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Ruth Ellen Gruber
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Ray Benson, left, and
Asleep at the Wheel perform at the Country
Rendezvous festival in Craponne sur Arzon, France,
in July 2008. |
A Jewish singer towers
over country western scene
By Ruth Ellen Gruber
CRAPONNE SUR ARZON, France (JTA) -- Think Jews and
country music and you'll probably come up with Kinky
Friedman, the cigar-chomping frontman of the iconoclastic
Texas Jewboys, who is also a humorist, mystery novelist and
failed but flamboyant candidate for Texas governor.
The real Jewish king of country music, however, is Ray
Benson, the nine-time Grammy-winning leader of the country
western swing band Asleep at the Wheel.
At 6-foot-7, Ray Benson has been described as a "Jewish
giant" and "the biggest Jew in country."
He literally and figuratively towers over the stage in a
Stetson and fancy tooled boots, with a grizzled beard and
long, thinning hair pulled back in a pony tail.
"I saw miles and miles of Texas ...
Full Story |
Click on text in the breaking news items for expanded
coverage

Jewish rite no longer is solely in men's hands
Dr. Carol Gerson, a pediatric surgeon, is part of a new
generation reshaping one of Judaism's oldest and most widely
followed rituals. She is a female mohel, or
mohelet, and currently the only mohelet in
Illinois. The Chicago Tribune reports on the
growing demand for Reform mohalim/mohalet and the
Movement’s response. (Chicago
Tribune)
Jewish writers recall stadium memories
Many of the sportswriters who chronicled the Yankees over
the years were Jewish. The New Jersey Jewish News
updates us as to what these authors have to stay about the
demolition of baseball’s grand cathedral. (New
Jersey Jewish News)
Survey Finds Jews Secular But Affiliated
Religiously speaking, Jews are joiners but not necessarily
believers, according to a look at the data from a new survey
by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Although Jews
join synagogues and send their children to religious school
at rates that rival or surpass their Christian counterparts,
Jews are far less likely to pray, read the bible or believe
in God (The
Forward)
Orthodox Rabbis Now Tie Kashrut To Ethics
Weeks after the Conservative Novement developed and the
Reform Movement endorsed the “hekhsher Tzedek” certificate
affirming food products were prepared in an ethical
manner, mainstream Orthodox rabbis are speaking out. In so
doing, the centrist Rabbinical Council of America is opening
a sharp rift with the right-of-center Agudath Israel of
America. (The
Jewish Week)
What is Jewish literacy?
Eighty scholars representing an American secular university,
two Orthodox universities and HUC-JIR gathered last week
with the elusive aim of defining what Jewish literacy is --
and what role it should play in improving the quality of
Jewish education around the world. “It was a very
21st-century conference," said Dr. Michael Zeldin, director
of HUC's Rhea Hirsch School of Education in Los Angeles. (Washington
Jewish Week)
New research: Jews, Israel suffer unfair hits in U.S.
textbooks
If your child brought home a history book that said Jesus
was a Palestinian, or that Jews contributed little to the
arts and sciences aside from Old Testament poetry, how would
you react? According to researchers Gary Tobin and Dennis
Ybarra, most parents do nothing, a reaction they hope to
change. (the
jewish newsweekly of northern california)
Converting to Judaism connects her faith to her family
With a Muslim father, a Southern Baptist mother and a
Catholic school education, Linda Aldoory grew up surrounded
by religion, but not one she could call her own. It took
more than a decade of being married to a Jewish man for her
to realize Judaism was the right religion for her. (The
Maryland Gazette)
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Blessings for the Meal before the Fast
Wednesday, before the sun begins to set, we will sit with
our families and friends and enjoy a special meal to provide
sustenance throughout the fast that will begin when the meal
is concluded. But the occasion is not simply about the soup
and the brisket. Take a moment to print out the blessings
for this meal and make copies for each person at the table
so that together you can give praise and thanks.
Yom Kippur Torah Teachings
To help you prepare for the Day of Atonement, we’ve gathered
together discussions of the Torah portions that will be read
this Yom Kippur. Rabbis Lawrence Kushner, Rifat Sonsino and
Tom Gutherz give us their thoughts about the portions from
Deuteronomy 29, read on Yom Kippur morning, and Leviticus
19, read in the afternoon.
Stand up for Reform in Israel
Rabbi Miri Gold has served as the rabbi of Birkat Shalom
congregation on Kibbutz Gezer since her ordination by
HUC-JIR in 1999. Sixteen other local rabbis serving in the
Gezer area receive a state salary, but Rabbi Gold is not
among them, simply because she is a Reform rabbi. Sign a
petition sponsored by the IMPJ demanding that she be
recognized by the state and paid a salary.
Sukkot Preparation
Looking for ways to make Sukkot a truly “green” holiday?
Need help with the Sukkot blessings? Wonder what you can do
to make the holiday meaningful for young children? The Union
for Reform Judaism has gathered resources to help you
prepare for and celebrate Sukkot, which begins at sundown on
October 13.
Calling all Young Composers
Jewish musicians, born after January 1, 1974, take note: The
Guild of Temple Musicians is seeking entries for The Young
Composer’s Award 2009. Entries must be a set of three
pieces, which may be performed separately or as a unit, and
entirely in Hebrew. The deadline for submissions is February
27, 2009.
Jewish Words and Phrases
Wonder how to greet your Jewish friends and relatives
between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? Not sure about the
meanings of machzor, teshuvah, yizkor or Kol
Nidrei? Consult the Union’s online glossary to get
the answers and talk like a pro this holiday season.
Vayeilech: Be Strong and Resolute
Yom Kippur is a preparation for death, yet this holiest of
holy days is not about death, but rebirth, writes Dr. Carol
Ochs in this week’s parashah. “These twenty-five
hours of intense introspection, repentance, and physical
affliction bring about liberation, a fresh start, a year new
not only in time, but also in the opportunity to start
again,” she writes. But sticking to our resolutions requires
us to “be strong and resolute.”
For more information, see Union for Reform Judaism
http://www.urj.org.


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Groups advised against keeping Palin
Jewish groups have been accused of carrying out a partisan
agenda by disinviting Sarah Palin and other American elected
officials from their anti-Iran rally. But a former top IRS
official says he warned organizers that her presence could
end up costing them time and money.
Full Story
Obama stuck at 60 percent of Jewish vote
A new survey from the American Jewish Committee shows Barack
Obama still hovering around 60 percent among Jewish voters.
His big problem: the undecideds.
Full Story
Canadian elections coincide with Sukkot
Canada's federal election campaign has a distinctly Jewish
irony this time around: The country's solidly pro-Israel
prime minister reached out to Jewish voters with Rosh
Hashanah cards just weeks before an election that falls on
Sukkot.
Full Story
China launches tours to Israel
Forty Chinese tourists departed for Israel in the first
officially sanctioned tour group from the republic.
Full Story
Heat, but little movement, during Iran leader's visit
With speeches, fiery rhetoric and protestations of one sort
of another, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his
opponents in the United States faced off against each other
during his latest visit to New York.
Full Story
Ukraine city building toward prominence
With money from billionaires giving back to the Jewish
community, myriad construction projects in Dnepropetrovsk
could make this industrial city a prominent world center for
Jewry.
Full Story |
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