Hope is one of the most essential concepts in Judaism, a core of Jewish survival despite all historical tragedies which befall our people. Hope is a central aspect in human existence, it is a source of motivation and dynamics which enables us as individuals and as a collective to look […]
ON LADINO LITERATURE. THE REVISED WRITTEN VERSION OF THE TALK ENTITLED ‘SEDUCTION AND SUSPICION
1. The Jews of the Ottoman Empire and their languageThere is a particular Jewish culture which is now struggling to survive, but as late as the 1940s it was that of over 300,000 Jews who lived in the pre-1918 Ottoman Empire.This empire, at its height in the 16th century, covered […]
LETTER OF APPRECIATION
Dear NitzaThank you so much for giving our students the opportunity to perform at- or close by – Spiro Ark. They all thoroughly enjoyed your support and hospitality. They were also encouraged by the very positive feedback from such a diverse audience. They left with a warm glow.My mishpoorcha from […]
OUR STUDENTS DO WELL IN ISRAEL
Zara joined the highest class which we have (on Sunday mornings) as she needed to pass her legal Hebrew exam in order to join the legal profession in Israel. Her level was far from being adequate at the time, but with hard work undertaken on both sides, teacher and Zara, […]
MARK TWAIN ‘CONCERNING THE JEWS’
CONCERNING THE JEWS• If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race.• It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust in the blaze of the Milky Way.• Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard; but he is heard of.• Has always been […]
THOUGHTS CONNECTED TO THE FESTIVAL OF SUCCOT BUT SIGNIFICANT TO OUR LIVES EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR — HANDED DOWN FROM THE HAFETZ HAYIM
One day a very rich man from America came to visit the famous Rabbi Hafetz Hayim in his humble abode.The guest was thrilled with the opportunity of meeting the luminary that the whole world valued with such reverence. When he entered the house he was astonished by the simplicity and […]
THE MILIBAND FAMILY, STALIN AND ME (FROM SUNDAY TELEGRAPH)
Sofia Davidovna Miliband, long-lost cousin of British Labour politicians Ed and David Miliband, tells Andrew Osborn of her life in Russia and how Europe’s tumultuous politics tore her ancestors apart.Published: 3:12PM BST 10 Oct 2009The voice on the airwaves was calm and clear. “I am Sofia Davidovna Miliband,” the surprise […]
COURSE IN BIBLICAL HEBREW
From time to time we receive requests from people who wish us to run courses in Biblical Hebrew. We would like to fulfill such wishes, but the numbers are too small to make such courses viable.Surprisingly, only in the last few days we have received such a number of requests […]
NEWS FROM OUR J TRAIL DEPARTMENT
The inaugural tour of Jewish Northampton (13th September) was an unprecedented success. A massive crown of 120 people participated in the walking tour. They were treated jointly to a giant tour by our director of the J Trail Department Marcus Roberts.Shop keepers and passers-by were amazed at the numbers and […]
WE DON’T SELL DRUGS HERE, ‘GEVERET’ (MADAM)
As we were ushered to our seats in apparently the coolest kosher steakhouse in Israel our salivary glands kicked into action at the cuts of steaks and other culinary delights we could see on the plates of the carnivores already in the restaurant. Ordering was an easy affair, Israeli mum, […]