New Mexico Jewish Journal - New Mexico Jewish Journal

Chanukah Newsletter

Happy Chanukah New Mexico Jewish Journal ~ Children's Art from B'nai Israel ~ Welcome new RABBI MICAH CITRIN see video! ~ BBYO Experience by a Teen ~ Community Chanukah Celebration SUN. DEC. 14 12:30-3 p.m. JCC ~ SUBSCRIBE NOW 3X MATCH $36 becomes $108!

Judith writes to us: At the Academy of Jewish Learning (AJL) at Congregation B'nai Israel, we retold the story of Chanukah to our Sunday School Gan Class (ages 4-6) and to our Torah (grades 3rd-7th) and asked them to create images of the Chanukah story. For our older

Newsletter

December 7 New Mexico Jewish Journal ~ READ: Chanukah Is Coming ~ The BBYO Experience, as Told by this Teen ~ What's Happening Now to the Status of Women in Israel!? ~ Triple Match: We must Raise $6,000 to Unlock $12,000 NOW!!!

View in Browser on Email for best viewing experience. Chanukah is coming up on December 14th already! We are very happy to share some lovely artwork by 4 year olds made this week in preparation for Chanukah, thanks to Dale Sides Cooperman, Director of Early Childhood Education at Congregation Albert

Jewish News and History

A Long Journey Home

By Sabra Minkus After a 2000-plus year journey from Israel, a group called B'nei Menashe are in the process of returning to a land they believe is their ancestral home – Israel. They are believed to be the descendants of Manasseh, son of Joseph. They were exiled from northern

immigration issues

Our Kafkaesque Immigration System 2.0

By Emily Alvarez Mark M. (name and identifying details withheld for safety) fled his home country in South America in late 2018 after receiving threats that made remaining there impossible. He entered the United States legally on a B-2 visitor visa and, within months, filed an affirmative asylum application, a

Jewish European History

Etty and the Etty Project: Susan Stein in New Mexico

by Dianne R. Layden, Ph.D. The short play Etty about the life of Dutch woman Esther “Etty” Hillesum (1914-1943) during the German occupation was performed by Susan Stein in schools and houses of worship in New Mexico in October 2025.* I saw the performance in Albuquerque at Congregation Albert

Op-ed

"Write On NM!" with Letter-to- Editor List by State.

Michael Baron, Ph.D. with Letter-to-Editor List by State No one can forget the image of Capitol Police Officer Daniel Hodges having his head crushed on January 6, 2021, one of 140 officers injured that day, subsequent to which over 1,500 who stormed the Capitol were convicted of serious

Hanukkah

The History of the Ten US Hanukkah stamps

By Jim Winnerman It is likely you are aware the United States Postal Service periodically issues a commemorative Hanukkah stamp. Perhaps you have noticed them on the envelope of a Hanukkah card you have received or used them on your own cards and letters around the holiday. The tradition of

Chevra Kadisha

"Chevra Kadisha: The Last Responders," Conference gathering at Camp Ramah, Ojai

By Gail Rubin, CT Between the general tendency to avoid discussing death, and the rule against revealing one’s participation in a specific tahara, many communities don’t know about the Chevra Kadisha and Jewish rituals they perform around end-of-life. It’s been six years since Kavod v’Nichum last

Op-ed

Affordable Care Act benefits must be preserved

by Merilee Dannemann “Pre-existing condition.” Remember that term? Fifteen years ago, you heard it all the time on the news. It was the issue that scared the daylights out of millions of Americans who couldn’t get health insurance, or whose insurance was impossibly expensive. A pre-existing condition might have

Community News

Chavurah Members Help Ease Food Insecurity in New Mexico

by Denise Suttle This article first appeared in the weekly newsletter of Chavurat Hamidbar, Albuquerque. Wednesday mornings at 10:00 AM you’ll find a dedicated group of Chavurah members and community teammates clad in sweats, ball caps, sneakers and aprons—ready to serve fellow New Mexicans. The Roadrunner Food

Larry Lesser

Why Release Another Jewish Album Now? A personal essay by songwriter Larry Lesser

Like many Jews, I’m still reeling from the last two years and the continuing rise of antisemitism. A 2025 ADL/World Union of Jewish Students poll found more than three-quarters of Jewish college students now conceal their religious identity. On the other hand, many of us have found that

Winter Issue 2025

WINTER ISSUE 2025 ~ NEW MEXICO JEWISH JOURNAL ~ KISLEV 5786

KEEP SCROLLING TO READ ABOUT OUR NINE NEW EXCITING STORIES! From Sabra Minkus, Emily Alvarez, Gail Rubin, Dianne Layden, Jim Winnerman, Denise Suttle, Merilee Dannemann, Michael Baron, Larry Lesser, and upcoming Community Events. Through the month of December we are having a Triple Match campaign. All details here on our