How everyday people can help Israel and support peace in the Middle East
This year can no longer be written off as a complete annus horribilis. Against all odds, peace appears to be breaking out in the Middle East. Last week, Israel doubled the number of formal peace agreements with its regional Arab neighbors, leapfrogging from two to four. To borrow a phrase from the Democratic presidential nominee, … Continue reading
To the Far Right and Back Again
An overriding message from the last few months of protests is that it’s not enough not to be racist. Rather, one must be explicitly anti-racist. It’s not enough to support the peaceful demonstrations going on around the country. “Silence is violence” is the new mantra. That has led to such harrowing scenes as we saw … Continue reading
Reaching Young Fathers of Color
Fatherhood is life changing. But what does it look like if you’re a black or Latino father between the ages of 18 and 24? This question is explored in a recent report released by Baltimore’s Center for Urban Families (CFUF), Reaching Their Full Potential: Strategies for Supporting Young Fathers of Color, which compiles the wisdom of 10 fatherhood programs from … Continue reading
COVID is Fueling Education Innovation
There’s nothing more predictable than the school calendar—in a non-COVID year, that is. This year, all bets are off, and that has complicated life for families. After the mess that was spring’s experiment with distance learning, and with many public schools planning to delay in-classroom learning even longer, many parents are forming “homeschooling pods” or “micro-schools.” … Continue reading
Ilhan Omar singles out her opponent’s Jewish donors with anti-Semitic campaign mailer
There’s nothing more on-brand for freshman Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota than finding herself at the center of a controversy over anti-Semitism. Lo and behold, that’s exactly where she finds herself once again. On Thursday, Vice reported that Omar’s campaign had sent mailers to constituents asking, “Can We Trust Antone Melton-Meaux’s Money?” They also allege that primary … Continue reading
It’s always the right time to talk about anti-Semitism, especially during Black Lives Matter protests
Recent weeks have seen a heated discussion among American Jews about whether there is a “right time” to talk about anti-Semitism. And if so, does now qualify, since our country is going through a reckoning over racism? American Jews want to show solidarity with peaceful protesters, but should that include support for the Black Lives Matter organization, … Continue reading
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
