Latest Posts
Sounding the Shofar of Social Justice
I met Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz several years ago when we were students in Yeshivat Hamivtar, in Israel. As those who know him personally would surely attest, Reb Shmuly is a... Read More »
Yes. Palm Oil Truly IS Kosher.
It has become increasingly fashionable among some in my Jewish community to promote the notion that kosher food must be, what they call, “sustainable.” First, it is important to understand... Read More »
The Small Voice Of Moderation in Bet Shemesh
In The Year Of The Protester, we used the hashtag and we mimed the slogan to great effect. But real change takes more than a slogan. It takes dialog. It takes understanding.... Read More »
Jewish Relativity, Revisited
Fellow Jewneric blogger, Joshua Einstein, writes about a common argument made by Jewish outreach organizations: “the secular world is morally relative and adrift” and only religion provides “moral constancy”. Josh... Read More »
Jewish Relativity
Religious leaders often posit that the secular world is morally relative and adrift. The changing and metastasizing values of the larger world are no doubt foreboding and challenging but it... Read More »
Jewish Education is Dead: Long Live Jewish Education
{EAV:d0011d30ff328718} Dr. Jonathan Woocher’s keynote presentation at the Union for Reform Judaism’s Biennial, “Education is Dead: Long Live Jewish Education” was a purposeful road map for Jews of all stripes.... Read More »
The YU Sex Scandal: It’s About the Yeshiva, Not the Sex
Keeping things in perspective, the administration of Yeshiva University should look at the “sex scandal” that has spread from the school’s undergraduate campuses, through the Wall Street Journal and the... Read More »
The Dead Sea Scrolls Are on Display…Where?
The Dead Sea Scrolls are on display in Times Square. Yes, Times Square. They share a space at Discovery Times Square with an exhibition about the TV show, CSI. The... Read More »
Tebowing as Political Metaphor
In an otherwise unremarkable article about the controversy over Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow’s public displays of religiosity, a quote from Gary Ebersole, a University of Missouri-Kansas City professor, struck... Read More »
“Hodu” This Year in Israel
There is a lovely children’s book called Rivka’s First Thanksgiving by Elsa Okon Rael (Margaret K. McElderry Books; 2001). Set in 1910’s, it is the story of a little girl on... Read More »
Jew in the City wonders…do God and science have chemistry?
“I couldn’t help but wonder…” Sound familiar? It may be Carrie’s popular phrase of wonderment on Sex and the City, but way before the popular series hit HBO, Allison Josephs... Read More »
Judaism, Democracy, and Public Reason
The appropriate role of religion in American political discourse is a debate older than the Constitution itself. It predictably recurs whenever a politician or celebrity invokes or insults religion (or... Read More »
Who Goes to Shul?
After World War II, new synagogues opened all over the United States. Jews had started to move to suburbia and away from New York. Wherever they went, they established shuls... Read More »
An Obituary for Zionism
Zionism, born in the 1890′s, died today of natural causes. Zionism, which in its early years began a life long career championing self-determination and civil rights ended life a mostly... Read More »
A Hole in the Jewish Calendar
After the flurry of Jewish holidays in the fall, it’s no wonder that the month of Cheshvan, which follows on the heels of Sukkot, is devoid of Jewish holidays. But in... Read More »
“Once You Go Jack, You Never Go Back!” Interview with Alan Broner, Co-Owner of Jack’s Gourmet
Jack’s Gourmet premiered exactly one year ago at Kosherfest 2010 and after receiving rave reviews there was no turning back. This year, Jack’s Gourmet is bigger than ever and with Kosherfest 2011... Read More »
The Official Jewish Mother’s Day
After the back to back celebrations in the Jewish month of Tishrei, many Jews look forward to a break in the month of Cheshvan, which is the only Jewish month... Read More »
JFNA GA – LIVE PHOTO BLOG
Greetings from Denver! …well, almost. I’m writing this as I pack for tomorrow’s early morning flight to the Mile High city for the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly... Read More »
A Maiden Voyage
Jerusalem Maiden is a story that has an intriguing premise, set in the pre-state of Israel during the Turkish and British occupation. Unfortunately, the novel fails to live up to... Read More »
Is There a Bright Future for the KosherSwitch®?
Orthodox Judaism often struggles with new technology. Its top problem is a simple question: “Can you use this on Shabbat?” While this sometimes comes up with manual/mechanical items, any time... Read More »
