March 31, 2025

Rawl steps down at Nola JCC, Rebecca Friedman named interim CEO

New Orleans JCC Uptown. SJL file. The New Orleans Jewish Community Center announced that CEO Michael Rawl has resigned for personal reasons. Rebecca Friedman, who became the JCC board president on Feb. 2, will become the interim CEO and has agreed to a one year […]
March 29, 2025

Israel’s president praises Auburn’s Pearl for highlighting plight of hostages in Gaza

Adi and Roy Alexander attended the Auburn-Michigan Sweet 16 matchup after Pearl called for the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who has been held captive by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023, at the post-game press conference following Auburn’s Round of 32 win against Creighton […]
March 29, 2025

Kefiyyah-wearing Kentucky students get schooled on hate

The Kentucky state capitol. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. By Rabbi Shlomo Litvin (JNS) — The Kentucky State House Committee for Postsecondary Education recently met to discuss Senate Joint Resolution 55, aimed at combating the horrific rise of antisemitism on college campuses in Kentucky. I was among […]
March 28, 2025

Washington-Rosenwald HBCU scholarship contest explores Black-Jewish historic relationship

The Combat Antisemitism Movement and the African American Mayors Association launched the Washington-Rosenwald HBCU Scholarship Program, awarding $25,000 in scholarships, $5,000 each to five students who explore the historic relationship between the African American and Jewish communities through essays, artwork, poetry, or video submissions. The […]
March 25, 2025

New MSJE exhibit explores history of regional Jewish Orphans’ Home in New Orleans

Photo of young residents of the Home, appx. 1915. Written on the back is “Our babies.” Courtesy of Marlene Trestman and the Crosby Family Collection, Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience For decades, the Jewish Orphans’ Home was a unique place in New Orleans, and […]
March 23, 2025

“Children of Willesden Lane” show about Kindertransport coming to Birmingham

Concert pianist and Grammy nominee Mona Golabek will return to Alabama to present “The Children of Willesden Lane,” a musical view into her mother’s escape from Nazi Germany. The performance is based on her book “The Children of Willesden Lane,” the story of her mother, […]
March 21, 2025

Civil rights investigation opened for Fulton County schools amid antisemitism allegations

Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. Credit: Warren LeMay/Flickr via Wikimedia Commons. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened an investigation against the Fulton County School District in Atlanta following complaints of antisemitism against students, filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center […]
March 20, 2025

Les Miserables company manager has revolutionary path to the U.S., theatrical success

By Lee J. Green Associate Company Manager Elle Aghabala feels the revolutionary spirit, love and sacrifice radiating through the classic “Les Miserables,” coming to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex from March 25 to 30. The Jewish native of Iran came to the U.S. when she was […]
March 18, 2025

Voting opens for World Zionist Congress representation

U.S. voter at a ballot box. Credit: Yamu_Jay/Pixabay. By Mike Wagenheim and SJL reporting (JNS) — Voting is underway stateside for the so-called “parliament of the Jewish people.” The election for the 39th World Zionist Congress, which opened on March 10, will last until May […]