Quasi-Religious Parenting
Nearly a decade ago, long before I was the mother of four, I was a pregnant woman preparing for motherhood. Having learned about mission statements in a graduate school class, I thought my husband and I should have one for the massive parenting project we would shortly undertake. I can still picture us standing in … 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
Like Pepsi, Democrats Need To Reverse Course On Boycotting Israel
In the fall of 1983, shortly before my fifth birthday, I visited Israel for the first time. I vividly recall stopping at a roadside stand just shy of the Lebanese border. It was sunny, scorching even, and my little sister and I were parched. So our parents treated us to cold soda. We were enchanted … Continue reading
Columbia University To Vote On Divesting From Israel
In the heart of the nation’s most Jewish city, Jewish students who believe in Israel’s right to exist are being made mighty uncomfortable. And it’s not just at New York University, which is currently under federal investigation for antisemitism. Now, farther uptown at Columbia, the Columbia College Student Council (CCSC) has voted 25-12 to allow a campus-wide … Continue reading
Unlike House, U.S. Senate Unanimously Condemns Anti-Semitism
When you write about anti-Semitism, there’s typically not much good news to report; the world’s oldest hatred has been making a comeback not only overseas, but also here in the US of A. So, it’s both good and important to pause and celebrate the U.S. Senate unanimously passing a resolution that unequivocally condemns anti-Semitism. Where … Continue reading
Forum Reflects On Rising Concerns For Jews Across The World
What does it look like when our vulgar and polarized political era collides with one of American Jews’ oldest and most genteel organizations? Rather like the 2019 American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Forum. Last week, nearly 2,500 people representing the United States and 50 other nations gathered in Washington D.C. for the organization’s annual conference. … Continue reading
7 Passover Lessons I Learned From Twitter
Jews around the world spent this past weekend at our Passover Seders celebrating our march from slavery to freedom. Meanwhile, it appears the rest of the English-speaking Twitterverse has been busy commenting about the Festival of Freedom. From these tweets, this Jew learned several lessons. 1. ‘Star Wars’ Has a Jewish side Apparently, there are … Continue reading
Women’s March Partners Explain Why They’re Ignoring Allegations Of Anti-Semitism
Amidst the controversy over alleged anti-Semitism within the Women’s March leadership, the organization has seen numerous progressive allies — including Emily’s List, the Human Rights Campaign, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) — quietly uncouple. However, many partners remain and groups like Psychologists for Social Responsibility have added their names … Continue reading
Why This Passover Will be Different From All Other Passovers
Posted by melissa braunstein on April 13, 2020 · Leave a Comment
Every year at the Seders, Jews read the words of Rabban Gamliel, who instructed, “In every generation, a person must regard himself as though he personally had gone out of Egypt.” Envisioning oneself as a former Israelite slave witnessing the Ten Plagues and leaving Egypt as part of the Exodus has always been possible on … Continue reading →
Filed under Clips, Cultural Commentary, Judaism · Tagged with Coronavirus, Jewish, Jews, Passover, Seder, The Ten Plagues