Jewish Journal

What Are We Afraid Of?

If our fear of death has gone way down and our appreciation of life has gone way up, maybe we’ll be better equipped to conquer our other fears.

Tisha B'Av

News

Tufts SJP Revokes Impeachment Complaint Against Jewish Student

Aaron Bandler -

Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) revoked their impeachment complaint against Jewish student Max Price on February 26.

News

Protecting Voters’ Rights: A JDCA Call With Marc Elias

Ari Berman -

“Make no mistake, [these laws] are targeted ‘with surgical precision’ to disenfranchise Black voters.”

US Holocaust Memorial Museum Presents ‘2021 Western Region Virtual Event’ On March 11

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (Sponsored Article) -

Golden Globe nominated actress Emmy Rossum to emcee virtual event

News

An Amsterdam Museum Holds a Post-Holocaust Purim Relic

Cnaan Liphshiz, JTA -

When she was 10 years old, Nechama Mayer-Hirsch sat down to make puppets for a Purim spiel and crafted one of the man responsible for her father’s murder.

Pandemic Times
COVID19

Pandemic Purim Brings Home the Value of Humility

David Suissa - February 25, 20210

Editor's Note

Purim serves as a cautionary tale against the simplified narrative of one-dimensional victories.

Divisions Caused by the Coronavirus Magnified at Purim

Tara Kavaler, The Media Line - February 26, 20210

Israel

Israelis are more polarized than ever during a holiday about unity, but Purim provides ways to connect, rabbi says

UCSD Student Gov’t Passes IHRA

Aaron Bandler - February 26, 20210

The UC San Diego student government passed a resolution on February 24 endorsing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism. The resolution passed...

Community

Jonah Sanderson Successfully Navigates His Disability, Aims to Make Jewish Community More Inclusive

Erin Ben-Moche - February 26, 20210

“You don’t have to have a high school education to be part of the Jewish people.”

News

Whither Domestic Terrorism?

Jewish Journal Staff - February 26, 20210

A Jewish Federation call with Tracy Walder discussed the path forward.

California

Jesse Gabriel Provides Update on Ethnic Studies Curriculum

Aaron Bandler - February 25, 20210

California State Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat, provided the Jewish community with an update on the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC) during a February...

Rosner's Domain

Rosner’s Torah Talk: Parshat Tetzaveh with Avi Hoffman

Shmuel Rosner - February 25, 20210

This week’s Torah Portion- Parashat Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10) – continues giving us the instructions concerning the tabernacle, focusing on the role of the priesthood. Our...

Columnists

Editor's Note

David Suissa - February 24, 20210

Tiger Woods, A Car Crash and Our Pandemic Year

I saw in the accident a symbol of the horrific pandemic that has upended our lives in countless ways.

Columnists

Marcus J Freed - February 26, 20210

Satirical Semite: Protocols of the Medics of Zion

The BBC announced a “challenge trial,” where special volunteers in the United Kingdom will be infected with the virus after being injected with the vaccine.

Columnists

Dan Schnur - February 22, 20210

Is Biden Faking it on Iran to Attract Europe?

Biden is more interested in appearing to negotiate with Iran than in actually moving forward in any tangible way.

Commentary

Shmuel Rosner - February 23, 20210

Iran Negotiations: America’s Inherent Disadvantage

The United States cares about Iran — but not as much as Iran or Israel do.

Columnists

Tabby Refael - February 22, 20210

Beyond Hamantaschen: How Purim is Celebrated in Iran

Hamantaschen takes the spotlight in the West, but there’s so much more to Purim food traditions.

Commentary

Matthew Schultz - February 25, 20210

Unscrolled, Parashat Tetzaveh: The Emperor Has No Nose

We are being asked by the Torah to picture. This is no small thing.

Steven Spielberg Named 2021 Genesis Prize Laureate

Israel

Purim and The Risk of Isolation

Michael J. Koplow -

Jews’ embrace of Purim in the U.S. and Israel is very different.

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Commentary

Helping you make sense of a changing world

Commentary

Queen Esther Revisited

Alanna Apfel - February 26, 20210

I invite you to look within and thoughtfully consider the ways that we can be the creators of our own realities this coming year.

Commentary

Celebrating Purim in a Pandemic

Rabbanit Adena Berkowitz - February 26, 20210

Jews may be loyal citizens and well-entrenched in society, but can we ever let our guard down?

Columnists

Amos Oz: A Posthumous Tragedy

Rabbi Tal Sessler - February 25, 20210

It is a stunning real-life parable about the prospective darkness inherent in the human soul.

Judea Pearl

My Purim Rabbi’s Hat

Judea Pearl - February 25, 20210

In the past few years, I have come to see a profoundly personal meaning in the story of Purim.

Commentary

It’s Not Too Late to Protest California’s Flawed Ethnic Studies Curriculum

Micha Danzig - February 25, 20210

After three strikes against the Jewish people, it is time for us to get out of our seats and into the streets.

PodcastsDavid Suissa - February 26, 20210

Curious Times Episode 8: Fresh Takes on Hot Topics

Weekly roundup of interesting news and subjects, and creative words of wisdom on the weekly Torah portion. Enjoy the conversation. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen...

PodcastsErin Ben-Moche and Esther D. Kustanowitz - February 26, 20210

Exploring the Rise and Fall of Stan Lee with ‘True Believer’ Author Abraham Riesman

Everybody knows Stan Lee, but nobody knows Stan Lee— except people like critically-acclaimed writer Abraham Riesman, who has written a new book about the late...

PodcastsSalvador Litvak - October 27, 20200

Rabbi Reuven Wolf: Who Is The Jewish Messiah and When Is He Coming?

Rabbi Reuven Wolf of Maayon Yisroel Chassidic Center, takes us deep into Jewish mysticism as Sal and his rabbi explore some tough questions: Why...

PodcastsShmuel Rosner - February 27, 20210

Natan Slifkin: Rationalist Judaism

Shmuel Rosner and Natan Slifkin discuss his latest book, "Rationalism vs. Mysticism: Schisms in Traditional Jewish Thought." Natan Slifkin, popularly known as the "Zoo Rabbi",...

PodcastsJewish Journal - November 10, 20200

The Conservative meets the Democrat: Larry Greenfield and Hailey Soifer

Larry Greenfield is a Fellow at The Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship & Political Philosophy and a frequent columnist with The Jewish...

Rosner's DomainShmuel Rosner - February 18, 20210

Rosner’s Torah Talk: Parshat Terumah with Ben Freed

Ben Freed is a 5th (and final)-year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Before rabbinical school he lived and...

Book Review: The Story of Esther Meets the Story of America

Jonathan Kirsch - February 15, 2021

Book Review: ‘Sergeant Salinger’

Jonathan Kirsch - January 19, 2021

Book Review: ‘Sapiens: A Graphic History’

Jonathan Kirsch - January 1, 2021

JJ Bloggers

Fabulous in Feb 2021: Top 50 Female Influencer! Niver’s News

Lisa Ellen Niver -

A Moment in Time: Purim – Because One Voice CAN Make a Difference

Rabbi Zach Shapiro -

Facing Denial of War Crimes in California

Durdane Agayeva -

Aerosmith’s Joey Kramer on whether he was bar mitzvahed, his Feb. 17 Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp Masterclass & more

Darren Paltrowitz -

Tank Our Protector

Sara Hershkowitz -

Perry Farrell on doing “mitzvahs,” his new “The Glitz; The Glamour” box set, future plans & more

Darren Paltrowitz -

So You Got Your Vaccine, Now What?

Boaz Hepner -

Culture
Culture

Entertainment

Spirits and Scares in ‘The Vigil,’ a Horror Movie with a Hasidic Twist

Gerri Miller - February 26, 20210

We’ve seen plenty of Jewish horror movies, mostly having to do with the atrocities of the Holocaust. “The Vigil” has an element of that, too, but it’s mainly a...

Books