Interfaith Journey to Israel & the West Bank

Highlights of the Journey: A journey of inspiration and education Explore the faiths, peoples, and meaningful sites in Israel and the West Bank Meet communities working for coexistence Outstanding tour educators & expert speakers Superb hotel & travel arrangements Quality service & seamless logistics Questions? Contact Basya Gartenstein at BGartenstein@JewishRichmond.org. Click

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Dreidels, Latkes and the Truth Behind Hanukkah Traditions

  There is always a good reason for why Jews have the customs we have as a religion. At the same time, however, there is almost always a real reason for the customs we have as well. And when it comes to the dreidel and the latke, two particular objects

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Mark Strauss

Yosef, Marek and Sidonia Wallach, early 1930s Mark Wallach was born on September 2, 1930 in Lvov, Poland to Joseph and Sidonia Wallach. In 1939, the Germans invaded Poland and the Strauss family ended up in Soviet-controlled Poland until the Germans invaded the Soviet Union In 1941. After the invasion,

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Israel Zoberman

Israel Zoberman 1947 Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman was born in Kazakhstan on November 12, 1945. His father, Yechiel Zoberman, had been studying in Warsaw in 1939, but escaped to the Soviet Union with his parents and brothers. They were exiled to Siberia, and Yechiel spent five years in the Soviet

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Joe and Theodore Brenig

Joe and Theo, 1931 Theodore Brenig was born on July 17, 1927 to Baruch and Gittel Brenig. In 1938, after Kristallnacht, Baruch was arrested and taken to Dachau where he was released after three months. In 1942, the family was taken to Camp des Milles and in August, Baruch and

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Hella and Lies Simons

Hella and Lies wearing the star of David In 1931, Lina Simons moved to Utrecht, Netherlands with her new husband, Ben. In 1940, the Germans invaded and occupied the country. Shortly thereafter, the Simones were required to wear the yellow star. Students sympathetic to Hella and Lies, Lina's daughters, warned

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The Spanier Family

Edward Spanier was born on April 13, 1910 in Enger, Germany to Max and Adele Spanier. On November 9, 1938, the police arrested Edward and his brother, Arnold, and cousin, Werner. The three men were taken to Buchenwald. Sometime near the end of November or beginning of December, the men

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