דער קערפער פֿון השם"In the 19th century, nearly 18,000 #Jews lived here. It was a thriving community; #religious, industrious, and culturally confident. The #Soviet era, however, took a heavy toll. #Rabbis were exiled to #Siberia, #synagogues were closed, and religious life was pushed underground. Yet unlike many #Jewish communities across the #SovietUnion, the Jews of the #Caucasus managed to preserve their identity. #Shabbat was kept quietly, #Judaism lived on discreetly."
"Why do we feel we have to separate our identity as #Jews from every other identity we take on? What is holding you back from incorporating your #Jewishness into your professional life, your parenting, your personal relationships?
In a world where the line between #antisemitism and #antizionism is blurring, to put it mildly, what is the point of trying to hide your #Jewish identity? Those who would burn our #synagogues to the ground do not see a distinction. In fact, they take the opposite position: that you are a #Jew, and nothing else. I’m reluctant to quote #AlbertEinstein, given how often he gets credit for things he didn’t say. Being one of the most prominent Jews that’s ever walked the earth will do that to you. But he hit the nail on the head long before #LordJonathanSacks said something similar: “It is not the Jew who is ashamed of his #Judaism who is respected, but the Jew who is proud of it.”
https://jewishjournal.com/commentary/opinion/386390/put-your-jewish-identity-where-it-belongs/
"#Violence against #Jews in #Britain is no longer exceptional or rare—it is persistent, documented, and regularly excused. In recent years, #Jewish communities across the #UK have faced physical #assaults, #vandalism of homes and #synagogues, and, most vividly, a #terrorattack outside a #synagogue in #Manchester. Still, the response from politicians and much of the #media has been to downplay, and send attention elsewhere.
The data makes this evasion difficult to defend. After #October7th, 2023, #antisemitic incidents in the UK spiked dramatically, with more than a thousand recorded in just weeks, with dozens of physical assaults—a year-on-year increase measured in multiples. These were not online insults or offensive statements alone, but Jews being attacked and told to hide their identity for their own safety. And yet, much of the public conversation insisted on treating this as peripheral, or somehow unrelated to #antisemitism itself."
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-violence-against-jews-in-britain-that-everyone-is-excusing/
"Attacks on #synagogues are treated as part of a broader problem, but all too often, attacks on #Jewish-owned, #kosher, and #Israeli #restaurants are treated as isolated incidents.
Unlike synagogues, #schools, and #communitycenters, Jewish or Israeli-related restaurants and #cafes have no protection. They are no less visible targets, representing #Jewry in broader society, but lack the armed guards or police protection that have become ubiquitous across #Europe and #NorthAmerica. Private citizens are left to bear the cost, having their dreams crushed by constant #protests and #vandalism."
"#Jewish life tends to move through cycles of suppression and reverence.
The #UnitedStates is now experiencing a rise in #antisemitism that many #immigrants from the former #SovietUnion find painfully familiar. Acts once considered rare have become common. #Synagogues face #vandalism. Jewish #students report harassment on #campuses. Online networks spread conspiracy theories that echo old prejudices. And certain #media figures hint at “global agendas” or “hidden influence,” careful with their wording yet unmistakable in their implications. Their audiences are large, the scrutiny limited.
To someone seeing these trends for the first time in their own community, they can come as a complete shock. But while these developments are unsettling, they are not the full story.
Jewish history is long."
From Soviet shadows to American sunlight: An antisemitism cycle we’ve seen before
Growing up Jewish in the Soviet Union meant learning early that identity could be both visible, unspoken or both. It sat on the fifth line of your passport, a single word that carried weight far beyond its letters and in...
"#Armed #security officers at #Jewish #schools and #synagogues are carrying #weapons to protect #Torah scrolls and candelabras, not human lives, according to their licence conditions.
#NSW #firearm laws clearly dictate that the protection of people is not a “genuine reason” to hold a weapons permit, industry professionals and academics say.
But in a work-around practice also used by wealthy individuals outside the Jewish community, #gun licences granted to guard property assets are offering protection for people against the threat of deadly #violence.
The NSW government has avoided questions about the #legal status of the arrangements..."
"Leaders of the #Congressional #Jewish Caucus warn that new requirements tied to the #Nonprofit #Security #GrantProgram will politicize a vital security initiative.
The security program provides #federalfunding for physical security enhancements such as cameras, access controls and other protective measures for #nonprofits at risk of attack, including #synagogues and other houses of worship, amid rising #antisemitism nationwide.
In a letter sent to #KristiNoem, the #US #homelandsecurity secretary, on Wednesday, caucus co-chairs #JerroldNadler (D-N.Y.) and #BradSchneider (D-Ill.) specifically raised concerns about revised “standard terms and conditions” issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on April 18, 2025."
https://www.jns.org/jewish-caucus-urges-dhs-to-drop-onerous-nonprofit-security-grant-terms/
"#NewYorkCity #Jews were the target of more #hatecrimes than all other categories combined in 2025, according to the #NewYork City Police Department, figures that were released Tuesday as New York #Governor #KathyHochul indicated that she would introduce safety zones around #synagogues and other houses of worship.
While #NYPD Police Commissioner #JessicaTisch announced crime reductions that included a 12% decrease in hate crimes and a 3% reduction in #antisemitic incidents, for the second year in a row, there were more anti-#Jewish motivated incidents than all other target groups combined."
"Ask most #Jewish people about the #history of their #coreligionists in #China, and they might recall the bygone #Kaifeng community.
But for tens of thousands of #Jews, China was home during the first half of the 20th century. They found themselves far from their homes in #Russia, #Lithuania, or what is today #Ukraine, yet the giant #Asian country proved to be a safe haven for Jews from Eastern #Europe during the #Holocaust – until the #Japanese invasion.
Even before those dark years, from around 1900 onward, many arrived simply seeking economic stability and a better life – like the Matlin family, who moved to #Harbin and began trading in Mongolian cattle and racehorses. Cities such as #Shanghai, Harbin, and #Tianjin opened their doors to these #Russian-speaking newcomers, who established #synagogues, schools, and thriving business enterprises."
"A #Canadian #website that previously published the names of #Canadians who served in the #Israel Defense Forces has now released a second database identifying the #schools, #synagogues, #summercamps, and community institutions those individuals attended. #Jewish leaders across #Canada say the project is dangerous, stigmatizing, and part of a troubling rise in #antisemitism.
The new database, “GTA to #IDF,” compiles seven institutions in the Greater #Toronto Area associated with at least four individuals who appear in the earlier “Find IDF Soldiers” list. Both projects were created by #journalist Davide Mastracci, whose February 2025 database drew significant criticism for #doxxing Canadians and exposing them to potential harassment. Mastracci says all his information is drawn from public sources and denies any intent to encourage targeting." 🤡
https://www.jfeed.com/news-world/canadian-website-idf-veterans-doxxing
Canadian Website Publishes List Linking IDF Veterans to Jewish Institutions, Prompting Sharp Backlash
New website claims to publish names of Canadian IDF soldiers and the schools, synagogues, camps, and other places they attended. Anger and fear pervade the community as families are exposed to potential harassment and threats.