Investigate Mayor de Blasio
On Thursday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that city parks will reopen on Monday. This is a sharp about-face for a mayor who opposed reopening parks on Tuesday and wouldn’t commit to “Phase II” reopening on Wednesday. New Yorkers should likely thank Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jews for the change. City park closures have inconvenienced families … Continue reading
Germany’s Misleading Classification of Antisemitic Hate Crimes
The German government recently announced that 2019 saw the most antisemitic hate crimes since it began collecting data in 2001. In all, 2,032 antisemitic incidents were reported to German police last year, marking a 13 percent increase over 2018. That certainly fits with the steady drumbeat of stories about rising global antisemitism. However, the German government’s … Continue reading
Iowa’s King is dethroned
The advantage of incumbency is so strong, it’s rare for a congressional primary to have any real drama. And yet, there were true fireworks in Iowa’s 4th District last week as Republican voters decided to ditch Rep. Steve King, their representative for the last nine terms. Four Republicans vied to replace King in the ruby-red … Continue reading
COVID-19 Complicates Grieving
Spring is typically a gentle season known for its renewal, which makes spring deaths feel incredibly discordant. Yet over a 15-day period this May, my extended family lost two relatives to COVID-19. There will be no hugs at the funerals, burial is delayed, and Shivah will be observed remotely. What began as an international news story happening … Continue reading
melissa langsam braunstein 