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Jews have contributed to humanity in many noble ways – from science to art and culture. But with Yom Kippur upon us, and the spirit of remorse, we should also mention those who made less admirable contributions – some of the biggest Jewish criminals of all time. Arnold “The Brain” Rothstein    Arnold Rothstein, nicknamed “the Brain”, was a Jewish-American racketeer, businessman and gambler who became a kingpin of the Jewish mob in New York City. Rothstein was widely reputed to have organized corruption in professional athletics, including conspiring to fix the 1919 World Series. His older brother, on the other hand,[…]

There are not many uplifting moments in Jewish life more than the first day of school. From the Yeshiva to the Kibbutz, from the Americas to North Africa. Eastern Europe or Middle Asia, In Israel or the United States to ghettos and communities living under oppression – the child’s education is an encompassing experience of Jewish life. So, congratulation to all children and parents returning to school, and in particular to all the first graders out there – שלום כיתה א! First Grade Pupils in the Primary School in Ariana, Tunisia, 1959 Jenny and Erich Mendeshausen first day at school. Nienburg,[…]

In 2013 world-renowned rock star and BDS enthusiast Roger Waters managed to upset the Anti-Defamation League after a performance in which he featured Stars of David alongside dollar signs. The ADL claimed that Waters employed an ancient despicable anti-Semitic stereotype. Indeed, the display was hateful, but how ancient was its message, really? Like many anti-Semitic stereotypes, the association of Jews with money was forged during a famous Passover Seder held in a Jerusalem inn approximately 2,000 years ago. Known by the morbid name The Last Supper, that meal was interrupted by Roman soldiers lead by Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’[…]

Much has been written about Jewish history of Hollywood. But this is a bit more surprising. Jews played a major role in the early days of the equally vibrant Indian cinematic industry – Bollywood. Particularly prominent was a group of Jewish actresses who captured the imagination of Indian audiences with their charm and beauty. One major reason for their prominence were conservative attitudes among Hindi and Muslim India of the time towards women on the big screen.   1. Ruby Myers Born in 1907, Myers, from a Baghdadi Jewish family, is better known by her stage name Sulochan. She was[…]

Concerning both Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews, at the center of major historical developments, the Jewish history of France is as diverse as the French nation. It spans from the enlightened to the cruel, from the progressive to the tragic. Here are some defining moments in French-Jewish history. Happy Bastille Day to all! 1. ‎1040-1105 – Legend has it that Rashi, the great medieval Torah commentator, allowed his daughters to lay Tefillin   2. June 17, 1244 – The burning of the Talmud in Paris   3. 1394 – Jews are exiled from France. Only one of several exile decrees between[…]