haaretz: DNA links prove Jews are a ‘race,’ says genetics expert   Conjuring fear of Nazism and anti-Semitism, Jews recoil from the thought that Judaism might be a race, but medical geneticist Harry Ostrer insists the ‘biological basis of Jewishness’ cannot be ignored. Although he readily acknowledges the formative role of culture and environment, Ostrer believes that Jewish identity has multiple threads, including DNA. He offers a cogent, scientifically based review of the evidence, which serves as a model of scientific restraint. Read more.

haaretz:

DNA links prove Jews are a ‘race,’ says genetics expert

 

Conjuring fear of Nazism and anti-Semitism, Jews recoil from the thought that Judaism might be a race, but medical geneticist Harry Ostrer insists the ‘biological basis of Jewishness’ cannot be ignored.


Although he readily acknowledges the formative role of culture and environment, Ostrer believes that Jewish identity has multiple threads, including DNA. He offers a cogent, scientifically based review of the evidence, which serves as a model of scientific restraint. Read more.

haaretz:

Obama wishes Jews around the world a happy Passover

Happy Passover and Easter and spring and Cadbury egg season.

israelfacts: Iron shoes are pictured on the bank of the Danube on January 27, 2012, marking the Holocaust in Hungary. Hundreds of Hungarian Jews had to leave their shoes on the bank before they were shot into the river by Hungarian militaimen during the World War II. The United Nations declared in 2005 the Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27 to commemorate the 6 million Jews and other victims murdered by the Nazis. (Getty Images)

israelfacts:

Iron shoes are pictured on the bank of the Danube on January 27, 2012, marking the Holocaust in Hungary. Hundreds of Hungarian Jews had to leave their shoes on the bank before they were shot into the river by Hungarian militaimen during the World War II. The United Nations declared in 2005 the Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27 to commemorate the 6 million Jews and other victims murdered by the Nazis. (Getty Images)

Here’s a video about Bark Mitzvahs, in case you wanted to watch something completely ridiculous on your Friday morning.

negevrockcity: I’m off for Passover. See y’all Wednesday. This is about right. I woke up this morning to snow on the Chicago rooftops. On April 18. Ridiculous. Happy Passover to all the yiddin out there. SW and I are headed to family friends’ to feast.

negevrockcity:

I’m off for Passover. See y’all Wednesday.

This is about right. I woke up this morning to snow on the Chicago rooftops. On April 18. Ridiculous.

Happy Passover to all the yiddin out there. SW and I are headed to family friends’ to feast.

You’ll never believe it…

But I just got picked up by a Jewish guy’s mom and dad at a Giordano’s pizzeria in Evanston on half-off-any-pizza night.

No joke.

Woody Allen couldn’t have written it this well.

I was waiting for the bathroom when a zaftig woman joined me in line. Somehow, she asked if I wanted two tickets for the Saturday Cubs-Cards game (answer: yes!). I made an offer, and she went to call her son to see if he would take my offer ($60 for $110 tickets).

Long story short, the mom (Fran, of Fran and Phil Pomerantz) puts me on the phone with her son Mark, and he asks me if I’m doing anything for Sukkot (upcoming Jewish holiday). His mom took down my number, and I guess now we’ll see if he calls.

RANDOM.

Sadly, I can’t lay claim to those Cubs tickets… yet.