Jewish Treats

10/23/2026

When God told Abraham "L**h L**ha", meaning "Go forth," He wasn't simply telling him to pack his bags and head to a new land. He was inviting Abraham to begin a deeply personal journey of discovery, growth and purpose.

Judaism is built on thousands of years of shared history and tradition, but each of us has our own Jewish journey to explore. Whether it's learning something new, embracing a family tradition, asking meaningful questions or taking a small step toward greater Jewish involvement, every journey matters.

And Abraham's story, which we read in this week's Torah portion, reminds us that spiritual growth doesn't require leaving our past behind. Sometimes it simply means having the courage to take the next step.

What's one small step you could take to make your own Jewish journey more meaningful?

Read the full story on our Jewish Treats website. You can find the link in our page profile.

10/23/2026

$32 million raised to stand up against antisemitism and hate!

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft brought together more than 800 guests, including Tom Brady, Jon Bon Jovi and leaders from the worlds of business, sports and faith, for the inaugural Blue Square Alliance Against Hate gala in New York City.

The star-studded evening raised a record-breaking $32 million to fight antisemitism and discrimination, proving that the Jewish community has powerful allies willing to stand up and make a difference.

Via Jewish Insider.

Manhattan’s Waldorf Astoria was basking in blue light on Wednesday night as more than 800 guests gathered for the inaugural benefit gala of Robert Kraft’s Blue Square Alliance Against Hate. The sold-out event raised more than $32 million to combat antisemitism and discrimination, according to the organizers.

The haul marks the largest amount the group has raised in a single night. With opening remarks by CNN commentator Van Jones, the program honored Bank of America Chair and CEO Brian Moynihan for his support of the organization’s work, and featured a video message from former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a member of Blue Square’s advisory board, who shared her personal experiences confronting racism and hate.

Kraft, the New England Patriots owner who founded the organization, took the stage alongside former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop emeritus of New York. The trio reflected the group’s effort to enlist figures from sports, religion and business in the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds.

Hate “starts with antisemitism, but it doesn’t end there,” Kraft told attendees. “I believe that silence is hate’s greatest ally,” he said. “Silence allows hate to grow unchecked, at devastating speed. That is the premise on which the Blue Square Alliance was founded … I knew if we could find a way to reach people beyond the Jewish community, to educate them, inspire them and give them a simple way to stand with us, we could change the conversation around all hate.”

Full story: https://ji.news/5phb9

10/23/2026

After a busy week of work, responsibilities and endless to-do lists, Shabbat is almost here to remind us that it's okay to slow down, step away from the hustle and simply enjoy the moment.

A time to rest, recharge, reconnect with loved ones and appreciate the blessings around us.

What's one thing you're looking forward to leaving behind when Shabbat begins?

10/22/2026

Torah or modern education? Why not both?

In the 19th century, when many European Jews were debating how to balance religious tradition with modern life, Rabbi Dr. Azriel Hildesheimer had a bold vision: Jewish leaders could be deeply rooted in Torah while also embracing science, history, mathematics and philosophy.

On October 22, 1873, he brought that vision to life by founding a groundbreaking rabbinical seminary in Berlin, Germany.

The seminary trained generations of rabbis who carried his educational philosophy to Jewish communities around the world. But in 1938, the N***s forcibly closed its doors.

70 years later, something remarkable happened. The seminary was reborn in Berlin, bringing Jewish scholarship back to the very city where the N***s had tried to silence it.

Rabbi Hildesheimer's legacy reminds us that Jewish tradition and modern knowledge don't have to compete. They can enrich one another.

Read the full story on our Jewish Treats website. You can find the link in our page profile.

10/22/2026

Parents put so much thought into their children's Jewish education leading up to their Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Then, for many families, Jewish education and engagement suddenly take a back seat until college.

But what about the years in between?

In a thought-provoking Jewish Journal opinion piece, Masha Merkulova explores why we need to pay more attention to keeping our teens connected to Jewish learning, community and identity long before they arrive on a college campus.

The question is not only which campus will be safe for our children. It is who our children will be when they arrive.

10/22/2026

Did you catch the hidden tribute in Netflix's The Diplomat?

The new season includes a powerful, subtle tribute to Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Aner Shapira, two victims of the October 7 Hamas attack. A seemingly ordinary WWII story carries an extraordinary message of courage, sacrifice and remembrance.

A touching reminder that the stories of their heroism will not be forgotten.

The fourth season of Netflix series “The Diplomat,” which premiered last week, paid a tribute to the late Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and killed in captivity.

In the sixth episode, Frances Munning, the housekeeper at the US ambassador’s residence in London, tells Stuart Heyford, the ambassador’s right-hand man, about her affinity for Americans because of an American soldier named Hershel Polin.

Polin, an American soldier, saved her father’s life by picking up and tossing a live gr***de that had landed at her father’s feet, throwing it aside and losing his own limb in the process.

The story is also a salute to Goldberg-Polin’s friend, the late Aner Shapira.

Read more on The Times of Israel.

10/21/2026

She wrote a heartfelt letter honoring the courage of American soldiers. Just hours later, she was killed by enemy fire. But her words would inspire a nation, and her extraordinary sacrifice would earn her a remarkable honor.

Meet Lieutenant Frances Slanger, a Jewish immigrant from Poland who became one of the first four U.S. Army nurses to bravely wade ashore on the beaches of Normandy to aid the seemingly endless stream of wounded soldiers needing urgent care.

Serving on the front lines of World War II, Frances cared for wounded soldiers under incredibly difficult conditions. On October 21, 1944, she wrote a moving letter to the military newspaper "Stars and Stripes", praising the bravery and selflessness of the men she treated.

That same evening, German artillery struck her field hospital, fatally wounding the 31-year-old nurse.

Her letter was published after her death, touching the hearts of soldiers and civilians across America. In February 1945, the U.S. Army honored her posthumously by naming a hospital ship the "Frances Y. Slanger", allowing her legacy of healing to continue even after her death.

Frances wrote to honor the courage of others. In doing so, she revealed her own.

Read the full story on our Jewish Treats website. You can find the link in our page profile.

10/21/2026

Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman joined fellow stars at a Los Angeles event celebrating the Jewish people's historic connection to Israel. Hoffman even joined Israeli singer Ester Rada for “Hatikvah,” Israel's national anthem!

The evening also raised funds to help survivors of October 7 heal and rebuild.

After years of appearing distant from Israel, Dustin Hoffman joins a Hollywood event celebrating Jewish ties to Israel and supporting Oct. 7 survivors.

10/21/2026

Sometimes, discovering your Jewish roots can change the course of your life.

When artist Barbara Hines' teenage son announced he wanted to convert to Judaism, a surprising family revelation uncovered a Jewish heritage hidden since the Holocaust. Her journey of rediscovery eventually led her to Jerusalem, where she found love, a new home and inspiration for her art.

A beautiful story of Jewish identity, resilience and coming home.

“My mother and grandmother were both Jewish.”

With those words, Barbara Hines's mother revealed a family history hidden for decades.

What began with her son's spiritual awakening became a remarkable journey from a concealed Jewish past to a new life in Jerusalem.

by Etgar Lefkovits

ARTICLE LINK IN COMMENTS

10/20/2026

Think the political drama in Netflix’s The Diplomat is intense? Sometimes real history makes television look tame, especially when decisions made behind closed doors change the course of millions of lives.

In 1917, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration, expressing support for the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine. For Jews dreaming of returning to their ancestral homeland, it was a historic promise.

But over the next two decades, three British government documents known as the White Papers progressively narrowed that promise.

On October 20, 1930, Britain issued the Passfield White Paper, proposing tighter restrictions on Jewish immigration and land settlement. Nine years later, the 1939 White Paper imposed even harsher limits, restricting Jewish immigration to just 75,000 people over five years.

The timing was devastating. As N**i persecution intensified and European Jews desperately searched for refuge, the doors to their ancestral homeland were closing.

Diplomatic decisions aren't always just words on paper. Sometimes they determine who finds safety, who gets turned away and whose future hangs in the balance.

Today's Jewish Treat looks back at three White Papers, one broken promise and the extraordinary consequences of British policy during one of the most consequential periods in Jewish history.

Read the full story on our Jewish Treats website. You can find the link in our page profile.