Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on February 6, 2017

What do preparing for the Super Bowl and rabbinic literature have in common? More than you would think, according to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

As Tom Brady and company get ready to face the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 5, Kraft spoke with the Forward about his religious upbringing, his relationship with Israel, and what it takes to prepare for the biggest stage in one of the most complicated, strategic sports.

We try to prepare very hard, study very hard, said Kraft, who grew up in a strictly observant Jewish home and studied Pirkei Avot Ethics of our Fathers every Saturday afternoon with his father. You know, its like studying Talmud or Torah its not just simplistic, its deep. We prepare as a team very well, we practice hard.

That rigorous attention to detail is one reason that the Patriots are preparing to play in a record eighth Super Bowl since Kraft, a Brookline, Massachusetts, native, purchased the team in 1994.

The other key to New Englands success is the teams culture an aura often referred to as the Patriot Way. Under Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick, the organizational philosophy has been that the team is greater than the sum of its parts; everyone from the superstar quarterback to the benchwarmer is held accountable.

To be successful in football, you have to do things that put the team first, Kraft explained. Everyone has to play their role, and if they dont do it, youre not going to win. Its not the great stars that win; its the great teams that win. Its the teams that subjugate their ego to the team and put the team first.

Kraft used the word team three times in one sentence, and he unwittingly did so again a few minutes later when talking about Israel. Without explicitly referencing the Patriot Way, Kraft credited a similar check-your-ego-at-the-door, team-first mentality for the State of Israels ability to thrive in a hostile region.

That whole concept of team and teamwork and team first thats how Israel, in my opinion, has survived in the Middle East, he said. Everyone has different opinions, and everyone is a hakham [a wise man], except in times of stress and, unfortunately, war, where everyone bands together and puts the team first.

The Kraft familys relationship with Israel is well documented. Over the years, Robert Kraft has taken dozens of players, coaches and friends on yearly trips to a country that he called a modern-day miracle. In 2006 he took Brady to an Israel Defense Forces firing range. On another visit, he brought along the Vince Lombardi Trophy, stopping by then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharons office for a photo shoot. Two years ago, 19 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame made the journey.

They came back to America and explained that it was the greatest experience of their life, Kraft said of the Hall of Famers. Some of them were men that had won Super Bowls, and they said that being baptized in the Sea of Galilee or visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre changed their life.

Kraft and his late wife, Myra Hiatt Kraft, have also done more than anyone to bring the American game over to Israel. The couple have supported and funded a womens flag football league. In Jerusalem, American football is played at the Kraft Family Stadium.

He acknowledged that soccer and basketball are more popular, but he believes that football will catch on. We think that once Israelis understand the game, theyll be big supporters of it, Kraft said.

In the meantime, the New England-Atlanta matchup marks the first time since 2012 that two teams with Jewish owners have met in the Super Bowl. The four-time Super Bowl champion downplayed the Jewish connection, but said that Falcons owner Arthur Blank is like a brother.

Hes a very good friend, Kraft said. Only one of us is going to win next Sunday, but I have great respect and affection for him.

Jane Eisner contributed reporting.

Read the original here:
Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Preparing for the Super Bowl Is Like Studying Talmud - Forward

Category: Talmud | Comments Off on Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Preparing for the Super Bowl Is Like Studying Talmud – Forward
Tags:

Posted By richards on February 6, 2017

Priestly Blessings at the Western Wall

Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Interestingly and fascinatingly enough the Talmud tractate of Baba Basra discusses in part in the daf yomi (daily page of Talmud studied all over the Jewish world) forthis week the matter of building walls and who has the obligation to pay for such a necessary and protective wall around a city or a property. The tractate that we began to once again study about ten days ago is about real estate, properties, partnerships and the inevitable disputes that result. And wouldnt you know it and who could have hypothesized that one of the earliest subjects to be tackled is about building walls to protect people and their land and who is required to pay.

In fact as you know, erecting barriers and building walls to protect us is very much in the news these days. President Trump has been talking about building a wall on this countries southern border with Mexico for quite some time. More controversial than the pressing need for such a wall to keep out drug dealers and other criminal types is the matter---as addressed by the Talmudin a somewhat different circumstance---the matter of who is going to pay (isnt that always the problem?)

Last week somehow, Israels Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu became embroiled in the US-Mexico diplomatic tug of war when he chimed in that he was in favor of the Trump southern border wall which to put it mildly, incensed Mexican officials. It all started when President Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox News last week that a border wall is good for the heart of the nation because people want protection and a wall protects. All you have to do is ask Israel, he said.

Then the President added:They [the Israelis] were having a total disastercoming across and [then] they had a wall; it is 99.9% stoppage; a proper wall, not a wall that is this high like they [US border authorities] have right now; they have little toy walls... I am talking about a real wall. And even that, of course, will have people violate it, but we will have people waiting for them when they do.

Walter Bingham

That was all fine and good until over last weekend Mr. Netanyahu added to the ongoing conflagration by telling a reporter that he agreed with Mr. Trump. And then it was learned that an Israel company that builds precisely these types of tall impenetrable walls is the frontrunner in the bid to build the wall between the US and Mexico that the cost of such a project can run as much as $10 billion.

And that wasnt Israels only wall problem this week. Sixteen members of Israels religious parties in the Knesset have offered up legislation that wants to eliminate the possibility that the government will set aside any area at the Western Wall for egalitarian services which in other words means that a section of the Wall will be set aside where Jewish denominations---Conservative and Reform Jews---can hold services that include men and women praying together.

The new law if passed would prevent any religious practices that offend worshippers at the place. This means it would continuethe Orthodox Chief Rabbinate and Israels rabbinical court'ssole jurisdiction over the Western Wall. Violators of the new law would face heavy sanctions including six months in prison and a 10,000 shekel fine.

If this legislation passes it would signal a major defeat for the Conservative and Reform movements in Israel. Even though this struggle and debate has been going on for years with the group Women of the Wall leading the way there is still no organized mixed prayer services at the Wall. Over the last several years there have been unofficial mixed prayer groups holding services at the upper plaza where many thousands of tourists and locals gather on a daily basis. The new legislation would outlaw these informal groups of non-Orthodox Jews who prefer a mixed prayer service from doing so on the lower plaza.

Hadas Parush/Flash 90

The new bill was initiated by Shas, the ultra-Orthodox Mizrahi party. It was signed not only by all the members of the two harediparties in the Knesset Shas and United Torah Judaism but also by three members of the Likud, Oren Hazan, David Amsalem and Miki Zohar, and by three members of the religious Zionist pro-settler Habayit Hayehudi, Bezalel Smotrich, Motti Yogev and Nissan Smoliansky.

Another dimension of this Western Wall issue that may be reaching its zenith is that it serves to alienate large numbers of American Jews in particular who do not identify with Orthodox Judaism. While this overwhelming majority of non-Orthodox American Jews are significant economic supporters of various projects in the state of Israel, this kind of legislation potentially jeopardizes that vital financial support for the Jewish state.

While Prime Minister Netanyahu would like to tip toe around this wall issue, he is not faring much better than he has over the last week with the wall going up someday at the US southern border with Mexico. The Prime Minister is walking a fine line here as he needs the support of the religious parties in the Knesset but at the same time does not want to insult or offend millions of American Jews and Jews in other countries as well, no doubt.

And Israels wall problems did not conclude with the above issues this week. For some reason the new Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guteres, said last week that in his estimation or his opinion or maybe its a matter of history, the ancient Jewish Temple that we know as the Bet Hamikdash once stood on the area above the Western Wall known as the Temple Mount or Har Habayit.

And all this after UNESCO declared both The Temple Mount and the Wall below as Islamic religious sites which was just another way of communicating to the world that todays Israel is not only a military occupier but also a force and a presence illegally sitting atop Muslim holy sites. Most reasonable and honest people understand and know well that there is an irrefutable connection between these sites, the city of Jerusalem overall and the Jewish people. But when we refer to the Palestinian Arabsand their leadership in particular the idea of honesty unfortunately does not enter into the equation.

Its not a secret that President Trump has an affinity for Bibi Netanyahu and the state of Israel. The President respects and admires success more than anything else. When it comes to Israel and for that matter myriad other issues, the President is philosophically the polar opposite of Barrack Obama. So, therefore, it is not a surprise that while Obama had little else but hostility for Bibi and Israel, the Trump team will represent direct opposite and very warm and cordial feelings.

Which brings us back to the other wall issue right here in the US. Both sides agree that a wall extended over a more than 1,000 mile border between the US and Mexico will benefit both countries with the point of contention being who is going to pay for the darn thing. The US needs the wall to stem the tide of illegal migrants who indulge in criminal activities and transport drugs across the border. Mexico can benefit from the construction if Mr. Trump decides that it will be okay to use Mexican cement for the wall construction as one of the largest cement companies in the world---Cemex---is located just inside Mexico. It is estimated that over 2.4 million tons of cement will be needed to get the job done.

The Talmudin the first few pages of Baba Basra makes it clear that those who benefit from a wall should be the people who pay for it. The question is how do you define benefit and if one party benefits more than the other is there a sliding scale for payment and so on. Talmudic logic would seem to indicate that the way out of this silly back and forth between Mr. Trump and President Pena Nieto of Mexico is to just split the cost down the middle. I dont know why that has not been offered or suggested yet by any of the parties.

In the meantime Israel continues to do battle about partitions, dividers, barriers and even ancient stone construction that people travel to from around the wall to stand in silent prayer if only for a few moments. Whether it is the nemesis posed by the womens group, the UNESCO position on the holy sites, new construction in the Old City of Jerusalem, or the Mexican Presidents and the Talmudic position on who should pay one thing is clear---Israel seems to be over its head with wall to wall headaches, some real and important, others frivolous and imaginary.

Visit link:
On Western and other walls - Arutz Sheva

Category: Talmud | Comments Off on On Western and other walls – Arutz Sheva
Tags:

Posted By richards on February 6, 2017

The Tu BShvat Seder placed special emphasis on Shivat Haminim the Seven Species of produce native to the Land of Israel, which are mentioned in the Torah: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and honey.

Although in many parts of the world it is still winter, Tu BShvat the 15th of Shvat, the New Year of the Trees, also known as Chag HaIlanot, foretells the coming of spring and presents an opportunity to honor the forthcoming season with a heightened taste. Tu BShvat is listed in the Mishna (oral law) as the date used for calculating the beginning of the agricultural cycle for the purpose of biblical tithes. Today, it offers us a unique opportunity for insight into our personal growth through an exploration of the connection between trees, their fruits and our spiritual existence. Throughout the centuries, kabbalists have used the tree as a metaphor to understand Gods relationship to the spiritual and physical worlds.

In the 16th century, the kabbalists of Safed compiled a Tu BShvat Seder, modeled to a certain degree on the Pesach Seder. It included readings from the Torah, Talmud (oral law with accompanying commentary) and Zohar (mystical commentary on the Torah), with special blessings to be said over fruits and fruit-bearing trees. Four cups of wine were also drunk.

The Seder placed special emphasis on Shivat Haminim the Seven Species of produce native to the Land of Israel, which are mentioned in the Torah: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and honey. When God promised the land of Israel to the Jewish people, He mentioned these seven species by name to prove the lands viability, as these grains and fruits were staples in their diet. This suggests that God invoked divinity into each one of these species. When we eat from any one of these, we should be mindful that we are ingesting holy sparks into our lives as a conduit to reach God, which is also why we say a blessing to Him for this gift. I use all of these fruits in my challah preparation, to honor Tu BShvat, and to re-engage my taste for the new fruits by elevating them with intention.

With this in mind, Shvat can be viewed as a month of holy eating. It is a chance to understand God in the most basic, primal and intimate way, by connecting through the eating of the seven blessed species.

Wheat was mentioned first of the seven species because it is the foundation of sustenance. It was considered superior to barley because it was a finer grain, more suitable for human consumption. During biblical times, the choicest wheat was used in meal offerings. While wheat may have been essential for life, the Torah emphasizes man does not live by bread alone, by the utterance of Gods mouth does man live (Deuteronomy 8:3). In other words, it is not just our earthly toils that bring us bread but the blessings from above, which endow our efforts with success. In order for us to draw down blessings, we have to be involved in our own existence, and making bread is the paradigmatic example of our partnership with God in His creation.

I add dates in the form of date honey (silan), mindful of the verse, A righteous man will flourish like a date palm, like a cedar in the Lebanon he will grow tall. Planted in the House of the Lord, in the courtyards of our God they will flourish. No part of the palm tree is wasted; it is a sustainable tree. The dates are eaten, the branches are used for waving on Sukkot, the dried thatch is used for roofing, the fibers are used as ropes, the leaves can become sieves and the trunk can be used for house beams. From this we can learn that man should not to be wasteful in life, and that all parts of him should be used to carry out Gods commandments.

Jews are compared to olive trees, therefore I pour olive oil, a product of the tree, into the challah to symbolize our ability to renew ourselves. Olive trees have interesting characteristics: They can easily resist drought, diseases and even fire the roots that remain regenerate the trees even when the ground is a smoky ruin, therefore they live many years. This might be one of the many reasons why Jews are compared to olive trees; we have the ability to regenerate ourselves through our faith, to start new and transcend all obstacles.

After the rising, I knead into the dough figs as a reminder from the Talmud, fig trees are compared to Torah. Elucidating the verse in Proverbs, He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruits, the Talmud explains that figs on a tree do not ripen all at once, and the more you search the tree, the more figs you find. Such is also the case with Torah: The more you meditate upon it, the more meanings come from it.

Wine and grape juice are central to all Jewish celebrations because they are holy, sanctified beverages with a blessing all their own. Additionally, I add raisins to the dough to actualize the spiritual potential of grapes, imbuing my challah with holiness.

After the rising, I shape the challah as a pomegranate, a fruit that had great significance in Ancient Israel, and signifies both fruitfulness and righteousness. It is said that there are 613 seeds in a pomegranate, corresponding to the 613 commandments found in the Torah. According to the Talmud, the 248 positive commandments correspond to the 248 limbs of the human body. Targum Yonatan, written by a first-century sage who translated the prophetic books of the Bible, adds that the 365 negative commandments correspond to the 365 sinews in the human body. Together, these add up to 613, alluding to the idea that you must use the physical body that God gave you to live as a Jew.

After the egg wash, I adorn the challahs with barley grits, barley being the first grain to ripen in the spring a time when our taste buds can flourish after the barrenness of winter.

Dahlia Abraham-Klein is the author of Spiritual Kneading through the Jewish Months: Building the Sacred through Challah. Her new book, Necessary Mourning: Healing the Loss of a Parent through Jewish Ritual, is now available.

The Forward's independent journalism depends on donations from readers like you.

Read the original here:
The Secrets of the 7-Species Challah - Forward

Category: Talmud | Comments Off on The Secrets of the 7-Species Challah – Forward
Tags:

Posted By richards on February 6, 2017

Police released images of the property damage, a suspected vandal and vehicle used during an act of vandalism they are investigating as a hate crime early Saturday. View Full Caption

Courtesy Chicago Police Department

DOWNTOWN Police are investigating a Downtown hate crime after windows at the Chicago Loop Synagogue were smashed in and swastika stickerswere placed on the door early Saturday.

Police responded to a call of "criminal damage in progress" at the Chicago Loop Synagogue, 16 S. Clark St., at 12:20 a.m. Saturday.

A window was smashed in and several swastika stickerswere placed on the front door of the synagogue, police said.

Saturday afternoon, police released additional information regarding the incident. According to police, a person wearing dark clothing and a dark head mask exited a dark-colored SUV, "possibly a Toyota Highlander," placed swastika stickers on the front door of the synagogue and then used a metal object to break the front glass windows.

Images released by police show the property damage, the dark SUV in question and the suspected vandal.

President of the synagogue, Lee Zoldan, told the Tribune this was the first time the congregation was targeted since its 1959 opening. Zoldanalso announced two rewards totaling $3,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the incident.

The vandalism is being investigated as a hate crime, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at(312) 747-8382.

Chicago Loop Synagogue vandalized overnight, windows broken, swastika stickers plastered on doors. Hate crime investigation. @nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/yqjU5WoDLt

See the original post here:
Hate Crime Suspect Sought After Putting Swastika Stickers On Loop Synagogue - DNAinfo

Category: Synagogue | Comments Off on Hate Crime Suspect Sought After Putting Swastika Stickers On Loop Synagogue – DNAinfo
Tags:

Posted By richards on February 6, 2017

A Palestinian Hamas militant takes part in a rally marking the twelfth anniversary of the death of late Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in Gaza City. (photo credit:REUTERS)

Israeli security authorities have uncovered a Hamas cell that planned to carry out terror attacks in the West Bank and within Israel, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced Monday after the details of the case were cleared for publication.

The three terrorists, Mamduach Yunis, 24 of Ar'ara, and brothers Hassan, 23, and Muhammed Zida'at, 25, from Bnei Naim Village near Hebron, were all indicted for the plot in the Haifa District Court on Monday.

The indictment filed by the Haifa District Attorney's Office charged them with conspiracy to commit a felony, participation in and membership in a terror organization, contact with a foreign agent, illegally crossing into Israel and various weapons offenses. Yunis was also charged with aiding an enemy in time of war.

The cell, which received instructions from Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip through Facebook, planned shooting attacks, the planting of explosive devices and kidnappings in the Hebron area.

In addition, the cell gathered intelligence on a number of sites for potential attacks within Israel, including an Afula bus station, a military base near Kfar Kara, the Binyamina Train Station and a synagogue in Zichron Yaakov. The members of the cell were familiar with the locations from their time working in Israeli illegally, the Shin Bet stated.

According to the indictment, Hassan and Muhammed both illegally crossed into Israel to Ar'ara over the course of 2014-2015, with Muhammad getting a job with a carpenter, related to Yunis, which was how the three met. The Shin Bet said that Hassan had crossed into Israel after being accused of murder by the Palestinian Authority, and that Muhammad had purchased weapons and gathered intelligence on targets for the cell.

The indictment stated that Hassan also used Internet platforms to make contact with Hamas operatives in Gaza to help plan attacks.

In order to carry out the attacks, the cell members started putting away NIS 1,000 per month and eventually purchased weapons, and manufactured explosives at the carpentry store as well as recruited other Palestinians.

Since the beginning of the latest wave of violence to hit Israel and the West Bank, numerous attacks have been thwarted in and around Hebron, a stronghold of the Islamist movement Hamas.

According to the Shin Bet, the uncovering of the infrastructure and activities it planned demonstrates the high threat level posed by Hamas militants, especially those who enter Israel and remain their illegally.

Relevant to your professional network? Please share on Linkedin

Prev Article

Report: Files show Hezbollah targeted Israeli diplomats in Brazil

Police seize funds transferred to terrorists' families by Hamas, arrest 14

Next Article

Excerpt from:
'Hamas cell planned terror attacks at synagogue, train station in Israel' - Jerusalem Post Israel News

Category: Synagogue | Comments Off on 'Hamas cell planned terror attacks at synagogue, train station in Israel' – Jerusalem Post Israel News
Tags:

Posted By richards on February 6, 2017

(JTA) A downtown Chicago synagogue was vandalized in what police believe is a hate crime.

The front window of the nearly 90-year-old Chicago Loop Synagogue was smashed early on Saturday morning and copies of swastikas were taped to its front doors.

Police were called at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday to the synagogue after construction workers saw the attack in progress, according to reports.

The vandal was caught on surveillance camera, which was released to the public later on Saturday. The vandal is a white male wearing dark clothing and a dark face mask.

Police told local media they are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

The Chicago Jewish community will not be intimidated by anti-Semitic attacks on a house of worship, AJC Chicago Director Amy Stoken said in a statement.Chicagoans must speak together clearly that the hatred behind this destructive behavior will never be accepted.

Saturday morning Shabbat services went ahead as scheduled.

See more here:
Chicago Loop Synagogue Vandalized With Swastikas and Broken Windows - Forward

Category: Synagogue | Comments Off on Chicago Loop Synagogue Vandalized With Swastikas and Broken Windows – Forward
Tags:

Posted By richards on February 6, 2017

Criminal damage and vandalism is shown at a Chicago synagogue on Feb. 4, 2017. (Credit: CNN)

Police are investigating a flurry of swastika vandalism in three major U.S. cities.

Chicago Police released a surveillance video Saturday that shows a man smashing the front window of a synagogue and placing swastikas on the front door.

In the video, the suspect pulls up to the synagogue curb in a dark colored SUV just after midnight, gets out of the vehicle, places the stickers on the front door and then breaks the glass with a metal object. He then gets back in the car and flees the scene.

The man is wearing dark clothing and a dark head mask, police said.

The incident is being investigated as a hate crime.

The Chicago Jewish community will not be intimidated by anti-Semitic attacks on a house of worship, American Jewish Committee Director Amy Stoken said in a statement to CNN.

I have had it with this behavior

Campus police at Rice University in Houston are investigating the swastika vandalism of the schools William Marsh Rice statue.

The university reported that a swastika was drawn on the base of the iconic statue in the academic quad Friday night. The vandalism also included unidentified words according to a Rice statement sent to CNN.

I have had it with this behaviorWe are smarter, we are resolute and we outnumber the hatemongers by far, University Dean John Hutchinson said in the statement.

We will not let hate win

A group of New York subway passengers used hand sanitizer to remove Nazi graffiti from an uptown 1 train on Feb. 4, 2017. (Credit: CNN)

It was not a typical Saturday night getting on the subway in New York City. One man, Gregory Locke, observed a Swastika on every advertisement and every window on a train.

Lockes Facebook post and pictures of the defacement has since gone viral, and even warranted the attention of Chelsea Clinton who tweeted the post.

We will not let hate win, Clinton said.

Passengers were stunned by the acts of hate and one person on the train asked for hand sanitizer which was used to help erase all the swastikas written with a Sharpie, Locke said in his post.

Go here to read the rest:
Police Investigating Swastika Vandalism in New York Subway, Chicago Synagogue, College Campus in Houston - KTLA

Category: Synagogue | Comments Off on Police Investigating Swastika Vandalism in New York Subway, Chicago Synagogue, College Campus in Houston – KTLA
Tags:

Posted By richards on February 6, 2017

Then an act of kindness revived their spirits -- the leaders of the local Jewish congregation gave them the keys to their synagogue so they could continue to worship.

The leader of the mosque said he wasn't surprised by the gesture.

"I never doubted the support that we were going to get" after the fire, Dr. Shahid Hashmi, a surgeon and president of Victoria Islamic Center, told CNN. "We've always had a good relationship with the community here."

Hashmi said Dr. Gary Branfman -- a member of Temple B'nai Israel in Victoria, as well as a fellow surgeon and friend -- just came by his house and gave him the keys.

And that wasn't the only offer of a temporary worship space that was extended. Hashmi said three local churches said his congregation could use their buildings. Also offered up was an empty office building, which the congregation used for three days before moving into a mobile home on the mosque property, Hashmi said.

"It's a beautiful community," he said.

Though Hashmi always knew his own east Texas community would support the mosque, he was stunned by the outpouring of support from people outside Victoria.

So far, a GoFundMe page set up to help raise money for the mosque's reconstruction has taken in more than $1 million.

That's on top of other donations the congregation has received from people in 90 different countries.

"We were surprised at the donations from around the world," Hashmi told CNN.

The Muslim community in Victoria dates back decades, Hashmi said, but the mosque was just 16 years old. Thanks to all of the financial contributions, he expects they'll be able to rebuild it in less than a year.

Hashmi said the congregants at the mosque are still in shock over the fire. Officials with the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office say no cause has been determined yet, and it may be weeks or months before can they figure out what happened, including whether the fire was deliberately set.

But the love that has grown from tragedy is making all the difference.

"It's given us a sense of hope," Omar Rachid, a member of the Muslim congregation, told CNN. "It's humanity at its best."

CNN's Jamiel Lynch contributed to this story.

Read more from the original source:
Jews hand Muslims keys to synagogue after Texas mosque burns - CNN

Category: Synagogue | Comments Off on Jews hand Muslims keys to synagogue after Texas mosque burns – CNN
Tags:

Posted By richards on February 6, 2017

Texas Jews share synagogue with Muslim peers after mosque destroyed

ByJPOST.COM STAFF

04 February 2017 09:40

A number of churches and an office building also offered up their space.

A security official investigates the aftermath of a fire at the Victoria Islamic Center mosque in Victoria, Texas January 29, 2017. . (photo credit:REUTERS)

The Jewish community of Victoria, Texas, has stepped up to aid the town's Muslim community after their mosque was destroyed in a fire last weekend, CNN reported.

Dr. Shahid Hashmi, the president of the Victoria Islamic Center, told CNN that Dr. Gary Branfman, a friend of his and a member of Victoria's Temple B'nai Israel, stopped by his home to give him the keys to the synagogue so they could use it for their services.

"I never doubted the support that we were going to get," said Hashmi. "We've always had a good relationship with the community here."

The cause of the fire has not been determined yet. CNN reported that a number of churches and an office building also offered up their space, and that the Islamic Center has taken up temporary residency in a mobile home on the mosque property. They hope to be able to rebuild their mosque within the year thanks to generous donations locally and from abroad, including a GoFundMe page that has already raised over one million dollars in support.

Relevant to your professional network? Please share on Linkedin

Prev Article

Bannon, in film treatment, described US Jews as enablers of jihad

Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus drop Ivanka Trump label

Next Article

06 February 2017

Anti-Israel German politician compares Jewish Facebook head with Nazi

By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL

Sir Anish Kapoor wins 2017 Genesis Prize

By STEVE LINDE

Promoted Content

New Yorker commuters unite to clean Nazi graffiti off subway car

By JTA

Promoted Content

Chicago synagogue plastered with swastikas in antisemitic attack

By JPOST.COM STAFF

Promoted Content

German state removes antisemitic school book

By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL

Promoted Content

OUR FREE DAILY NEWS BLAST

Seth J. Frantzman

Irans ayatollahs stay up all night wondering, whats next?

Bernard-Henri Lvy

Donald Trumps Plot Against America

Ruthie Blum

Right From Wrong: Thanking Obama for Trump

Frederick Mayer

First, America

IDF completes large-scale Gaza drill simulating Hamas infiltration

Outgoing prosecutor: Intelligence shows Hamas will takeover West Bank post-Abbas

New evidence intensifies mystery around Beduin teacher's killing

Most Read

'Hamas cell planned terror attacks at synagogue, train station in Israel'

Iran: 'Only seven minutes needed for the Iranian missile to hit Tel Aviv'

Israel Air Force strikes three more Hamas targets after rocket attack

Anti-Israel German politician compares Jewish Facebook head with Nazi

See original here:
Texas Jews share synagogue with Muslim peers after mosque destroyed - Jerusalem Post Israel News

Category: Synagogue | Comments Off on Texas Jews share synagogue with Muslim peers after mosque destroyed – Jerusalem Post Israel News
Tags:

Posted By richards on February 6, 2017

New York Times

Israel Ejects Settlers in Last Stand at West Bank Synagogue New York Times Hundreds of angry protesters confronted Israeli police officers as they tried to eject them Thursday from the illegal West Bank settlement of Amona, the second day of clashes there. Several officers were injured as they cleared a synagogue of 200 ... Israel Police Evacuate Amona Synagogue in Last Phase of RemovalForward Activists storm synagogue as bulldozers move inThe Times (subscription) Last settlers removed from Amona synagogue after putting up 'strong resistance'i24news The Times of Israel -rdnewsnow.com all 2,003 news articles »

Read more from the original source:
Israel Ejects Settlers in Last Stand at West Bank Synagogue - New York Times

Category: Synagogue | Comments Off on Israel Ejects Settlers in Last Stand at West Bank Synagogue – New York Times
Tags: