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Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
As a Rabbi, I know Jewish people are under attack. Too many still look away.
Sunday evening, I led my community as we celebrated the beginning of Shavuot, the Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelites' receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. It's a lovely holiday − one of my favorites − which includes late-night study sessions and traditional dairy treats (enjoyed because the Israelites abstained from meat before the great theophany). In the back of my mind all evening was dark knowledge: that events were still unfolding in Boulder, Colorado, around an antisemitic attack. It was there that members of the Jewish community, peacefully demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages held for over 600 days, were set ablaze. The alleged attacker, an Egyptian man, yelled "Free Palestine!" as he threw Molotov cocktails and wielded a flamethrower at elderly Jews, injuring eight, including one Holocaust survivor. There are a lot of things that are dispiriting to Jews at this moment. More: 'Horrifying' Boulder attack comes amid rise in antisemitic crimes, Gaza tensions The ignorance is certainly bad. For years, we have been shouting for all who will listen that phrases like "globalize the intifada" lead us inexorably in one clear direction − toward acts of violence against Jews worldwide. I grimly wonder, as do many of my peers, if Israel's fiercest critics will ever be ready to hear this message. Fewer than 60 days after a Jewish governor's mansion was firebombed, less than two weeks after peace-activist Israeli-embassy staffers were gunned down in Washington, D.C., and now after this latest calamity, will people believe Jews when we say that such phrases have tangible, dangerous consequences? Or, instead, will they opt to think that these are just the "bad apples" who merit condemnation but couldn't possibly be part of a trend, or are simply the deserved consequence to Jews worldwide for complaints about Israel's government? The fear is bad, too. There is debate within the Jewish community about whether our concerns are overblown − after all, we are more likely, say, to be in a car crash than the victim of a violent antisemitic attack. And yet, the numbers don't lie: In 2023, the FBI reported that nearly 70% of religion-based hate crimes targeted Jews, even though Jews make up only about 2% of the U.S. population. Jews move about the world ever-cognizant of this reality, and it weighs most of us down. Opinion: Amid ongoing attacks, Jewish people are afraid. Is anyone listening? You might think about the Jewish experience of fear this way: You'll virtually never enter any Jewish facility or event without a security presence. In my childhood, when I spent many afternoons and late evenings at my Temple in Atlanta, I often passed time with our friendly security guard, Michael. Michael, of blessed memory, was a kind, older man who happily tolerated Jewish kids like me "hanging out" with him. He was a mensch for humoring us. Only as an adult did I realize how perverse the situation was: Michael's entire presence was a persistent reminder of the fact that even as a Jewish child, I was already unsafe. I suppose we learned that lesson well down in Atlanta, where one of our synagogues had been bombed just a few decades prior. What weighs heaviest on many Jews right now, though, is the silence. For a while, the silence has been killing us on the inside; now, it seems, it's time again (since this is a pattern of Jewish history) for the silence to begin killing us on the outside too. The news covered the Boulder attack plenty. My social media feed, which includes many Jews, was littered with post after post about it. However, I heard from only a very few non-Jewish friends. This was the same after the attack in D.C., the one in Pennsylvania, and all the others that have taken place in recent years. We get it: Israel complicates things. However, our lives here in the United States should be worth protecting. When Wadea al-Fayoume was murdered at the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Jews, rightfully, were disgusted, and many condemned the horrifying barbarity. Now, it seems, there is limited appetite among Israel's critics to stand up and say that reciprocal violence against the Jewish community is unacceptable. I sincerely hope this changes. More: Who is Mohamed Soliman? Boulder terror suspect was denied gun due to overstayed visa Most Jews are not looking for people to see this incident and suddenly decide they support Israel. This isn't a sport, and we're not trying to recruit teammates. We just want people to acknowledge the attacks against us, the pain they bring our community, and to do so without "both-siding" them. It feels especially timely to recall words from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the former Chief Rabbi of the UK, who spoke to the House of Lords in 2018. As he said then, "Antisemitism is the hardest of all hatreds to defeat because, like a virus, it mutates, but one thing stays the same. Jews, whether as a religion or a race or as the State of Israel, are made the scapegoat for problems for which all sides are responsible. That is how the road to tragedy begins." To many Jews, it certainly feels like we are well on our way down the road to tragedy. We could use your help avoiding stops at some of its more grotesque historical destinations; however, at the least, we'd take your compassion and support as we weather this latest storm. Ari Jun is senior rabbi of Cincinnati's Temple Sholom. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Colorado attack on Jews is part of sickening routine | Opinion
Epoch Times
13-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Exploring Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema's ‘The Finding of Moses'
The Jewish holiday of Passover commemorates the Israelites' liberation, led by Moses, from slavery in Egypt. The Hebrew prophet's beginnings has been a popular theme in art history explored in paintings, drawings, frescos, prints, stained glass, and illuminated manuscripts by both Jewish and Christian artists. One of the most famous examples is the 1904 painting 'The Finding of Moses' by Anglo-Dutch artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. The textual reference for this narrative comes from Exodus, the second book of the Bible. At the start, the Pharaoh decrees that all Jewish male newborns in Egypt be thrown into the Nile River. To avoid this fate for her son, Moses' mother places him in the reeds by the river in a papyrus basket. The baby is found and removed from the water by none other than the king's daughter. The princess knows that he is Jewish, but adopts him anyway, naming him Moses, which means 'to draw out.' Watching this scene at a distance is Moses' sister. She emerges, offering to secure a nurse for the baby and chooses their own mother. The interior decoration of one of the world's oldest known synagogues, called Dura-Europos Synagogue, contained frescos of the life of Moses on its western wall. One of the wall's registers illustrates the finding of Moses. The Synagogue dates to the mid-3rd century and is in modern-day Syria. The building's extensive, colorful wall paintings are unique, with nothing comparable in the art of Jewish antiquity. The Synagogue was uncovered in the 1930s, during excavations by a Yale-French archaeological team. It had spent over a millennium beneath layers of sand. The artworks were later transferred to the National Museum in Damascus. A fresco depicting Moses's discovery in the Dura-Europos Synagogue from the mid-3rd Century A.D. Public Domain European Depictions Christian artists were interested in the story of Moses's beginnings, in part because his tale was viewed as a precursor to the New Testament's Flight into Egypt. In that chronicle, Jesus flees to Egypt with his family, escaping King Herod's ordered massacre of Jewish male infants in Bethlehem. There were specific regional reasons European artists in the Renaissance and Baroque periods gravitated towards the finding of Moses. The Venetian artist Related Stories 3/17/2024 5/4/2025 "The Finding of Moses," circa 1580, by Paolo Veronese. Oil on canvas; 22 2/5 inches by 17 inches. Prado National Museum, Madrid. Public Domain Veronese's greatest version is at the Prado and dates to circa 1580. The figures in the foreground are in a pastoral locale. At the left is a body of water that leads to a cityscape in the background. This verdant atmosphere, coupled with the lavish brocade dress of the Pharaoh's daughter and her attendants' costumes, reveal that Veronese contemporized the story's ancient Egyptian setting. During the 17th century, the Dutch identified with several accounts from the Hebrew Bible, including the Book of Esther and the story of Moses. Regarding the latter, they saw a parallel between the Israelites Egyptian enslavement with the oppressive Spanish rule of their own territory, including how both peoples were freed due to courageous leadership. "The Finding of Moses," circa 1655, by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. Reed pen and brown ink with white opaque watercolor; 7 3/8 inches by 9 1/4 inches. Thaw Collection, The Morgan Library and Museum, New York. Public Domain At the Morgan Library is a dramatic drawing by Rembrandt (1606–1669) of the Finding of Moses. It dates to around 1655 and is one of many works on paper by the artist of biblical subjects. At its center is the Pharaoh's daughter, who stands in resplendent dress under a large parasol. At the lower right, Moses is rescued from the water as his semi-concealed sister watches the event unfold. The Italian Baroque artist "Finding of Moses," 1630, by Orazio Gentileschi. Oil on canvas; 101 inches by 118 1/2 inches. The National Gallery, London. Public Domain Gentileschi's elegant pictures from his 12-year London period are noted for their sumptuous colors and highly detailed depictions of textiles. 'The Finding of Moses,' the NG writes, 'is the most ambitious and displays unparalleled refinement and beauty.' The artist sets the story in countryside that resembles England rather than Egypt. The river at right looks more like the Thames than the Nile. Nine life-size female figures surround baby Moses. As in Veronese and Rembrandt's depictions, the Pharaoh's daughter is clearly delineated from the grouping. Here, she is arrayed in a bejeweled yellow gown. Moses' sister kneels before the princess while Moses' and Miriam's mother hovers protectively. This painting made headlines when the NG purchased it in 2020 after it had been on loan to them for almost 20 years. The price was a staggering $29 million, but it did not set the record for a painting of this subject. That honor is held by Alma-Tadema's 'The Finding of Moses,' which came up for auction at Sotheby's in 2010 with a $3 to $5 million estimate—it sold for $35.9 million. England's Knighted Master A self-portrait of the artist, 1896, by Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Oil on canvas; 26 inches by 21 inches. Uffizi Gallery, Florence. Public Domain Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836–1912) was born in a small Dutch village in the northern Netherlands. His father died when he was a child, and the family struggled financially. He faced pressure to become a lawyer, but he was resolved to follow his passion and become an artist. He recalled later, 'If I have obtained any degree of success, it is because I have always been faithful to my own ideas.' Alma-Tadema trained in the academic style, studying at Antwerp's Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Afterwards, he was mentored by a history painter who also worked as a professor of archaeology. This had a life-changing impact on Alma-Tadema. He became renowned for his opulent paintings of the classical world that reflected his exacting study—from trips, visits to museums, and an extensive library—of the art and objects of antiquity. He moved to London in 1870 and became a British citizen as well as a member of the Royal Academy. Alma-Tadema traveled in exalted circles: He was friends with the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra), and his works were collected by the likes of William Henry Vanderbilt and Henry Clay Frick. Queen Victoria knighted him in 1899, and six years later he received the Order of Merit. After his death, as a final honor, Alma-Tadema was buried in London's famous St. Paul's Cathedral. Sadly, it was soon after this that his beautiful paintings of precision, pageantry, splendor, bold color, and natural light were written off as superficial and old-fashioned. Modernism came to dominate the art world, and it was not until the 1960s that critical approval of his work reemerged. Interestingly, despite this lapse, Alma-Tadema's paintings had a profound impact on Hollywood film. The art critic and museum director Mario Amaya wrote that Alma-Tadema's 'emphasis on personal drama, his wide-angle perspective, and the huge scale of his works set the scene for the epic film industry.' A range of films reflect his influence, from D.W. Griffith's 'Intolerance,' to Cecil B. DeMille's 'Cleopatra' and 'The Ten Commandments,' William Wyler's 'Ben-Hur,' and Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator.' Alma-Tadema's Biblical Canvas "The Finding of Moses," 1904, by Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Oil on canvas; 53 3/4 inches by 84 inches. Private collection. Public Domain One of Alma-Tadema's most famous paintings is 'The Finding of Moses.' The oil on canvas dates to the end of his career. Its inspiration came from a six-week trip in 1902 that the artist took to Egypt for the opening of the Aswan Dam at the invitation of Sir John Aird, its engineer. Aird was a prominent patron of the arts, and his collection consisted mainly of large Academic pictures, including Alma-Tadema's magnificent 'The Roses of Heliogabalus.' Alma-Tadema was artistically inspired by the trip to Egypt, making many sketches and taking photographs. Aird wanted to add another Alma-Tadema painting to his collection and selected the artist's idea of the 'Finding of Moses.' Alma-Tadema worked almost exclusively on it for just under two years. This time-consuming picture was the culmination of his meticulous skill honed over decades. This was an unusual topic for Alma-Tadema, as he rarely painted biblical or even mythological subjects. While his work was deeply rooted in historic accuracy, he did take artistic license throughout his oeuvre in order to create imaginative, enthralling compositions. This painting is no exception. Alma-Tadema positions Moses prominently in a retinue of pomp that features many of his favorite models recognizable from previous artworks, though not necessarily ethnographically correct for an ancient Egyptian setting. The Pharaoh's daughter, who was modeled on Aird's daughter, wears a diadem that was copied from a rare silver example now in Leiden's Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. Other accurately depicted objects include her gold pectoral and cuff bracelet, fox-tailed flail, and the chair in which she is carried, along with jewelry worn by the servants and priests. Front and back view of diadem, circa 1647 B.C., in Thebes, Egypt. Silver, gold, glass (material) and faience (composite material); 71/4 inches by 7 inches. National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden, Netherlands. Rijksmuseum van Oudheden The viewer's eyes are drawn throughout the picture plane. The composition has strong horizontals, with a frieze-like composition that implies movement. There are pronounced verticals, too. On the left side of the composition is a red granite statue with a hieroglyphic inscription, and there are white ceramic pots in the center and at right. Sotheby's cataloguing notes, 'The intricately-described decorations of the foreground contrast with the far bank's teams of Hebrew slaves, their blurred shapes suggesting distance and the hazy day's heat, while the distinct rose-colored Pyramids of Gizeh mark the horizon line.' Lush florals abound, imbuing the scene with abundance and color. The foreground features delphiniums, which were cultivated in ancient Egypt, by a limestone wall. Amidst the flora are a smattering of yellow butterflies. Moses's basket is decorated with lotuses and the princess holds a single flower. Additionally, lotuses are entwined around the ostrich feather fans used for her benefit, and they adorn the heads of her female attendants. A detail from "The Finding of Moses," 1904–1905, by Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Public Domain Throughout art history, some artists have recreated the original Exodus elements and others have reimagined the story in their own times. The adaptable nature of the Finding of Moses demonstrates its eternal relevance to people throughout the world and centuries. Sotheby's writes that some contemporaneous viewers considered Alma-Tadema's version 'the most authoritative, faithful interpretation of the famous story.' 'The Finding of Moses' was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1905, and Aird paid 5,250 pounds (over $724,000 today), plus the artist's expenses for it. Just how far Alma-Tadema's stature descended in the ensuing decades is conveyed by the price it fetched when Aird's family auctioned it in 1935; a mere 820 pounds (just over $66,ooo). Alma-Tadema and this special painting have now been restored to rightful prominence. What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Passover 2025 in the Lower Hudson Valley: Where to find local and online services
Chag Pesach sameach! We hope you had a great weekend of Passover seders full of family and faith. The holiday of Passover, when Jewish people celebrate and retell the story of the Exodus, began at sundown Saturday, April 12, and lasts until the evening of Sunday, April 20. Many Lower Hudson Valley Jewish congregations hosted community Seders to celebrate the first two nights of Passover. Learn more about the holiday, and see where you can find daily services for Passover online or at location near you. Passover is one of the most significant and widely celebrated holidays in Judaism. Jews gather at Seders to tell the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, led by Moses. According to the Book of Exodus in the Torah, God unleashed 10 plagues upon the Egyptians, each one more terrible than the last, before the Jews were released. The holiday is called Passover in English translation because God is said to have instructed Jewish families to sacrifice a lamb and use its blood to mark above their doors, so that the 10th plague of death to the firstborn male would "pass over" them. Jewish families observe Passover by cleaning their homes and removing chametz, which includes leavened bread and other fermented products. The ritual recalls the Israelites' rapid escape, when they could not wait for bread to rise. The Seder is a ritual meal held on the first two nights of the holiday. Jewish families gather around a table with specially prepared food and read the Haggadah, a text that guides the Seder. The meal is served on a special plate with sections for foods that signify different parts of the Exodus story. Among them are bitter herbs, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery, and an apple-nut mixture called charoset, which recalls mortar used by Hebrew slaves. From 2018 Rockland Jewish women explain the Hebrew calendar, Shabbat and the holidays Passover traditionally begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, which falls between late March and early April. The holiday lasts for seven days in Israel and eight days in all other parts of the Jewish diaspora. The first two days and the last two days of the week are major celebration days. During the intermediate days of the holiday, many Jews try to avoid doing manual labor or other types of work. Instead, families are encouraged to participate in outings, picnic lunches and other family gatherings. Passover ends on the evening of April 20, which coincides with the Christian holiday of Easter. According to the last day of Passover commemorates the parting of the Red Sea and the Israelites' escape from Egypt. Several congregations and Chabads across Westchester and Rockland have a ton of online services and resources available for Passover week. See our list below: The Congregation Sons of Israel live stream most services on their website. Online, you can also check out a special Passover playlist. Passover services will be held April 14 and 20. When: 9:30 a.m. April 14 and April 20. Yizkor held on April 20 to mark eighth day of Passover. Where: Congregation Sons of Israel Briarcliff Manor, 1666 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff Manor. More info: The Chabad of Yorktown has lots of online resources available online for prayers, history, customs and more for each day of Passover. You can read that online here. Check out the Chabad of Yorktown's Passover site here. More info: Congregation Shir Shalom is a conservative, egalitarian synagogue serving Rockland County. Check them out on their website and keep up with the latest on their Facebook page. More info: The Chabad of the Rivertowns is hosting daily services for Passover, including morning services and Yizkor on the eighth day of the holiday. Where: Chabad of the Rivertowns, 303 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry. More info: The Chabad of Yonkers is also hosting daily services for Passover. To see service times and info, go to Where: Chabad of Yonkers, 600 N. Broadway, Yonkers. More info: The Chabad of Bronxville is hosting services for Passover throughout the week. To learn more and see the schedule, go to Where: Chabad Jewish Center, 453 White Plains Road, Eastchester. More info: The Chabad of White Plains has online resources, prayers and more for Passover. Where: The Hebrew Institute of White Plains, 20 Greenridge Ave., White Plains. More info: The Chabad Lubavitch of Larchmont and Mamaroneck has daily services for Passover. See a schedule and more info online. Where: Chabad Lubavitch of Larchmont and Mamaroneck, 101 Mamaroneck Ave., Mamaroneck. More info: The Chabad of Suffern is hosting Passover services Monday, April 14 and Yizkor services Sunday, April 20. See a full schedule online at When: 10 a.m. April 14 and 11 a.m., April 20 Yizkor services. Where: Chabad Jewish Center of Suffern, 350 Haverstraw Road, Montebello. More info: This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Passover 2025 in Lower Hudson Valley: Find online, community services
Boston Globe
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
What to know about Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and the alleged arson at his official residence
Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris said the fire was a carefully planned attack but emphasized the investigation is continuing. He did not give a possible motive. Police call arson a planned attack Balmer apparently scaled an iron security fence that stands around 7 feet (2.1 meters) and is monitored by security cameras, police said. Advertisement Police became aware someone had climbed over the fence and began a pursuit on the grounds but initially didn't locate anyone. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Police allege Balmer broke into the southern wing of the residence, entering a room often used to entertain crowds and display art, and set a fire using a homemade incendiary device. Police declined to elaborate on the device, but the fire left significant damage to the room, charring walls, tables, buffet serving dishes, plates and a piano. Window panes and brick around doors and windows were blackened. Balmer was inside for around a minute before he left and escaped the premises, authorities said. Suspect faces charges Authorities said Balmer will face charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault. Advertisement Balmer has faced criminal charges over the past decade including simple assault, theft and forgery, according to online court records. He drew a sentence of probation after guilty pleas to theft and forgery counts. Simple assault charges from 2023 appeared unresolved. Authorities did not say whether Balmer has a lawyer or where he was being held. Calls to people believed to be his relatives went unanswered or unreturned on Sunday. One recent residence listed for him in Harrisburg was condemned in 2022. Governor is a rising Democratic star Shapiro, 51, is the first-term governor of the nation's fifth-most populous state, a presidential battleground that has helped make him a rising star in the Democratic Party and viewed as a potential White House contender in 2028. Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family had celebrated Passover at the residence on Saturday and were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors at about 2 a.m. Sunday. Shapiro has been outspoken about his Jewish faith. He used his first ad in his campaign for governor in 2022 to tell family stories and describe his commitment to making 'it home Friday night for Sabbath dinner,' complete with footage of him and his children at the table. 'Family and faith ground me,' he said. In stump speeches and his election-night victory speech, Shapiro regularly quoted an ancient rabbinic maxim: 'No one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it.' Attack happened during Passover The attack happened on the Jewish holiday of Passover, which began at sundown Saturday. The holiday commemorates the Israelites' liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt, including their 40-year journey through the desert. It is one of the holiest days of the year for Jews and is celebrated with a special meal called a Seder, which includes the eating of matzah, a type of unleavened bread, and the retelling of the Exodus story. Advertisement Shapiro had celebrated with a Seder at the official residence with his family and members of the Jewish community in the same room where authorities said the fire was set.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Israelis prepare for Passover in Jerusalem
Members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community burn leavened products in Mea She'arim, Jerusalem, to prepare for the start of Passover. which commemorates the story of the ancient Israelites' exodus from slavery in Egypt. The holiday runs from sunset Saturday through April 30.
