At the 8-second mark, the clip features a singer breaking into an enthusiastic refrain — “Tasim l’olam!”
How did a folk-rock version of ‘Shalom Rav’ end up on ABC?
“Shalom” is perhaps the last word that comes to mind when most people think of Bollywood but one man is out to change that. Danny Ben-Moshe, an award winning documentarian, is working to finish a film that explores the lives of the Jewish stars of the world’s largest film industry.
Shalom Ireland is a one-hour documentary about Ireland’s remarkable, yet little known, Jewish community. This fascinating film chronicles the history of Irish Jewry while celebrating the unique culture created by blending Irish and Jewish traditions. From gun running for the Irish Republican Army during Ireland’s War of Independence to smuggling fellow Jews escaping from the Holocaust into Palestine, Shalom Ireland tells the untold story of how Irish Jews participated in the creation of both Ireland and Israel. The film profiles several prominent Irish Jews including Robert Briscoe, the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin; the renowned Talmudic scholar Rabbi Isaac Herzog, who served as the first Chief Rabbi of Ireland before becoming the first Chief Rabbi of Israel; and Rabbi Herzog’s Belfast-born son, Chaim Herzog who became President of Israel. Today, as their population declines and their culture is in jeopardy of extinction, Irish Jews recently launched an effort to revitalize Dublin’s once vibrant Jewish community.
My brother-in-law Gregory Elmaloglou, retired assistant principal cellist of the Sydney Symphony orchestra, joined up with his musician friend Ruth Rack, a mezzo soprano and pianist Emily Courtright to give a concert at the Holdsworth Commuity Care Centre in Woollahra Sydney on October 30th during my recent visit. The concert was given for older members of the Eastern Suburbs Jewish community, who meet there for companionship and fellowship, all sharing a common memory of suffering in the Holocaust. Ruth was born in Leipzig in 1929. She told me her father was an opera singer, murdered by the Nazis, and her mother too. Ruth came to England as a child under the Kindertransport child rescue scheme, eventually married and settled in Australia. She wrote a memoir of her experience in Book of Ruth: Memoirs of a Child Survivor, and she gives talks to schools. I have been very moved making this film. Although Ruth does not say as much explicitly, her choice of pieces and the quality of her singing, together with Greg’s sensitive cello playing and Emily’s superb skill at the piano, combine to convey a message of compassion, forgiveness, and tremendous courage that I find inspiring. The modest elegance of all three and their generosity in giving of their professional skills to a small group of non-concert-goers for no financial reward stands out to me as a shining example of the spirit of the field of work that I’m involved in, which is peacemaking.
Israel lost one of its best friends ever to serve in the U.S. Congress with the passing of Sen. Daniel K. Inouye. The Hawaii lawmaker’s last word was, ‘Aloha.’
Hasidic reggae artist and international superstar Matisyahu talks about the school he and his wife recently founded, Lamplighters Yeshiva, as well as his music and career in an exclusive "Jewish NYC" interview with Shalom TV's Sivan Hadari.
There are about 100 residents in this Southern Kibbutz named ‘Kerem Shalom’, a name which means ‘vineyard of peace’. Ironically enough though, the Israelis living here have gotten used to a lifestyle which hasn’t seen too many peaceful moments. The kibbutz is located right by Israel’s border with Gaza, as well as near the border with Egypt. Both Gaza and Egypt have been a source of terrorism for Israel- with continuous rocket attacks into populated Israeli areas from the Gaza strip, with weapon smuggling in underground tunnels which go from Egypt to Gaza. And with the most recent terror attack in which militants from Egypt’s Sinai killed Egyptian patrol guards and penetrated the border with Israel, targeting Israeli civilians. And this was not the only incident that took place right outside of these Kibbutz walls. Six years ago an Israeli tank was attacked by Hamas gunmen killing two soldiers and kidnapping Gilad Shalit who was the held in captivity for over five years. This eight-meter wall protects the Kibbutz from Gaza. Additional security measures are applied as well in order to keep the residents safe. But one must wonder why people would choose to come and live in a place surrounded by security threats. For the time being, these Israelis can only wish for the peace they so long for, the one their kibbutz is named after. Sivan Raviv, JN1, Israel.
Speaking to Jewish leaders in NY, PM Benjamin Netanyahu describes his meeting with Pres. Obama, repeats his call for direct peace negotiations, and responds to efforts to delegitimize Israel and its Jewish character. Hosted by The Presidents Conference.
Addressing 4,000 Jewish leaders at the 2010 General Assembly of The Jewish Federations of North America, the Israeli prime minister speaks of peace with the Palestinians and the need for unity throughout the Jewish world. Coverage from New Orleans, LA.