Database Highlight #23: We've Got the Jewish Newspaper for That (yes, really!)
Hanukkah starts tomorrow! Learn about Jewish history with The Jewish Exponent, located in the Historical Newspapers collection. Covering the time period of 1887 – 1990, The Jewish Exponent is a record of Jewish life, politics, and traditions in the 19th and 20th century.
The Jewish Exponent has carried news of developments in Israel, efforts to rescue Jews the world over from repressive regimes, and the ever-expanding role of Jews in American public life. Along the way, it has garnered honors each year from the American Jewish Press Association for excellence in Jewish journalism for its news, features, reviews and commentary. – from the vendor
Wanting to learn more about the Jewish community in Oklahoma City? Check out this week’s open site, the Jewish Federation of Oklahoma City. The federation supports the community with programs, awareness and fundraising, and serves as a voice for community relations. On their site you’ll find information on sponsored programs, news and, (most useful to librarians) a list of online resources!
Action Steps
- Search The Jewish Exponent by keyword or time period (try Hannukah/Chanukah) Did you find any articles? What’s the earliest date of an article your search returned?
- Check out the Jewish Federation of Oklahoma City. Did you find anything that might help you better serve our members or increase you knowledge of modern Jewish life, customs, or holidays?
Pocket hand sanitizer to all respondents. Being sick at holiday time is no fun!
- Log in to post comments
Comments
When I searched by the keyword, Chanukah, I found many articles, the first was from February 18, 1910.
JEWS IN ALEPPO. (1910, Feb 18). The Jewish Exponent (1887-1990) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/892072775?accountid=37418
I also searched the Jewish Federation of OKC page. I found links a ton of different Jewish resources under the 'Resources' link. One of the links sent me to My Jewish Learning, which seems to have basic information about practices. Like today, it has articles like "How to Light the Hanukkah Menorah" and videos like "How to Play Dreidel."
1. I found too many articles. One stuck out to me from 1887. A small section of it is thanking several people for donating a total of $11.22. I found that entertaining. It's difficult to relate to that amount of money being very much.
2. I learned from http://jfedokc.org/wp/ that we have a Jewish Federation of Oklahoma City. I was not aware of that until today. I would imagine there is more information there than I will ever need.
3. Double check Caralen's post. You really have to keep an eye on her.
Noted!
I searched "Sephardim" because I'm interested in learning more about Sephardic Jews. The earliest result it turned up was from 1887. I read an article titled "Customs of Sephardic Jews." The whole article was interesting, especially the paragraphs about traditions in naming, and food. https://search.proquest.com/hnpjewishexponent/docview/893168719/6E2C6C23...
From the Jewish Federation of OKC page, I also wound up on My Jewish Learning. I thought the "Which Yiddish Word Are You" quiz was especially fun: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/quiz/which-yiddish-word-are-you/
"When it comes to an uncomfortable or confrontational conversation, or articulating a hard truth, you're in your element. You are brave—fearless even—about speaking your mind, and you're not at all concerned with what others think of you for it."
I love it!
I got Nosh: "You love nothing more than to try new things, but you prefer not to dive too deeply into any one experience. Instead, you prefer to take little snack-sized tastes of all the wonders life has to offer." -- (but I think the real reason is that I love food.)