso XI of Castile was persuaded to ban the prayer against heretics (Velamalshinim – may there be no hope for informants) from the Jewish prayer book as an insult to Christianity.
1455
26 Shevat, 5215
February 23, Germany
Traditional date for the publication of Tthe Gutenberg Bible becomes, the first Western book to be printed from movable type. This revolution in printingublishing is often described as the beginning of the Modern Era, democratizeding learning by making books accessible to all, and made the division of the bible into chapters and verses ubiquitous. The chapter and verse system gained popularity in Hebrew copies of the biblelargely as a result of the printing revolution.
