Photographer Andy Sweet (Nov. 9, 1953 — Oct. 17, 1982), who was born and raised in Miami Beach, became fascinated by the Jewish community there in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was a community largely made up of retirees who had migrated to sunny South Florida in their later years. Sweet documented the…
When historian, journalist, and biographer Ron Chernow was invited to be the featured speaker at the 2019 White House Correspondents’ Dinner toward the end of April, it was a marked departure from the usual selection of a stand-up comedian. The 70-year-old Chernow would follow 2018 dinner speaker Michelle Wolf, whose edgy — many thought tasteless…
…an especially beautiful and significant rendition of the Jewish nation’s national anthem.
The 71st annual Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut) — which took place from sundown…
Terry Gross, 68, has been the host of the long-running, highly popular NPR interview program “Fresh Air with Terry Gross” for the past 42 years. Given her keen mind, boundless curiosity, affable and nonthreatening personality, diminutive stature, conversational style, and smooth voice, it’s no wonder Gross elicits from her interviewees information they might not reveal…
Bar Mitzvahs are for boys and bat mitzvahs are for girls — but what about Jewish youths who identify themselves as “non-binary” or “gender fluid”? A recent article in The New York Times, by Alyson Krueger, explores the new and growing phenomenon of non-gender-specific b’nai mitzvahs, sometime referred to as “b mitzvahs.” Quote: “It…
We featured New England Patriots Wide Receiver Julian Edelman in this spot back in February, when he was named Superbowl LIII Game MVP. Recently, Edelman has been in the headlines for a very different reason. Thirteen years after he enrolled in Kent State University and a decade after he left school to turn professional, Edelman…
David Copperfield has been a superstar entertainer on the Las Vegas Strip for many years. According to Forbes, the 62-year-old illusionist is “the most commercially successful magician in history.” Over his decades-long career, Copperfield has won 21 Emmy Awards for his many television specials. In addition, he holds 11 Guinness World Records and has a…
Dunkin’ Donuts made news of late when the chain decided to shorten its name to Dunkin’ — no doubt because it has expanded its menu to include sandwiches and other non-doughnut fare. You may not know that the company — which boasts 10,000 outlets in 32 countries — was started in 1950 by entrepreneur William…
Although Rube Goldberg (July 4, 1883 — December 7, 1970) was best known for his amusing cartoons of zany, complex machines…
WOW! FACTS
Inventor of the mobile phone, “Father of the Internet,” inventor of the video game cosole, inventor fo the laser, inventor of the gramophone, creator of the Barbie Doll, creator of the cruise ship, “Father of Immunology,” inventor fo the modern condom (!), a prime minister of the U.K., a three-time prime minister of France, a president of Switzerland and the primary financier of the American Revolution?
We knew you could guess… all of them are (or were) Jews!
To learn about these and many more AmazingJews, watch a compilation put together by JewOfTheWeek.net in 2015 and posted on YouTube. >>
Nobel Prizes
Although Jews are less than two-tenths of one percent of the world’s population, more than 20% of Nobel Prize winners have been Jewish. Source: Google
Polio Vaccine
Millions and millions of people worldwide have been spared the ravages of poliomyelitis — including paralysis and even death — thanks to research conducted by Jewish scientist Dr. Jonas Salk and his team. The Salk vaccine entered widespread use in the U.S. in 1955. Source: Wikipedia
Miss Liberty
The words “…give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses…” on the Statue of Liberty were written by Emma Lazarus, a Jew. Source: BuzzFeed
Blue Jeans
Levi Strauss, an immigrant from Germany, invented his blue jeans in 1873. Source: BuzzFeed
Start-Up Nation
Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship in the world. It has the highest rate of entrepreneurship among women and people over 55 in the world. Source: BuzzFeed