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Culture Jewish Gap-Year Program Opens in Portland
There are few, if any, options for teens in America who want a Jewish experience during their post-high school, pre-college gap year, but don’t want to spend time in Israel. That was a key incentive for Portland, Ore.-based contracting carpenter Steve Eisenbach-Budner to create Tivnu, the first Jewish social-justice themed gap-year program in the U.S.,…
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Fast Forward Struck-by-Lightning Jewish Camper Marks Bar Mitzvah in Hospital
(JTA) — On Saturday, two weeks after Ethan Kadish’s 13th birthday, the members of his family will gather around a Torah scroll in the chapel of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for a small ceremony marking his entrance into adulthood. This was not the bar mitzvah that Scott and Alexia Kadish envisioned seven weeks ago when Ethan…
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Fast Forward Egyptian Jewish Leader Magda Haroun Backs Push Against Islamists
(JTA) — When Magda Haroun was out on the streets during the unrest now rocking Egypt’s capital, she saw someone standing over the body of a dead soldier. “Not even a Jew would do this,” she heard him say. Haroun, the president of the Egyptian Jewish community, doesn’t enjoy hearing anti-Semitic slurs on the street….
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Fast Forward Ethiopian School Closes as Last Jews Leave Gondar
Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky turned over the keys to the Jewish school of Gondar, Ethiopia, to the town’s mayor. Monday’s handover ceremony of the school, which was funded and maintained by the Jewish Agency, comes as the final flight of Ethiopian immigrants prepares to leave for Israel. Some 2,500 Ethiopian children awaiting their immigration…
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Fast Forward Polish Jewish Cemetery Used for Topless Photo Shoot
Polish photographer Lukasz Szczygielski has apologized for conducting a photo shoot with a half-naked model at the Jewish cemetery in the southern Polish town of Checiny. Szczygielski explained that he wanted to draw attention to the neglected cemetery. “I wanted to draw attention to the neglect of the place. The cemetery is forgotten, he told…
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The Schmooze Kathie Lee Gifford’s Secret Jewish Ambition
Forget dinner and flowers — Kathie Lee Gifford wants something a little out of the ordinary for her birthday. The “Today Show” host, who celebrated her 60th birthday on Friday alongiside co-host Hoda Kotb, read out a submission from a 60-year-old viewer who said she was in her senior year of college, graduating in November….
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The Schmooze Shlomo Carlebach Really Was a ‘Soul Doctor’
“Soul Doctor” can best be described as “Hair” meets post Holocaust trauma with Eric Anderson’s visceral channeling of Reb Shlomo Carlebach and Amber Imam’s portrayal of Nina Simone illuminating the production. The 700 opening-nighters at the August 15 performance of “Soul Doctor” at Circle in the Square included philanthropist and Birthright founder Michael Steinhardt (who…
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Opinion News Quiz: Jerry Lewis, Craigslist and the Cronut
Not every creative endeavor is a great one, as we note in this week’s quiz, which touches on a Jerry Lewis movie and a Craigslist personal ad that may or may not bring joy (and boy) to its writers. But at least we’re hoping for that last one.
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Fast Forward Why the Antisemitism Awareness Act now has a religious liberty clause to protect ‘Jews killed Jesus’ statements
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News School Israel trip turns ‘terrifying’ for LA students attacked by Israeli teens
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Fast Forward The invitation said, ‘No Jews.’ The response from campus officials, at least, was real.
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News Why Zohran Mamdani believes he’ll win over Jewish voters, as Israel critic surges to second behind Cuomo in NYC mayoral race
In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward Campus encampments return one year later, and pro-Palestinian protests spark 15 arrests
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Fast Forward Israeli left-wing group suspended at University of Haifa after protesting the war in Gaza
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Fast Forward Jordanian national in Florida sentenced to 6 years for targeting businesses he believed supported Israel
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Fast Forward A ‘Golden Dome for America,’ inspired by Israel, is part of Trump’s 2026 budget request
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