An article by Roman Gronsky who orchestrated the return of the scroll to Olomouc from Peninsula Sinai Congregation in Foster City. (Translation from the Czech by Google Translate.)   In my search for the family roots and fate of our family members, in 2015, I found that two scrolls of the Olomouc Torah survived the … More Article in Zidovske listy 43 – December 2017. A long return of Torah No. 740 to Olomouc (by Roman Gronsky, Jocelyn and Doron’s Cousin in Olomouc)

I could not let it pass that my picture appears on page 14 of the December 2017 issue of the United Airlines “Hemispheres” magazine. Thanks to my friend Michael Hayat for all the hard work getting us the red carpet treatment last month! If you happen to be flying “The Friendly Skies” this month, see … More United Airlines “Hemispheres” Magazine, December, 2017 issue: “Sacred Passenger”

Are you ready for another incredible layer to the Olomouc Torah story? On our walks to-and-from the Hotel Arigone to the Jewish Community building in Olomouc we always passed by the Olomouc Art Museum (Denisova 47, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic [tel.: +420 585 514 111; e-mail: info@olmuart.cz ]. ~1939, The Olomouc Art Museum The … More Kurt the Hairdresser: Another amazing layer to the Olomouc Story

Saturday, September 30, 2017, Yom Kippur morning, I was sitting in my usual place in Shul, having just completed my Torah reading. The person honored with Hagbah (the lifting of the Torah) was sitting rather uncomfortably with some back spasms. Our Cantor motioned to me and asked if I could relieve him and sit with … More The road to to Ceske Budejovice: Silent witnesses from our second Czech Sefer Torah

The title about sums it up for me. The 6 hours I spent today touring The Terezín Concentration Camp were very different from the only other time I was there in 1998. That was my first concentration camp visit and the temperature on that date was hovering somewhere around 9 degrees F. (That’s COLD by … More Terezín: Banality, Bureaucracy, Gross Demented Brutality and Bucolic tree-lined streets

Our story is starting to see a lot of traction in the media in various forms, so I thought I would use this space to capture some of the press mentions. If you find others, please let me know! You’ll recognize a few of us in the Czech RuubRadi’s largest online publication. https://www.idnes.cz/olomouc/zpravy/tora-olomouc-zide-vypalena-synagoga-navrat.A171024_360216_olomouc-zpravy_stk?galerie A Radio … More Press mentions of the Olomouc Torah Story

One morning after the newly Kosher scroll was returned to the Aron Kodesh in Olomouc and I think we’re all still processing what this historic occasion meant. At least I know I am. I was honored to play some small part in this joyous simcha. Most of us have scattered to the four corners of … More At last! Mission Accomplished!

You should have seen it last night! Really, if you could have been there! some ways you’re just going to have to trust me on this one but today was an incredibly emotional day. Since some of it took place after Shabbat came in, all you’re going to get is my word’s-eye-view description. No photos … More Simchat Torah 5758, part Deux: Shabbat in Olomouc

When we march around with a Torah Scroll in a Synagogue, we call the procession a “Hakafah” (Hakafot (הקפות plural); Hakafah (הקפה singular)—meaning “[to] circle” or “going around” in Hebrew) and there was something rather profound about a 9000+ KM Hakafah with this scroll now nearly completed as we have arrived back in its ancestral … More A “Hakafah” to end all “Hakafot”: A Second Simchat Torah (5778)

Up early but I slept very well last night. As we were walking across the Charles Bridge yesterday, we ran across a famous statue on the Bridge which called out “Darsheni” (“Explain Me!” in Talmudic parlance). I don’t really expect to understand the full scope, history and beauty of Prague after 20 years since my … More Darsheni! Know Your Place