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Eastern Europe’s Jews now out of the shadows

By Ruth Ellen Gruber · November 18, 2009

When the Cold War ended 20 years ago, Jewish communities in Eastern Europe were small, weak and generally veiled. Now Jewish life, culture, religious practice and ethnic identity are part of Europe's contemporary mosaic -- often unabashedly so. Read more »

Conference explores steamier side of shtetl life

By Sue Fishkoff · November 18, 2009

Life in the shtetl wasn’t all Shabbat candles and milking cows, says a growing group of scholars focusing on sex and gender roles in Yiddish literature and film. Read more »

Jewish support for Israeli-Arab causes goes mainstream, irking some

By Gil Shefler · November 18, 2009

The Reform movement's endorsement of advocacy for Israeli Arabs was the latest sign that Jewish support for Israeli-Arab causes has gone mainstream. Not everyone is happy about that. Read more »

Orthodox students are embracing social action

By Amy Klein · November 16, 2009

Orthodox students are increasingly drawn to universal causes, including helping victims of natural disasters, aiding the poor and underserved, and protecting the environment. Read more »

Photos and Videos

Marcy Oster says she wants her children to feel gratitude toward America as she does. Potato Parsnip Latkes is among the Southern specialties included in the new cookbook "Simply Southern: With a Dash of Kosher Soul." (Courtesy Simply Southern) Mouth-watering Italian-style fried rice balls -- mangia, mangia. (Linda Morel) Eight nights of giving, but to whom, how and how much? Maimonides shows the way. (Edmon Rodman) When giving thanks this November 26th, add a Jewish theme to your Thanksgiving table. (Edmon Rodman) Staff and participants on a Birthright Israel trip for people with Asperger's syndrome socializing at Jerusalem's Beit Ekstein. (Bruce Sharon) Ari Teman, right, accepts Jewish Community Heroes award at Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly in Washington, Nov. 10, 2009. (Robert A. Cumins / Jewish Federations of North America) At the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial's Internet Cafe, attendees were encouraged to tweet about the conference. (Mark Blinch / Union for Reform Judaism)

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  • Marcy Oster says she wants her children to feel gratitude toward America as she does.
  • Potato Parsnip Latkes is among the Southern specialties included in the new cookbook "Simply Southern: With a Dash of Kosher Soul."
  • Mouth-watering Italian-style fried rice balls -- mangia, mangia.
  • Eight nights of giving, but to whom, how and how much? Maimonides shows the way.
  • When giving thanks this November 26th, add a Jewish theme to your Thanksgiving table.
  • Staff and participants on a Birthright Israel trip for people with Asperger's syndrome socializing at Jerusalem's Beit Ekstein.
  • Ari Teman, right, accepts Jewish Community Heroes award at Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly in Washington, Nov. 10, 2009.
  • At the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial's Internet Cafe, attendees were encouraged to tweet about the conference.
  • Fundermentalist Jacob Berkman interviews the recipient of the 2009 Jewish Community Hero Award, Ari Teman of JCorps.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks in Washington Nov. 9, 2009 to participants at the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America.
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RSS Feed More in Jewish Life

Sy Syms, clothing magnate and philanthropist, dies at 83

November 18, 2009

Sy Syms, the founder of a discount retail clothing chain and a major philanthropist, has died. Read more »

Rubashkin plans appeal, but another trial looms

By Eric Fingerhut · November 17, 2009

Sholom Rubashkin is hoping to be exonerated on appeal following his conviction for crimes that carry a potential prison sentence of 1,250 years. But first the former vice president of the largest U.S. kosher meat plant is facing another trial on additional charges and a bail hearing. Read more »

‘Hug a Jew’ a hit on Facebook

November 17, 2009

More than 100,000 people have joined a Facebook group urging members to 'hug a Jew.' Read more »

Federal appeals court to hear mezuzah case

November 17, 2009

A U.S. appeals court will hear the case of an Orthodox condo owner whose condominium association had temporarily banned the use of mezuzahs. Read more »

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