The Missing Interviews
One of the perks (such as it is) of working for a Jewish organization is receiving unsolicited books and manuscripts in the mail. Most – like “new age” Jewish ritual guides, Middle-East manifestoes and...
FULL DISCLOSURE: Reflections on Barack Obama
Guest column by Chava Willig Levy Full disclosure: I believe that God guides history. The improbable, meteoric rise of Barack Obama offers a case in point. The facts are common knowledge: In 2000, Obama...
The End of the Special Relationship?
For those inclined to see the workings of Divine Providence in human history, the special affinity of the American people for Israel provides a happy example. If Israel could have only one consistent ally...
Who Says Jews are Smart?
YES, POGO, THE JEWS ARE THE STUPIDEST PEOPLE Arab-Americans overwhelmingly support Senator Barack Obama for president. So do Jewish-Americans. One of these two groups either does not care much about the Arab-Israeli conflict and/or...
The Gerer Rebbe on Living with the Meltdown
His message isn’t pleasant to listen to, but the Gerer Rebbe shlit”a may have gotten the best line yet around the global economic meltdown. Others are treating the crisis with a giant Post-It Note,...
Of Man and Beast
Talk of reclaiming the Jewish bookshelf – the canonical texts that are the heritage of every Jew – is in the air. I cannot imagine a better guide on that path than Rabbi David...
Separate Swimming at Harvard – and Us
Recently, Harvard University agreed to establish certain hours for sexually segregated use of the gym and swimming pool. Most of us upon hearing that news would be cheered at an apparently reasonable accommodation to...
Israel as of Rosh Hashana 5769 – Part II
Last week, we detailed the extent to which Israel’s declining geopolitical situation and deterrent capacity has been largely self-inflicted – the result of unilateral withdrawals from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip and, most significantly,...
Israel as of Rosh Hashanah 5769 – Part I
Florida Congressman Robert Wexler, one of Senator Barack Obama’s leading spokesmen to the Jewish community, argues that Democrats are better for Israel than Republicans. What’s his proof?: Compare Israel’s security situation today to what...
Marriage Matters
Along with the new Jewish year we welcomed a new cycle of Torah-readings. For Californians, the first post-Sukkot Sabbath reading was particularly timely, coming as it did a mere ten days before the 2008...