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Targum Shlishi Fetes Rabbi Yitz (Irving) Greenberg on His 80th Birthday
Miami, FL—Targum Shlishi has launched a website dedicated to the work of Rabbi Dr. Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, a leading modern Orthodox rabbi (www.rabbiirvinggreenberg.com) to coincide with Yitz’s 80th birthday. The core of the website is an online archive of audio lectures that Yitz has delivered over the course of his 50-plus-year career, complemented by selected video and text lectures. Other sections of the website provide background information, a list of the many leading organizations he helped establish, and introduce Yitz’s writing—books, scholarly articles, monographs, short articles, and more.
Yitz›s distinguished career includes major, original, and at times controversial contributions, particularly in the areas of Holocaust studies and Christian-Jewish relations. In addition to his long commitment to university teaching, he has founded and/or headed several organizations and served as a congregational rabbi.
The website has a dual function as a user-friendly introduction to and online repository for his work. Much of the material that has been digitized for this website would otherwise be inaccessible to a broad audience, including the large selection of audio lectures from the 1970s on, which were converted from tape cassettes, and many of the out-of-print monographs.
Aryeh Rubin, Director of Targum Shlishi, said, “Yitz’s importance to Jewish life in America cannot be overstated–he virtually shaped an entire generation. He is a leading thinker whose original work and courageous example has served the Jewish people in so many ways—through his mentoring of many of our leading thinkers and activists, through the organizations and schools he’s created and led, through his university teaching, through his role as a congregational rabbi, and through his writings. The website is one way to share his teachings with a wider world.” Visit www.rabbiirvinggreenberg.com and www.targumshlishi.org.
Los Angeles Elects its First Jewish Mayor
(JNS.org) Eric Garcetti will be the first elected Jewish mayor in the history of Los Angeles after winning 54 percent of the vote in a race decided early Wednesday morning. Garcetti, a 42-year-old Democratic city councilman whose mother is of Russian Jewish descent and whose father is Mexican American, defeated city controller Wendy Greuel. National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) Chair Marc R. Stanley said in a statement that NJDC is “extraordinarily proud that Garcetti is the first Jewish American elected to serve as the mayor of America’s second largest city. Garcetti has a distinguished record of public service along with strong ties to the city. We wish him and his family a hearty mazal tov,” Stanley said.
The Heart of Hezbollah in Beirut Takes Rocket Hits
Beirut—Agence France Press reports that last Sunday, two rockets fired from Aitat in the Mt. Lebanon region smashed into Al-Shayya, a Hezbollah stronghold in the city’s southern suburbs—about eight miles away. The Grad rockets (which could be Russian originals or Iranian copies) hit the area shortly after Hezbollah vowed to fight for Assad in Syria until he is victorious. The first rocket hit a car dealership, where four workers were injured. An AFP journalist said the second rocket hit an apartment block and caused widespread damage but no casualties.
The Lebanese Army said it found two abandoned rocket launchers in woods near Aitat.
Hour earlier, Hassan Nasrallah, head of Hezbollah, declared: “I have always promised you a victory and now I pledge to you a new one [in Syria].” He made the statement while celebrating the 13th anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from Southern Lebanon.
Lebanese president, Michel Sleiman, said the attack’s perpetrators were “terrorists and vandals who do not want peace and stability for Lebanon and the Lebanese.”
U.S.Apologizes to Israel for Leak
Although Israel has not confirmed that it blew up missiles near Damascus, Israel Radio’s diplomatic correspondent, Chico Menashe tweeted last week that “The U.S. has apologized to Israel for leaking details of the attack in Syria. Senior administration officials said to their [Israeli] counterparts that they are examining the issue and that low-level [officials] were responsible for the leak.” He also tweeted that “U.S. officials told that they [will] review the matter. The leak forced Assad to react harshly.” The Pentagon confirmed the report, and added that the leak, could have put Israeli lives in danger. The Pentagon is also investigating the matter.
Young Philanthropists Take Up Plight of U.S.Holocaust Survivors
WASHINGTON, DC –Debra Rubin reports in Times of Israel that The Survivor Initiative, a volunteer project for young adults, raises funds and responds to survivors’ urgent. Nearly 200 Holocaust survivors live at or near the poverty level in the Washington, DC, area — one of the wealthiest regions in the nation.
Rachel Cohen Gerrol, a DC resident, started the project when she heard the stats. When Jewish agencies serving the survivors said they needed money, she went to work in the DC area. Now there is also a Survivor Initiative project in New York City, linked to UJAFedNY. In New York, there are 73,000 survivors, 51 percent live at or below poverty level. They also plan a project for the Philadelphia area.
The group raised $50,000 for Washington area survivors at their first fundraiser, with the proceeds going to JSSA’s Holocaust Survivor Program, directed by Ellen Blalock, who was head of survivor programs at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and knew many of her clients when they were younger. The funds supplement grants that JSSA receives from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany which do not meet their needs. In New York, the group contributed $50,000 toward the $10 million campaign for the Community Initiative for Holocaust Survivors, which allocates the money to 16 agencies that assist survivors.
Young Israel Names Rabbi Perry Tirschwell As Head Of Its National Office
The National Council of Young Israel has announced that Rabbi Perry Tirschwell has been unanimously approved by its Board to become the head of its national office in New York beginning in mid-July. Rabbi Tirschwell comes to the National Council of Young Israel with considerable experience in Jewish education and organizational life.
Farley Weiss, President of the National Council of Young Israel said “Rabbi Tirschwell has an unusual combination of excellent organizational skills and great vision, and a unique ability to get along with all Jews from the different spectrums of Orthodoxy and Jews from all walks of life. We feel confident that the National Council of Young Israel has found the right person to head our national office. He will be in charge of working with our branch synagogues and strengthening our relationships with our members across the United States and Israel.”
“Rabbi Tirschwell started the Weinbaum High School in Boca Raton, Florida and took it from its inception to over 260 students today,” added Weiss. “Rabbi Tirschwell showed amazing people and management skills in leading Weinbaum to great success and helping it become one of the top Jewish High Schools in America.”
Said Rabbi Tirschwell, “The Young Israel has played an important role in my family over the years and has played a pivotal role in the robust growth of Orthodox Judaism in North America. I look forward to working in tandem with our talented professional staff, dedicated lay leaders, branch synagogues, and member families to continue enhancing the work of the National Council of Young Israel and further cementing its reputation as one of the leading Jewish organizations in the United States and Israel.”
Longtime Officer David Justman Tapped to Serve As the New JINSA President
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) has announced that longtime Officer David Justman has been named as JINSA’s new President. A resident of Los Angeles, California, Mr. Justman has a history of service to the organization, including most recently as the Co-Chairman of JINSA’s prestigious Board of Advisors. Mr. Justman is a steadfast supporter of both the U.S. military and Israel, issues that are central to JINSA’s mission. “David has proven a very able and enthusiastic supporter and leader of JINSA for many years, and I’m looking forward to working with him closely,” said Dr. Michael Makovsky, JINSA’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director.
Mr. Justman has been a Managing Director with JP Morgan in Los Angeles since 1988. He was named one of the top 1000 financial advisors in the United States by Barron’s magazine in 2010. He is also honorary Commander of the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base and an adjunct professor at UCLA.
