New podcast chronicles little-known stories of Holocaust-era boxers By Jacob Gurvis, JTA May 23, 2022 In the early 1930s, Victor Perez was on top of the world. The Tunisian Jewish boxer, who fought under the ring name “Young Perez,” became the World Flyweight Champion in 1931 and 1932 after moving from Tunis to Paris. He became a bonafide celebrity, dating famous French actress Mireille Balin (who would later go on… Read More
Bay Area ‘Survivor Torah’ scroll will journey from Palo Alto to Israel this summer Congregation Etz Chayim will be passing a “survivor Torah” — a scroll that survived the Holocaust in Europe — to a rabbi in Israel this summer, marking… By Lillian Ilsley-Greene May 12, 2022
World Inside the mission to aid Ukraine’s 15 remaining ‘Righteous Gentiles’ After Russia invaded Ukraine early in the morning of Feb. 24, millions of Ukrainians suddenly had their lives upended. The Jewish Foundation for the… By Stewart Ain, Jewish Week May 11, 2022
Books Mikołaj Grynberg's haunting stories provide portrait of postwar Poland Perhaps the most notable Jewish literary event of 2022 has been the release of the English translation of “The Books of Jakob,” Polish Nobel laureate Olga… By Howard Freedman May 9, 2022
Israel In Israel, some Holocaust survivors from Ukraine have mixed feelings As a Holocaust survivor from Ukraine, Yaakov Zelikovich is heartbroken over the human suffering in his country of birth, which is under assault by Russia.… By Cnaan Liphshiz, JTA Apr 29, 2022
Israel Ukrainian Holocaust survivors land in Israel on eve of Yom HaShoah Multiple planes carrying Holocaust survivors fleeing the violence in Ukraine landed in Israel on Wednesday, the eve of Yom HaShoah, the Holocaust… By Gabe Friedman, JTA Apr 28, 2022
First Person I say their names. Every night. Not just on Yom HaShoah. I’ve developed an unusual habit each night at bedtime. I read about victims of the Holocaust, I say their names aloud and in my mind, I tell them that… By Anastasia Torres-Gil Apr 27, 2022
First Person As a Holocaust survivor, I feel angst over what’s going on in Ukraine This should be a week of celebration for me: turning 98 in Berkeley, still walking with a spring (and not a walker!), with most of my wits, a lot of… By Monique Joseph Apr 18, 2022
Local Voice Our recent mission to Poland is a Passover story and call to action If you had 30 minutes to decide whether to leave your whole life behind, what would you do? What items would you take? So many of the refugees from… By Joy Sisisky, Arthur Slepian Apr 7, 2022