By Judith Fein Photos by Paul Ross Update: The Jewish community in Bayreuth Germany has chosen to run this article on their website at ikgbayreuth.de About ten years ago, a fellow opera lover gave me a DVD of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. I had little interest in the
by Corinne Joy Brown In the rarefied world of Jewish mysticism, the study of Kabbalah and its sacred texts immediately come to mind, unlike methods of secular divination such as astrology, the reading of tea leaves, or the interpretation of Tarot cards. Until now. Thanks to the research of Stav
By Bonnie Ellinger One of the very appealing kibbutz customs is the assigning of a “family” to newcomers. The families are usually long-time kibbutz members who volunteer to be welcoming insiders to facilitate the absorption into the kibbutz of new arrivals. My Zionist youth group friends and I, on a
by Michael Wald Ron Winger is now ten months into a two-year term as president of the Jewish Community Center of Albuquerque, following a long career as a senior health care leader. He has been President/CEO at both profit and nonprofit hospitals/health systems around the country, including St.
By Rabbi Min Kantrowitz Each edition of NMJJ highlights one of the many Jewish values that guide our lives. Each of these values underlies our Jewish community, regardless of any individuals’ religious observances or practices. These values form the ethical structure of the community. They are not presented in order
by Diane Joy Schmidt May 18, 2025 In an open letter that ran as an ad in the New York Times on May 8, 2025 criticizing Trump's crackdown on universities and protestors in the name of fighting antisemitism, former directors and chairs of the American Jewish Committee, the
Compiled by NMJJ Staff
The New Mexico Jewish Journal is now publishing monthly with news articles and current event flyers. This issue, published on May 18th, features six articles, plus news updates and community events. Shavuot begins June 1st. Subscribe, contribute, donate. We are supported only by you, our readers. The NMJJ is an
By Judith Fein Photos by Paul Ross Update: The Jewish community in Bayreuth Germany has chosen to run this article on their website at ikgbayreuth.de About ten years ago, a fellow opera lover gave me a DVD of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. I had little interest in the
By Ellen Marks April 22, 2025 It’s all of this and more: A Santa Fe student with a marker pen drawing swastikas on a young Jewish classmate. Rabbis answering the phone only to be called “genocidal baby-killer” and to hear death threats. A Jewish district attorney receiving threats credible
Story and photographs by Lena S. Keslin April 22, 2025 There are times in our lives when an opportunity appears. We were invited to visit Spain on a Jewish Tour with Rabbi Howard Berman, a dear, lifelong friend, and some of his Boston congregation. I was excited because this trip
April 11, 2025 The New Mexico Jewish Journal is pleased to share a group letter penned by a group of 14 of New Mexico's rabbis, "because we want New Mexicans to know that leaders in our Jewish community oppose the Trump Administration’s detention of international students,
Op-ed
by Diane Joy Schmidt Almost a hundred days have passed since January 20, 2025 and the fear of the assault on American democracy has spilled over us while edicts issued from the Oval office a week ago seem like a year ago, the energy of assault being the point. The
Community News
by Ron Duncan Hart April 22, 2025 The Institute for Tolerance Studies has announced its twentieth anniversary celebration led by key Jewish figures in the world of New Mexico music. Steven Ovitsky, the past executive director of the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, will open the celebration on June 8
Essay
By Didi Rosenthal March 28, 2025 I remember when I asked my mother about whether she ever felt resentful about the German citizenry not protesting the attacks on Jews during the rise of Hitler and the Holocaust. She responded that she really didn’t blame others because they and their
Food
The Jews of Rome perceive themselves as “the people of the artichoke, not just of the Shoah,” according to their Chief Rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni. I came upon this quote shortly after my husband and I returned from a two-week trip to Italy in December, when we indulged in fried
News
by Diane Joy Schmidt Celebrating our first year in publication, our voices are being heard in these difficult times and in the wider news ecosystem. Latest update added May 18, 2025; In Denver Saturday night, April 5, 2025, the New Mexico Jewish Journal won six awards in the highly competitive
Journalistic Interview
NMJJ felt this extraordinary interview with Israeli Oct. 7th survivor, border kibbutz resident, Haaretz journalist and "Gates of Gaza" author Amir Tibon deserved to be transcribed and published here. This insightful and informed interview conducted by Bonnie Ellinger answers many questions we all have had. The interview on
Jewish Day of Observance
Ron Duncan Hart April 22, 2025 As Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is observed on April 23rd, it is a day to remember the unthinkable killing of 6 million Jews and other millions of Roma, communists, gay people and political dissidents by Germans crazed by Nazi supremacy ideology in
News Column
March, 2025 By Merilee Dannemann A special session for healthcare When the medical malpractice bill, Senate Bill 176, was killed in its first Senate committee, after more than 40 days of delay in that committee, I wondered whether that failure by itself would be enough to trigger a crisis response.
News
League of Women Voters of Central New Mexico April 13, 2025 A letter from the League of Women Voters of Central New Mexico has let us know that the SAVE Act is likely to cause New Mexicans new problems at the polls: “The League is concerned because the SAVE Act
The New Mexico Jewish Journal is now publishing monthly with news articles and current event flyers. This issue, published on Apr. 22nd, features a special report on antisemitism by Ellen Marks. Note also, there is a Yom HaShoah observance this evening in Albuquerque at Congregation Albert, 6 p.m. Apr.
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
Community Supporter
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. CLICK here for list of New Mexico synagogues with individual links to their websites for more High Holiday information: https://www.abqjew.com/pray.php