What Happens When Jews And Christians Throw An Israel Celebration Party
The Bible is filled with stories of miracles. But if there’s one major takeaway from the 2017 Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Summit, it’s that miracles still happen in our time, and it’s our job to notice and truly appreciate them. The 11-year-old CUFI, which now boasts 3.5 million members, recently gathered in Washington, DC, … Continue reading
5 Ways to Help Jews on Fertility Journeys
Fertility can be complicated, but the community can help (healthimpactnews.com). Jewish continuity is the idee fixe of American Jewish communal discussions. We talk about it. All. The. Time. We debate whether the best route forward is investing in Jewish camp, Jewish day school, or Birthright trips. Interestingly, these discussions typically don’t touch upon Jewish fertility. Yet, they should, because it is … Continue reading
The Pain of Infertility in the Jewish Community
Americans speak openly about breast cancer and domestic violence — subjects that were taboo in recent memory — but infertility remains relatively hush-hush. Meanwhile, fertility struggles increase, as more Americans, including American Jews, delay parenthood. For some, that reflects a conscious choice to delay parenthood into their 30s, or even their 40s, as they pursue … Continue reading
Adoption in the Jewish Community
When altFem first asked to write about adoption in the Jewish community, I had no idea how massive a topic it would be, how many people would come forward to share their personal stories, nor what a rich — and complex — story this would become. For obvious reasons, adoption is an intensely personal subject … Continue reading
What’s It Like To Be A Jew In A Room Full Of Christians
What’s it like to be a Jew in a room of 4,000 people, nearly all of them evangelical Christians? If it’s the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) annual conference, it’s pretty fantastic. A cross between a pep rally for G-d and a big group hug for Jews and the nation of Israel, the gathering is an … Continue reading
Soapy ‘Quantico’ Reflects Increasingly Ugly Racial Tensions
“Quantico” is sleek and suspenseful. On its soapy surface, it’s a show about fighting terrorism while looking hot. Dig a little deeper, though, and the show teaches us something about lingering stereotypes, including those about American Jews and Israelis. Pop culture can influence viewers’ opinions and even spur social changes, for good or ill. For that … Continue reading
The Spooky New Face of Anti-Semitism
On Wednesday, Pope Francis waded into the ongoing discussion about anti-Semitism. He told a Jewish audience, “To attack Jews is anti-Semitism, but an outright attack on the State of Israel is also anti-Semitism.” What exactly is anti-Semitism? The term has been bandied about so often and in so many different contexts lately, we must consider whether … Continue reading
What Natalie Portman Gets Right And Wrong About Jews
Natalie Portman apparently thinks Jews spend too much time talking about the Holocaust and anti-Semitism. In an interview about her new movie with the British Independent, the Oscar-winner made provocative and newsworthy observations. However, they were also problematic for a variety of reasons. Portman’s most insightful comment is also her most incendiary: “‘I think a really big question … Continue reading
Does “Downton Abbey” Have a Jewish Problem?
Lady Rose seems to specialize in dating men who raise her family’s hackles. Men who represent the edge of polite society in some sense. Last season, it was a charming African-American jazz singer, and this week, it was Downton Abbey’s first Jewish character, Atticus Aldridge. Aldridge’s name sounds quintessentially British and not at all Jewish (being … Continue reading
Jewish Continuity Isn’t Sexist — It’s Necessary
Posted by melissa braunstein on July 26, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Is Jewish continuity inherently sexist? In some people’s minds, like the author of a recent op-ed in these pages, Jewish continuity is toxically identified with Jewish sociologist Steven M. Cohen. I’m neither judge nor jury, but if the #MeToo allegations against Cohen are true, and they may well be, the prominent sociologist should be held … Continue reading →
Filed under Clips, Cultural Commentary, Judaism, Parenthood · Tagged with American Jewry, Demographics, Family, Jewish Continuity, Jews