By Brian Serle New Mexico Jewish Journal recently had the opportunity to ask some important questions of Rabbi Neil Amswych of Temple Beth Shalom. This year, Rabbi Neil marked the milestone of 10 years of service to TBS and to the Santa Fe Jewish community. Our question-and-answer session follows. NMJJ:
Story and Photos by Lena S. Keslin Just the name Amsterdam conjures up images of a quaint city with its picturesque canals and bridges. Each of the 17th century Dutch colonial homes is different from the next as they line the canals. There are narrow cobblestone streets with more bicycles
By Ron Duncan Hart Is America in crisis? The religious right is telling us that we are. It is true that there is a crisis in religious circles. The number of adults identifying as Protestants has dropped from 69 percent in 1948 to 34 percent today. Membership in mainline churches
TO GO DIRECTLY TO HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE ADDING: https://www.nmjewishjournal.com/post-10/ Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum Questioning Belief in an Age of Doubt Review by Ron Duncan Hart https://www.nmjewishjournal.com/post-11/ Some personal thoughts on broader effects of the U.S. election by Diane Joy Schmidt
By Claudette Sutton Photos by Charles Brunn Shortly after my mom died, my brother and his wife sent me a wonderful gift: Mom’s recipe file. Nothing brings Mom back quite like seeing those 4x6 index cards with her handwritten recipes and crazy spelling (Rosh a Shona?!). The little blue
By Isabelle Medina Sandoval Photos courtesy of the author Grandchildren possess a special gift of injecting the past into the present. In fall 2023, Gabriella begged me to make biscochitos for her middle school Spanish class project. My baking partner added that my biscochitos were her favorite cookies. How could
With Diane Winston and Ron Duncan Hart, moderator Alma Gottlieb Sep 15, 2024 In this Santa Fe Distinguished Lecture Series program anthropologist Alma Gottlieb interviews authors Diane Winston and Ron Duncan Hart on their recent books. Prof. Winston is an historian of religion, and she discusses the background of White
By Norma Libman If you’ve ever wondered what life was like for your grandparents and great-grandparents, how they lived in the “old country,” as my grandmother used to call it, you really must read The Spoon From Minkowitz by Judith Fein. Yes, you can trace your genealogical history on
By Claudette Sutton Photos by Charles Brunn The Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque will host Chef Moshe Basson in conversation with Claudette Sutton, Oct. 23 at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon with dishes from his cookbook. For tickets or book purchases, go to jccabq.org/bookfest/, or
By Rabbi Min Kantrowitz Initially I was just curious about Tahara…how are we supposed to care for our recently deceased friends, relatives and congregants? Is there a formal process? Specific liturgy or instructions…..but then I realized what I was really concerned about was how I would react to
By Rick Light Albuquerque Chevrah Kadisha The Albuquerque Chevrah Kadisha performs taharah for any Jewish decedent in the Albuquerque area whose family requests it. To recruit more chevrah participants and educate our community about these beautiful practices, we plan to hold an informational conference in mid-January 2025. To learn more,
By Shlomo Karni The universal message of human repentance and divine forgiveness, described in the Book of Jonah, is a cornerstone of the Jewish faith and a major component of the liturgy of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Against this background, we examine the personality of Jonah, his motivation,
Vote
General Election Information for New Mexico: Election Day is November 5th. Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can register, check on your registration, or request an absentee ballot or permanent absentee status at the Secretary of State’s election portal NMVOTE.ORG. Early Voting begins at
Gloria Abella Ballen
"Rosh Hashanah" from The Power of the Hebrew Alphabet The Power of the Hebrew Alphabet by Gloria Abella Ballen. www.abellaballen.com/ Return to HOME or Table of Contents Community Supporter Advertisers of the NM Jewish Journal: Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico Congregation Albert Temple Beth Shalom
Congregation B'nai Israel
by Martin Finston Susie Sandager’s moving solo performance, Corrie Remembers, brings to life the late Corrie ten Boom, legendary Dutch Holocaust survivor and rescuer. The show is set in the 1970s when Ten Boom was in her 80s. Susie Sandager, as the stooped, grey-haired senior, shares a mesmerizing account
Congregation B'nai Israel
by Martin Finston “Join or Die” Shabbat Sparks Program at Cong. B’nai Israel Saturday, November 16, 2024: Lite Bites, 5 p.m. Havdalah Service, 5:40 p.m. Screening, 6 p.m. Dessert and Discussion, 7:45 p.m. Tickets: First adult, $21; each additional adult on same purchase
Israel
By Ben Bleiman I first visited Israel in 2022 as the world crawled out of another long pandemic winter. I’d registered for a Taglit trip twice in the previous 15 months only for them each to be cancelled just days before I was scheduled to leave, and I wondered
Issue 3
By Diane Joy Schmidt I had a series of dreams. One night I dreamt that a bull calf came to the east door, and I brought him inside because he was lost. I kept him in my bedroom until his owners came along for him. The next night I dreamed
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Resources and Community Calendar. Click here for the most complete Jewish event and class calendar in the Land of Enchantment, with upcoming events and classes. Subscribe to the weekly eblast of community events, and the weekly Abq Jew blog with the erudite and hilarious Marc Yellin, Abq's "
by Lea Koshkin About Us: Run for Their Lives is a non-political global initiative that was established shortly after the tragic events of October 7th. The founders initiated this movement, which now boasts over 200 groups worldwide. Our mission is to raise awareness about the situation of hostages through weekly
Lists
Compiled by New Mexico Jewish Journal contributors Sources of information/news/advocacy about Israel/Palestine * J Street organizes and mobilizes pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans who want Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the Jewish people. * New Israel Fund The New Israel Fund (NIF) helps Israel live up
Lists
What to think? We really do need to read from various sources before we can form a balanced opinion and think for ourselves. Scan the headlines, stop at the occasional item. Don’t get overloaded, and take a regular break from a heavy news diet--too much at once really can
Issue 1
Over a year ago New Mexico’s Jewish community lost its sole statewide Jewish paper, the New Mexico Jewish Link. In our rural state, which now has an estimated 24,000 Jewish people, the loss of the paper was keenly felt, especially during these fraught times when we need connection
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Update: Most recently, Senator Chuck Shumer (D-NY) pointed to the blue square button on his lapel as he spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Stand Up To Jewish Hate is a campaign to make the blue square a recognizable symbol against antisemitism and