Israel | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Israel

May 30 breakfast to feature Shahar Azani of Jewish Broadcasting Service 

|

Jewish solidarity will be on full display in Milwaukee when the Jewish National Fund-USA annual Breakfast for Israel is held here later this month.   The May 30 breakfast, chaired by local philanthropists Diane and Eric Zall, is a free, annual community event. This year the event will focus on the organization’s Israel Resilience Campaign, intended to shine light on the organization’s on-the-ground efforts to provided support to tens of thousands of displaced Israeli families in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack.   The keynote speaker will be Shahar Azani, a former Israeli diplomat who...

Microgrants on Israel, antisemitism 

Microgrants on Israel, antisemitism 

|

Milwaukee Jewish Federation is offering “microgrants” for organizers of programming related to Israel or antisemitism.  The Israel and Overseas Committee of Milwaukee Jewish Federation is offering the microgrants. Organizations can apply for microgrants ranging from $500 to $2,000 per group. If organizations partner with one another, those amounts can double. Programs must be held by […]

When Israel is threatened, Milwaukee has responded

When Israel is threatened, Milwaukee has responded

|

Last month, Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s “Solidarity Mission to Israel” brought 14 witnesses to Israel at a time of crisis. This was not the first time.  In fact, it was one more step in a history of mission trips in support of Israel During Israel’s crises, Milwaukee has stepped up time and again. Here are just […]

Israeli psychotherapist visiting for Yom HaZikaron  

Israeli psychotherapist visiting for Yom HaZikaron  

|

The work of psychotherapists and other mental health counselors has seen rising importance in recent years, especially since the attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.   On May 13, Israeli Eitan Spiegel, who performs such services, will visit Milwaukee to discuss his work as part of the annual commemoration of Yom HaZikaron. The day serves as Israel’s […]

Traded jerseys with Israeli player 

Traded jerseys with Israeli player 

|

For Ryan Kelly, 18, trading sports jerseys with an Israeli player whose kibbutz was attacked on Oct. 7 will be a moment he never forgets. The exchange of jerseys was a moment in Ryan’s recent participation in international Jewish games overseas.  The Franklin native said that meeting other athletes helped him “understand what some of […]

Danny M. Cohen, Holocaust expert from Northwestern, to speak at Yom HaShoah commemoration 

Danny M. Cohen, Holocaust expert from Northwestern, to speak at Yom HaShoah commemoration 

|

A specialist on how people learn about Holocaust history and prejudice will speak in Milwaukee.   That speaker, Danny M. Cohen, is an associate professor of instruction in the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University. He teaches courses on Children and the Holocaust, The Holocaust and Education and Holocaust Memory, Memorials and Museums.  […]

Milwaukee County Board approves resolution on Israel-Hamas war, cutting ‘genocide’ language 

Milwaukee County Board approves resolution on Israel-Hamas war, cutting ‘genocide’ language 

|

MILWAUKEE – After a contentious debate, the County Board avoided the use of the word “genocide” when it passed a resolution calling for peace in the Middle East. The vote was 10-8.  The Milwaukee County Board rejected an initial proposal, accusing Israel of “genocide,” after County Board member Sheldon Wasserman said on the floor that […]

Our solidarity visit to Israel: We saw need and pain, but also so much hope and resilience

Our solidarity visit to Israel: We saw need and pain, but also so much hope and resilience

|

I have taken two solidarity trips to Israel in the last few years. The first, in June of 2021, to stand with Israel after the breakout of Operation Guardian of the Walls, which began after Hamas launched rockets into Central Israel, breaking a ceasefire. The Israel Defense Forces launched the operation, and 11 days later, […]

Opinion: This visit to Israel was different 

Opinion: This visit to Israel was different 

|

Both of us have been to Israel many, many times. Both of us left for the Jewish Homeland thinking that we knew a lot about the current situation and the repercussions of the Hamas War on the people in our partnership region of Sovev Kineret.    Our four days in the region, from Jan. 15-18, made […]

100 minutes to mark 100 days 

|

Sunday, Jan. 14 marked 100 days since Oct. 7, when Israelis and others were taken hostage. Volunteers at Anshe Sfard Kehillat Torah spent 100 minutes on Jan. 14, dedicated to the hostages and the Jewish people. In this photo, volunteers at Anshe Sfard Kehillat Torah created charity gifts to give to Israeli soldiers, for them […]

Wisconsin Council of Rabbis issues statement 

|

The Wisconsin Council of Rabbis issued a statement calling for the return of hostages still being held in Gaza, identifying Hamas as a terror group that seeks to destroy Israel, and expressing heartbreak over the suffering.  “The Wisconsin Council of Rabbis joins faith leaders around the State of Wisconsin in their anguish over the mounting […]

The Women’s Philanthropy campaign chair traveled with other mothers, including those who are grieving

The Women’s Philanthropy campaign chair traveled with other mothers, including those who are grieving

|

Rebecca Guralnick became the new chair of the Women’s Philanthropy campaign of Milwaukee Jewish Federation, in the weeks before the attacks of Oct. 7.   Since then, some things have remained the same, like her desire to have honest conversations with people in the community about their priorities and the needs of the Jewish people. Some […]

Rabbi Wes Kalmar visited with other rabbis 

Rabbi Wes Kalmar visited with other rabbis 

|

I was asked to reflect on the mood of the country, after my trip. Considering that I took a less than three-day trip at the end of November, I felt it would exhibit a great deal of hubris to claim that I know what the mood of the country is. So, I sent this to […]

High school students raised $2,500 for Israel

High school students raised $2,500 for Israel

|

On Oct. 6, Homestead High School Senior Adin Gendelman FaceTimed a friend from Israel while she danced in the streets — the very same streets that Hamas would occupy a mere 12 hours later.  Gendelman is one of many in the Jewish community connected to those impacted by the events on Oct. 7. “I have […]

Opinion: I will return to Israel

Opinion: I will return to Israel

|

I have lived a good life and am now a retired guy with extra time on my hands. These days I devote much of my time to volunteer work; one specifically, the Jewish National Fund Water Task Force.   Relying on my expertise in water, hydraulics and pumps, I have visited Israel on frequent “water missions” […]