Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 January 29

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Today's featured article
Temple Israel is a Reform Jewish congregation in Memphis, Tennessee. It is the only Reform synagogue in Memphis, the oldest and largest Jewish congregation in Tennessee, and one of the largest Reform congregations in the United States. It was founded in 1853 by mostly German Jews as Congregation B'nai Israel. Led initially by cantors, in 1858 it hired its first rabbi, Jacob Peres, and leased its first building, which it renovated and eventually purchased. The synagogue was one of the founding members of the Union for Reform Judaism. It experienced difficulty during the Great Depression—membership dropped, the congregational school was closed, and staff had their salaries reduced—but conditions had improved by the late 1930s. In 1943 the synagogue changed its name to Temple Israel, and by the late 1940s membership had almost doubled from its low point in the 1930s. Rabbi Jimmy Wax became known for his activism during the Civil Rights era. In 1976 the congregation constructed its current building, closer to where most members lived. Wax retired in 1978, and was succeeded by Harry Danziger, who brought traditional practices back to the congregation. He retired in 2000, and was succeeded by Micah Greenstein. As of 2010^[update], Temple Israel has almost 1,600 member families. Greenstein is the senior rabbi, and the cantor is John Kaplan. (more...) Recently featured: The Temple at Thatch – Temple of Eshmun – Hurricane Kyle Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that McCants Stewart (pictured), the first African American lawyer in Oregon, was the son of an Associate Justice of the Liberian Supreme Court? ... that ryot and zerat were two labour-hiring processes practised by indigo planters in Bihar and Bengal during the Indian colonial period? ... that the 2010–11 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team is the first since 2003 to record a win over a top-ten ranked team? ... that Elektro–L is the first Russian weather satellite to operate successfully in geostationary orbit? ... that Stone Jam was Slave's second album to be certified Gold and was named by Jam-Master Jay of Run–D.M.C. as one of his favorite albums? ... that both Thomas-Morse R-5s competed in the 1922 Pulitzer Trophy Race, but placed last among aircraft that completed the event? ... that British author Sunjeev Sahota had not read a novel until he bought Midnight's Children in an airport at the age of 18? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Anti-government protests (marching demonstrators pictured) across Egypt intensify, as the Egyptian government suspends internet access and SMS networks nationwide. The Sumatran Orangutan becomes the third extant hominid species to have its genome sequenced, following humans and the Common Chimpanzee. The Federal Assembly of Russia approves the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, a month after its ratification by the United States Senate. Bomb attacks in the Iraqi cities of Baghdad and Karbala kill 27 people and injure over 70 others. At least 35 people are killed and more than 100 others wounded in a bombing at Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow. The Irish Green Party withdraws from the country's coalition government, leaving it without an overall majority. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
January 29 1856 – Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issued a Warrant under the Royal sign-manual that established the Victoria Cross, originally to recognise acts of valour by British military personnel during the Crimean War. 1863 – Indian Wars in North America: The United States Army led by Patrick Edward Connor massacred Chief Bear Hunter and forces of the Shoshone at the Bear River Massacre in present day Franklin County, Idaho. 1891 – Liliʻuokalani (pictured) was proclaimed the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. 1943 – World War II: The Battle of Rennell Island, the last major naval engagement between the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Guadalcanal Campaign, began. 2006 – India's Irfan Pathan became the first bowler to take a Test cricket hat-trick in the opening over of a match. More anniversaries: January 28 – January 29 – January 30 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now January 29 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The Mantra-Rock Dance musical event took place on January 29, 1967, at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco and came to be dubbed as the "ultimate high" and the "major spiritual event" of the hippie era. It was organized by the early followers of the Hare Krishna movement as a promotional and fundraising effort for their first temple on the West Coast. One of them, Harvey W. Cohen, created the Stanley Mouse-inspired promotional poster (pictured). The Mantra-Rock Dance featured the Hare Krishna founder Bhaktivedanta Swami, the countercultural ideologues Allen Ginsberg and Timothy Leary, and leading rock groups the Grateful Dead, Moby Grape, and Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company. The event caused the Hare Krishna mantra to be adopted by all levels of the counterculture as a "loose commonality" and a viable alternative to drugs.

Artist: Harvey W. Cohen

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