
Blood Libels, Then and Now
Medieval antisemites believed awful things about Jews, and that gave them license to do awful things to Jews.
Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz is the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York.
Medieval antisemites believed awful things about Jews, and that gave them license to do awful things to Jews.
The idea of second chances is central to Judaism.
Names are a shorthand for who a person is, so when a literary work leaves a character anonymous, it demands our attention.
There are real lions in this world, and one must grapple with them or get eaten alive.
Yom Ha’atzmaut this year resembles the Omer offering; humble, unassuming, and seemingly unworthy of center stage.
History reminds us that we ignore antisemitism at our own risk.
So far, the American Jewish community has been exceptional in its support for Israel. But there is a long road ahead, and the question remains: will we continue with this support?
It is heroic to persevere with a broken heart, to look death right in the eye and still hold tight to one’s mission. But there is another interpretation of the Rashbam which complements this idea: the sanctity of life.