Pharmacy CEO Champions Masks Manufactured in Israel

R&T Pharmacy Corp partners with leading Israeli medical equipment manufacturer for distribution of surgical-grade masks

Safety masks and other personal protective equipment is meant to protect against coronavirus, but because of rushed and counterfeit production, people have unknowingly put themselves at risk by buying supplies from an inferior supplier. The rush for equipment to protect against COVID-19 led to a rise in counterfeit protective gear, including masks. In March 2020, a Global News article reported announced that counterfeit safety masks were pulled from websites in India, Pakistan and a half-dozen other countries. European countries have reported severing ties with equipment vendors because of substandard manufacturing conditions and low-quality equipment.

R&T Pharmacy Corp is gaining ground in the battle for easily-accessible, high-quality face masks with the BEEZ-Safe Masks manufactured in highly-sterile, regulated facilities in Israel.

CEO Jay Enis says he chose a manufacturing facility in Israel because, “Israel is known for its' innovation and technology.” Israel has a well-earned reputation of always being at the forefront of medical research and health care technology. Israel’s doctors and scientists are more than practitioners and researchers of medicine – they are visionaries and global leaders in their individual fields.

In addition to being manufactured in superior facilities, these masks are surgical-grade and used in operating rooms across the world, making them a safer option to many DIY cloth masks and disposable 3-ply masks manufactured for speed at the onset of the pandemic.

The BEEZ-Safe mask is available in convenient 25-count boxes and can be purchased directly from their website. For more information, visit BEEZ-SafeMasks.com.

About R&T Pharmacy Corp:  A leader in the health, pharmacy, and PPE space, R&T Pharmacy Corp is proud to be able to make the same high-grade masks used by surgeons and medical staff in hospitals around the world available to public to reduce health risks. Their masks are made in safe, sterile manufacturing facilities in Israel, a partnership based on Israel’s well-earned reputation of always being at the forefront of medical research and health care technology.

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

Are you prepared for the unimaginable?

Nothing is more powerful a reminder of the fragility of life, even our existence, than a pandemic. Are we truly prepared for the unexpected? Are we prepared to change the way we conduct business? How will life go on?

As the world turns to online resources for finance, meetings, shopping, even family gatherings, it is clear that digital infrastructure has “saved the day” for many.  That is the core of our business -- helping organizations digitally preserve and host historical information online where it can be easily searched and explored. In a time of social distancing, people are conducting genealogical or other historical research from home and need access to your community's history including life-cycle events. 

Further, what makes digital archive preservation an imperative rather than a luxury is the rapid change taking place in community newspapers. While some are closing their doors, merging with other papers, or halting printing altogether, we cannot afford to have these precious archives lost in the shuffle. 

ArchiveInABox helps communities preserve and make their history accessible even in our own state where The Jewish Transcript closed its doors several years ago. While we were asked to scan only a portion of their archives, those pages -- some from the first year of publication in 1924 -- are now accessible on a dedicated webpage. 

Remembrance is a critical component of Judaism - remembering the past and the present; remembering the people and events who contributed to your community story. ArchiveInABox helps communities preserve and provide online access to the information and people in your newspaper archives so that they can be remembered today and by future generations. Contact us to learn more.

Karen Tarica
ArchiveInABox

karen@smalltownpapers.com
www.archiveinabox.com

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

     Genealogical.com (Genealogical Publishing Company) is pleased to announce the release of Genealogy at a Glance. Finding Eastern European Jewish Ancestors, by Janette Silverman. Finding Eastern European Jewish Ancestors is the latest title in the Genealogy at a Glance series of laminated research aids. This guide is intended as an aid to researchers who are searching for Ashkenazic Jewish ancestors from Eastern Europe who immigrated to the United States primarily between 1880 and 1924.

     Researchers face many difficulties when trying to identify their Ashkenazic ancestors. For example, since the majority of Ashkenazic immigrants likely changed either their given name or their surname after arriving in the United States, locating them in record sources is particularly challenging. Pinpointing an Ashkenazic ancestor’s hometown is likewise a challenge, since over time some Eastern European countries ceased to exist, had lands ceded to other countries or encountered border changes, or had town names that were known by different names in different languages

     Professional genealogist and author Janette Silverman tackles these and other difficulties and then offers concrete advice on how to overcome these difficulties. In just four, laminated pages, she conveys everything you need to know to get your research started—the most helpful databases and reference works, as well as the major record sources, repositories, and online resources. Identifying Ashkenazic immigrants is challenging, but with this Genealogy at a Glance guide at your side, the task will become much easier.

     Genealogy at a Glance. Finding Eastern European Jewish Ancestors retails for $9.95 and can be ordered directly from Genealogical.com, by clicking on the following link: 
https://genealogical.com/store/genealogy-at-a-glance-finding-eastern-european-jewish-ancestors/ 

     Additional titles in the Genealogy at a Glance series cover the countries of Poland, Italy, Germany, France, and the nations of the United Kingdom. For more information about Genealogy at a Glance. Finding Eastern European Jewish Ancestors, author Janette Silverman, or to request a review copy, please contact:Joe Garonzik, Marketing Director at 410-837-8271, ext. 102 or jgaronzi@genealogical.com.

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

The Baltimore Jewish Times Hires New Editor 

The Baltimore Jewish Times (JT), owned and operated by Mid-Atlantic Media, is excited to announce the hiring of a new editor, Selah Maya Zighelboim. She formerly was digital editor and a staff writer of the Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia, an affiliated publication of the JT.

As digital editor at the Exponent, the second-oldest continuously published Jewish newspaper in the country, she led the paper in rethinking and prioritizing its online presence. She boosted the readership significantly by bringing a fresh point of view to a traditional newspaper, implementing SEO practices, galvanizing the paper’s social media accounts, and developing new digital media policies. Zighelboim received four awards for spot news, health and medical reporting, business and labor reporting, and news feature writing from the Society of Professional Journalists and from the Professional Keystone Press Awards.

Zighelboim grew up in New Orleans and Austin, Texas, where she attended Jewish day schools, which she says were instrumental in forming her Jewish identity. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas, as well as an interdisciplinary certificate in digital art and media. Zighelboim, who lives in Mt. Vernon, is looking forward to getting to know the Baltimore-area Jewish community.

“The Baltimore Jewish Times has kept the local Jewish community abreast of what’s going on in the community for more than a century,” Zighelboim said. “I am humbled to take on this role, and I want to do this historic publication proud. I want to keep up the tradition of what this publication has represented while also making it meaningful and engaging for a 21st-century audience.”

Craig Burke, JT publisher, said Zighelboim was a natural fit for the publication. “During our search for the new JT editor, one of our priorities was to raise JT’s digital activity and presence. It was clear to us during our meetings with Selah Maya that she was the candidate who can lead us to improve our digital content and deliver a fresh content approach for JT’s print publication. I know our readers are going to enjoy JT with her leadership.”

The Baltimore Jewish Times, an award-winning news magazine published by Mid-Atlantic Media, is a cherished weekly tradition for more than a 100 years. Its mission is to produce high-quality articles of interest, as well as build and strengthen the Jewish community.

Mid-Atlantic Media is a growing custom communications firm centered in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. corridor with projects stretching from the Mid-Atlantic region across North America. The company publishes Baltimore’s Child, Baltimore Jewish Times, Baltimore STYLE magazine, Consumer's Eye Magazine, Frederick’s Child, Home Services Magazine, Washington Family and Washington Jewish Week, while the Mid-Atlantic Custom Media division produces and manages titles and projects in a range of industries both in print and digitally.

Media Contact: Jeni Mann Tough
410-902-2302
jmann@midatlanticmedia.com

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

InterfaithFamily Changes Name to 18Doors
The Only National Jewish Organization Focused on Interfaith Families
Begins a New Era
Launches Interactive Website, Enhances Jewish Clergy Referral Service; Expands Professional Development

(NEWTON, Mass. – February 18, 2020) InterfaithFamily has changed its name to 18Doors, ushering in a new era for the organization and the couples and families it serves.

“It is critically important for our name to reflect the diversity of the Jewish community, of families, of observance within the Jewish community and of ways in which couples and families with children connect to doing Jewish,” said CEO Jodi Bromberg. “18Doors does that.”

The origin of this change began over one year ago, when the organization launched a rebranding project with Starfish, a New York marketing agency. The goal was to find a name that was current and creative, and representative of the tens of thousands of interfaith couples and families with children we support.

After reviewing hundreds of names, the rebranding working group found 18Doors and the tagline Unlocking Jewish, and knew that it had found its new name.

“We rolled out a bold new strategic plan in 2018, and this is the next phase in our evolution as an organization,” said Board Chair Bruce Taylor. “Now, we have a new name and tagline to match the energy of our organization.”

The new name evokes:

●      The diversity of interfaith couples and families that 18Doors serves

●      The many journeys and entry points for interfaith families into Jewish life

●      How we help open doors (“unlock Jewish”) for couples and families—and for Jewish organizations and communities in figuring out how to create inclusive spaces

●      The Jewish homonym “L’dor v’dor,” and the importance of Jewish continuity and passing Jewish values from generation to generation

●      That it is a Jewish organization, with the subtle reference to chai (“life”) by using the number 18

“With our new name and brand, a new website, and an enhanced Jewish clergy referral service that fosters relationships between our users, clergy, and our organization, and new professional development offerings, we’ll expand our reach and impact,” said Bromberg. “Now, we will be able to connect more closely with families and couples that include Jewishly-identified family members, and family members of different cultural or religious backgrounds—with the freedom to use language that resonates for them.”

About 18Doors:

18Doors, formerly InterfaithFamily, is here to help you build confidence in your relationship with Jewish. We understand Jewish interfaith relationships—and deliver knowledge and connection in a non-judgmental way to help you open the door to Jewish. From digital content and in-person offerings that help couples and families, to a rabbinic fellowship and learning opportunities for Jewish professionals and clergy, we deliver helpful information with a warm welcome and inclusive vibe. Need to connect with a rabbi or cantor to officiate your wedding, baby naming or just to talk? Want to meet other interfaith couples and families like you? Or need help figuring out how to do Jewish? We’re here to help. Visit us at www.18doors.org. 

For more information, or to request reprint permission for wedding content, please contact Lindsey Silken, 18Doors Editorial Director, at 617-581-6808 or lindsey@18doors.org.

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

Heroic American Surgeon Dr. Tom Catena Earns Top Medical Missionary Award for Saving Lives in Africa’s Forgotten War Zone

Catena to receive annual prestigious AMH Gerson L’Chaim Prize for ‘outstanding Christian medical missionary service’ from African Mission Healthcare and Jewish philanthropists

DELAND, Fla. (1/28/2020) – An American surgeon hailed as “the world’s most important doctor”— to more than a million patients—is being honored with a top international medical award. Today, Florida-based African Mission Healthcare (AMH) announced that Dr. Tom Catena is the recipient of the nonprofit’s 2019 Gerson L’Chaim Prize for “Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service,” sponsored by Jewish philanthropists Rabbi Erica and Mark Gerson.

“Perhaps the primary Jewish responsibility is to love the stranger, and to do so meaningfully — in action, where real people materially experience this love,” said Mark Gerson, co-founder of AMH and benefactor of the Gerson L’Chaim Prize. “We are so grateful to Tom for providing us with the opportunity to fulfill this Jewish obligation so effectively.” 

Dr. Tom Catena

Dr. Tom Catena, a 55-year-old Catholic medical missionary from upstate New York, has served in Africa for 20 years.  He is the only surgeon for 1.3 million people in a region nearly twice the size of Massachusetts. As a medical missionary, he put his life on the line living in the middle of the war-torn and besieged Nuba Mountains, a territory fiercely contested by its inhabitants and the former government of Sudan.

In 2011, when the capital started bombing its own people in this southernmost state in Sudan, most expatriate workers fled, but Dr. Catena insisted on staying and said, “The source of most of our conflicts is the idea that one person’s life is more valuable than someone else’s. We have forgotten that we are all children of God and therefore somewhat related.”

Since 2008, Catena, a graduate of Duke University Medical School and former U.S. Navy doctor, has been the Medical Director at Gidel Mother of Mercy Hospital. The 435-bed Catholic hospital is the only major medical facility in the Nuba Mountains. Catena is on call 24/7, and sometimes sees as many as 350 or more patients in a single day.                                                           

The World’s Most Important Doctor

Dr. Peter Attia, host of the popular podcast The Drive, has called Dr. Catena “the world’s most important doctor.” Additionally, Time Magazine named Dr. Catena “One of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World,” and he was the subject of a 2015 Nicholas Kristof New York Times opinion piece titled, “He’s Jesus Christ.”

“Dr. Tom Catena has given up everything that we in the U.S. take for granted in order to bring healthcare to more than a million people who, without him, would otherwise not have access to any medical care,” added Mark Gerson.

AMH Gerson L’Chaim Prize

AMH has been supporting mission hospitals in Africa since 2010. It launched the L’Chaim (Hebrew for “to life”) Prize in 2016, which comes with a $500,000 award, the world’s largest annual award of its kind dedicated to direct patient care in Africa. The $500,000 award will go towards the Nuba 2020 campaign to raise $7.5 million to keep the only major hospital in Sudan’s war-torn Nuba Mountains fully operational for the next two decades. Catena is leading the Nuba 2020 campaign.

Mark Gerson commented on Dr. Catena’s endless commitment. “The sheer amount of good he does — as measured in clinic visits, surgeries, deliveries, community clinic patients treated, and children vaccinated — with the amount of resources he has is completely stunning. It is simply incredible to even think about how many lives Tom and the team he has built can save and transform with the money that he is provided.”

“The people of the Nuba Mountains are the bravest and most resilient people I know,” said Catena. “I am honored to receive this award that will help enormously with our plans to strengthen and expand the Gidel Mother of Mercy Hospital and our network of clinics in this largely forgotten region of the world.”

“It’s an incredible honor for AMH to recognize Dr. Catena’s unparalleled commitment,” said Rabbi Erica Gerson, an AMH board member and prize co-sponsor, who will present the award with her philanthropist husband Mark Gerson. “For more than a decade, Tom has endured bombings, epidemics, rainy seasons and flooding, loss of power, lack of equipment and staff, and very little connection with the outside world, all because of his dedication to the Nuba people. He exemplifies what it means to ‘walk in all God’s ways and to love Him,’ and we are honored to be his partner in his sacred work.”

The prestigious Rabbi Erica and Mark Gerson L’Chaim prize will be presented to Catena April 14 at an awards dinner in New York City.                                                        

About African Mission Healthcare

African Mission Healthcare(AMH), a Florida-based nonprofit organization, strengthens African mission hospital to aid those in greatest need. AMH strategically partners with mission hospitals to support and advance their commitment to provide compassionate, quality medical care to the forgotten and hurting people of Africa, and to improve the health system in sub-Saharan Africa. AMH was co-founded in 2010 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Mark Gerson and medical missionary Dr. Jon Fielder, who were college roommates. 

PHOTO CUTLINE: Dr. Tom Catena, an American surgeon and medical missionary, who has voluntarily stayed in war-torn Nuba Mountains to save thousands of lives in conflict-torn Sudan, has been honored with a top medical missionary award, African Mission Healthcare (AMH) announced today. Catena will be presented with the Gerson L'Chaim Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service at an awards ceremony in New York City, April 14. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Gregg Wooding @ 972-567-7660  gwooding@inchristcommunications.com

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

Talmud Israeli Crowns Diaspora Winner in First
Worldwide Competition

Gal Naor, Chairman of Talmud Israeli - Daf Yomi For Us, is delighted to announce that over 1,100 families from around the world participated in this international competition. He invites all new learners to join Talmud Israeli’s innovative educational program in honor of the upcoming Siyyum HaShas.

Jerusalem, Israel (12/17/19) – Fifteen teams (parent-child, siblings) from across Israel and the United States eagerly arrived at the Jerusalem Theatre on Sunday, December 15, 2019 to vie for the championship in the first Worldwide Talmud Israeli Chidon (competition). These families prepared for more than seven months with the goal of reaching the final round in Jerusalem. Each team passed two prior qualifying rounds. Talmud Israeli is incredibly proud that the Diaspora Delegation matched the achievement level of the Israeli participants.

Three teams who travelled to Israel from the United States: Dr. Yardaena Osband and her son, Yonah Glazer of Riverdale, NY (Yonah is an 8^th-grader at SAR Academy), Dovid Kanarfogel and his son, Ezra of Cedarhurst, NY (Ezra is a 4th-grader at HAFTR), and Dr. Jordan Rosenstock and his son, Eytan of White Plains, NY (Eytan is a 7th-grader at Westchester Day School). The Diaspora Delegation arrived in Israel last week for days of intense preparations in advance of the Chidon. In attendance at the Chidon were the Israeli Minister of Education, the Chief Rabbi of the IDF, and the Mayor of Jerusalem. The President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, posed the final question of the Chidon.

Dr. Jordan and Eytan Rosenstock were crowned the Diaspora Winners and were awarded the prize of a "family fun day excursion”,  to encourage meaningful experiences that strengthen relationships within the family unit, which is one of Talmud Israeli’s goals.

Talmud Israeli Founder and Editor-in-chief, Meir Jakobsohn, commented, “It was so moving to see children displaying such extensive knowledge of Gemara and Israeli history.”

Yael Schulman, Director of Talmud Israeli - Daf Yomi For Us, added. “It has been an honor to accompany the Diaspora Delegation not only to Israel, but through the preliminary rounds of the Chidon and witness the dedication of so many people around the world to Gemara learning along with their deep love of Israel”.

Gal Naor, Chairman of Talmud Israeli - Daf Yomi For Us, observed, “It was truly remarkable to see that Talmud Israeli - Daf Yomi For Us, a project established in the United States only three years ago, has grown to include thousands of weekly learners with more than 10,000 copies of the weekly publication distributed across the USA. My goal is to double the number of learners around the world within the next year."

For almost a century, Jews around the world have participated in the joy of Daf Yomilearning. The 14th machzor (cycle) of Daf Yomi starts in just two weeks on 1/5/20. Everyone is invited to join Talmud Israeli’s circle of international learners and partake in the mitzvah of “le’hagdil Torah u’le’ha’adira” (to magnify Torah and to exalt it) by encouraging others to join Talmud Israeli for the new cycle. Synagogues and schools will receive the weekly publication completely free of charge. Talmud Israeli looks forward to partnering with schools, synagogues, organizations, and individuals in this historic effort.

About Talmud Israeli: Talmud Israeli is an innovative educational program combining the study of Talmud with Torah, modern Jewish history, and Israel, with the goal of strengthening Jewish identity, connections to Israel, and ahavat ha’aretzfor learners around the world. Talmud Israeli makes complicated Talmudic material accessible, understandable and enjoyable for students of all ages by explaining one concept from each daf of the Gemara. Over the past three years, Talmud Israeli - Daf Yomi For Us, the English branch of Talmud Israeli, has developed and customized material for English-speaking learners around the world, delivering an assortment of educational products free-of-charge to more than 200 day schools and synagogues in North America alone.

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/talmudisraeli
Like us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/talmudisraeli
Visit our website: www.talmudisraeli.org
Yael Schulman, Director, Talmud Israeli - Daf Yomi For Us
914.413.3128
yael@talmudisraeli.co.il

Leading Jewish publisher celebrates historic completion of innovative edition of Talmud Koren Publishers & The Steinsaltz Center release 42 volumes of Talmud Bavli Koren Publishers, proudly headquartered in the heart of Jerusalem, announces the completion of The Noé Edition Koren Talmud Bavli. The 42-volume set, known for its innovative design and incomparable translation and commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz, takes its place as the newest edition of Talmud in the world. Publication of the Koren Talmud Bavli began in May 2011 with volumes released according to the international “Daf Yomi” (daily Talmud learning) schedule. The translation and editorial teams were overseen by Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb who served as Editor-in-Chief. Rabbi Weinreb is a world-renowned Torah scholar, clinical psychologist, and Executive Vice President, Emeritus of the Orthodox Union. To mark this historic publication, Finchley Synagogue Kinloss in London, hosted a tribute event in honor of Leo & Sue Noé, which attracted over 350 participants. The key speakers, Rabbi Lord Sacks, Dayan Binstock, and Rebbetzin Lauren Levin, all discussed the impact of Talmud in Jewish life and studied text passages together with the audience. Other notable personalities included Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu, the head of the European Beth Din, Michael Goldstein, President of the United Synagogue, Leo & Sue Noé and their family. “Sue and I feel an enormous sense of honour and pride to have completed the latest publication of the Shas, the Koren Talmud Bavli, bringing its lessons, teachings, debates and wonders accessible to all,” said Leo Noé. The enormous scope of the project incorporated a wide range of experts including linguists, Bible botanists, archeologists, historians, Talmud scholars, designers, and typesetters, and used state-of-the-art technology to ensure consistency in its translation and content. Photos of recent archeological excavations throughout Israel and the Near East support examples discussed by the Sages and help bring the text to life for modern readers. Unique amongst all extant editions of the Talmud to date, The Noé Edition features side-by-side translation, color illustrations and maps - many of which were custom designed for this edition - comprehensive explanatory notes by Rabbi Steinsaltz, introductions and summaries to every volume and chapter, newly digitized fonts, and vocalized text for the original Aramaic and the commentaries of Rashi and Tosefot. Together, the Noé Edition Koren Talmud Bavli opens the doors of the Talmudic pages to people of all ages and backgrounds, unlike any other edition in the world. Koren Publisher Matthew Miller gave tribute to the Noé’s and the professional teams involved in the project by saying, “The landmark completion of The Noé Edition of the Koren Talmud Bavli is a testament to the tremendous work of both the teams at Koren and The Steinsaltz Center. Thanks to their support and dedication, this Talmud is going to impact many, many people for generations to come. We are so grateful to have reached this milestone for the Jewish people and the world-at-large.” *** Koren Publishers Jerusalem (www.korenpub.com) is one of the world’s leading publishers of Jewish texts, renowned for their textual precision and pioneering design. It first gained international recognition with the release of the first Koren Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) in 1962, and has since expanded to publish prayer books in multiple languages and works on contemporary Jewish thought under its Maggid Books imprint. It is best known for its partnerships with The Steinsaltz Center, under the leadership of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, and with Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of the Koren Sacks Siddur and Mahzor series. Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz (www.steinsaltz-center.org) is today’s leading Talmud scholar. The 82-year-old has been on a life-long mission to make the Talmud accessible to all. Rabbi Steinsaltz’s landmark editions of the Talmud in Hebrew, French, and Russian have sold more than a million copies. To date, he has translated and written commentary on every single work in the Jewish canon including the Tanakh, Mishna, Talmud, Rambam, and more. Caption for photo: From Left to Right: Matthew Miller, publisher Koren Publishers, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Leo & Sue Noé  and Rabbi Meni Even-Israel (Steinsaltz), Director of the Steinsaltz Center.

For more information, contact Yehudit Singer at yehudits@korenpub.com

KOREN PUBLISHERS JERUSALEM - USA | PO Box 8531 New Milford, CT 06776
203.830.8508 | www.korenpub.com

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.

Tidewater completes newspaper digitization project with
community support
Remembrance begins with preservation

(Seattle, WA, December 2, 2019) – SmallTownPapers, Inc. has completed scanning of the archives of the Jewish News in the Tidewater area of Virginia.

The scanning initiative for Virginia’s Jewish News was driven by local author and historian Harold (Hal) Sacks (z”l) who wanted to ensure that the invaluable historical information in the newspaper, particularly lifecycle events, would be online accessible and searchable today and for future generations. The Jewish News archive (accessible at jnt.stparchive.com) now bears his name.

When Hal Sacks passed away two years ago, the editor of the Jewish News Terri Denison wrote, "His vision that Jewish News should have digital archives accessible via the Internet from anywhere across the globe, came to fruition only due to his insistence and personal funding. Now, through The Hal Sacks Jewish News Archives, it is possible to access the newspapers of the Tidewater Jewish community dating back to 1945."

The importance of digitizing this country's Jewish newspaper archives cannot be understated.

“The importance of remembering the past is such a crucial one as the Torah itself contains some 200 forms of the word  ‘remember’,” explains Atlanta Rabbi Hayyim Kassorla. “Every Friday evening in the famous poem Lekha Dodi, which ushers in the Shabbat, we chant Shamor Ve Zakhor, which means Guard and Remember. We are challenged and commanded to guard the past and remember it. I can think of no other fulfillment of this command than to digitize our Jewish newspapers and guard them from ever being forgotten.”

It's critical to preserve the rich community history contained in Jewish newspapers, magazines and even newsletters. The content is invaluable for family information and for organizations wanting to access articles and photographs for anniversary celebrations and other events.

“Remembrance is such an important issue in Judaism and we’re proud of our history working with Jewish newspapers and federations across the country to ensure their local Jewish history is digitally preserved and placed online where the community can easily access it,” said Paul Jeffko, the founder and president of SmallTownPapers.

Today, making your community history online accessible and searchable is easier than ever before. ArchiveInABox® from SmallTownPapers will digitize your bound volume, loose or microfilmed archives, and provide free hosting including for your newspaper e-editions – keeping all your archives in one location. The benefits are wide ranging for the newspaper and your area's Jewish community. Contact us today to get started. Learn more at www.archiveinabox.com.

As Rabbi Kassorla added, “Future generations will be able to access information about their loved ones, their communities and their legacies, and they will thank us for guarding and remembering.”

If you would like more information about SmallTownPapers, Inc. and ArchiveInABox, please contact Karen Tarica at 206.369.0855 or email karen@smalltownpapers.com. 

(NEW YORK, NY, November 12) Adventures in Jewish Studies, the podcast series of the Association for Jewish Studies, has successfully concluded its first season. The five-episode season focused on Jewish culture, history, and literature, with episodes on food traditions, the Jewish Bible, civil rights, Philip Roth, and whiteness, drawing thousands of listeners from 30 countries worldwide.

Each episode of Adventures in Jewish Studies is designed to inform, engage, and entertain. NPR-veteran host and producer Jeremy Shere and featured guest scholars, historians, clergy members, and Jewish community leaders share their expertise, scholarship, memories, music, and history in narrating the diverse stories of Jewish life and culture.

Considering the current upturn in antiSemitism, the most recent episode, “Are Jews White?” tackled the challenging and complex issues of Jewish identity and whiteness.  Scholars and Jewish community leaders discussed how Jews have been on the margins of whiteness, but have also occupied places of privilege within whiteness.

The season’s most popular episode asked the big question – “Where Do Jews Come From?” Historians, professors, and clergy talked history, archaeology, linguistics, and genetics as they considered the mystery of Judaism’s roots.

The season launched on a lighter note, featuring the American New York Jewish food tradition of “appetizing,” while leading listeners on a wide-ranging journey about Jewish immigration and acculturation. Other episodes featured the 50^th anniversary of Philip Roth’s Portnoy’s Complaint and the Mizrahi struggle for civil rights in Israel.

Listenership continues to grow with every episode, and the podcast is gaining mentions in mainstream media. Season Two, which will have seven episodes, will launch in November with an episode on false messiahs, followed by an episode about Jewish women comedians of the 1950s to coincide with the Season 3 premiere of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon.

Adventures in Jewish Studiesis available on iTunes, Spotify, and all podcasting platforms; it is also available online at associationforjewishstudies.org/podcast.

The Association for Jewish Studies is the largest learned society and professional organization representing Jewish Studies scholars worldwide, with more than 2,000 members in 33 countries. The mission of the AJS is to advance research and teaching in Jewish Studies at colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning, and to foster greater understanding of Jewish Studies scholarship among the wider public.

If you would like more information about Adventures in Jewish Studies, please contact Amy Ronek at 212.294.8301, x6202 or aronek@associationforjewishstudies.org.

Contact: Amy Ronek
Phone: 212.294.8301, x6202
Email: aronek@associationforjewishstudies.org

Disclaimer: JRelease is a press release service of AJPA. AJPA does not endorse and cannot vouch for material distributed by this service.