A historic synagogue in Munich will get a shot in the arm thanks to efforts by a local Jewish cultural activist with help from the German city. Rachel Salamander, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, formally announced plans on Tuesday to renovate the Reichenbachstrasse Synagogue, which has fallen into disuse since the Jewish community dedicated the Ohel Jakob synagogue in the center of Munich in 2006. Architect Christoph Sattler, a founding member of the Association for the Reichenbachstrasse Synagogue, told …More

Ankie Spitzer spoke at a memorial in Germany yesterday, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Munich massacre. Spitzer is the widow of Andre Spitzer, one of the 11 Israeli athletes killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Olympic games. The tragedy was marked with a ceremony at the Furstenfeldbruck airfield in Munich, where the final showdown between German police and the terrorists took place four decades ago. In her remarks, Spitzer criticized the International Olympic Committee, which refused to …More

Today marks exactly 40 years since Palestinian terrorists kidnapped and killed 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics. It is an anniversary being marked around the world by news outlets, politicians, Jewish organizations, and individuals who have promised to never forget. In Munich this morning, diplomats including Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom and relatives of the slain attended a ceremony to mark the occasion. Wreaths were laid at the Fuerstenfeldbruck airfield, where the final showdown took …More

September 5th marks exactly four decades since a group of Jewish fencers, weightlifters and coaches was killed in a senseless pursuit of terrorism. The story of the Munich massacre has seeped into the public consciousness—books, films and documentaries have covered the subject at length. Global efforts and advocates like Ankie Spitzer and Ilana Romano have ensured that the 11 Israeli athletes murdered by Palestinians at the ’72 Olympics have not been forgotten. Still, there remains much that is …More

Yohanan Plesner says that all ultra-Orthodox males should complete military or national service to some extent by the time they are 24. [Israel Hayom] Female Jewish singers will come together on July 9 to sing songs of the Sephardic Diaspora. [The Jewish Daily Forward] Why does Raoul Wallenberg’s centennial matter? [The Jewish Press] Americans should be offered more Zionism to keep them Jewish. [ynet] Jews in London remember the Munich massacre while preparing for the Olympics. [The Times of …More

German neo-Nazis helped the Palestinian Black September group kill 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics, according to German documents. The connection between neo-Nazi activist Willi Pohl and Palestinian terrorist Abu Daoud was published Sunday in the German weekly Der Spiegel. The report was based on a 2,000-page file compiled by Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Pohl helped Abu Daoud procure fake identification, including passports and other documents, according …More

Australia's prime minister signed a letter calling for a moment of silence at the London Olympics in memory of the 11 Israelis killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Julia Gillard is joined by Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan, Foreign Minister Bob Carr, opposition leader Tony Abbott, New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell and Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu, as well as Jewish federal lawmakers Michael Danby and Joshua Frydenberg in signing the letter addressed to the International Olympic Committee. The missive was …More

Josh Berkman is the associate director of communications in North America for The Jewish Agency for Israel, a co-sponsor of this weekend’s Celebrate Israel Run in New York City. In advance of the event, he has compiled a list of 18 “fast” Jews. Jews are known for a lot of things: Nobel prizes, great comedy, beautiful music, literature, and the sometimes-vigorous debate. Generally speaking, we are not known for our foot speed. But perhaps this characterization is unfair. In memory of Fred Lebow, …More

The International Olympic Committee officially rejected an appeal to hold a moment of silence in honor of those killed in the ’72 Munich games. The request was made by relatives of those slain, but drew international support in the last few months. This summer’s games mark the 40th anniversary of the tragedy, when 11 Israeli athletes were taken hostage then murdered by a terrorist group. Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon criticized the IOC’s refusal, saying, “Unfortunately, …More

Knesset members attend the wedding of a Likud activist’s son. [Jerusalem Post] Turkey suspects a bird was planted to act as an Israeli spy. [Ynet] An Israeli artist will present the Pope a drawing inspired by the Book of Genesis. [Ynet] A journalist retells his memories of the Munich massacre, recounting how crowds sat around drinking beer as the crimes unfolded. [Times of Israel] And Gilad Shalit visits the set of “Homeland.” [Times of Israel] …More

A British publisher is vowing to fight a Munich court's decision to permanently ban his publication of excerpts of Hitler's "Mein Kampf." Peter McGee wanted to print excerpts last January in a 16-page insert to his German publication "Zeitungszeugen," or "Newspaper Witnesses," together with critical commentary from historians. The insert, one of three planned supplements, also would have been sold separately. But the Munich Regional Court last week upheld a restraining order issued by a lower court that barred …More

Families of the victims of the 1972 Munich Olympic Games are asking that their loved ones be remembered during this year’s summer games in London. Eleven Israelis participating in the ’72 games were killed when eight assassins from Palestinian group Black September raided the Israeli team’s lodgings. Two men were quickly killed, while nine others were taken hostage. They would die later in a helicopter crash. Now, with the 40th anniversary coming up, two widows of the deceased are appealing to …More