Roberta Rosenthal Kwall is the Raymond P. Niro Professor at DePaul University College of Law. She is the author of “Polarized: Why American Jews Are Divided and What to do About It” (forthcoming Bloomsbury Press, 2026), “Remix Judaism: Transmitting Tradition in a Diverse World” (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020), “The Myth of the Cultural Jew” (Oxford University Press, 2015) and “The Soul of Creativity” (Stanford University Press, 2010).
With toxic polarization infecting the national discourse, the new year presents a timely opportunity to improve the quality of our conversations, especially when communicating with people with whom we disagree.
“My Unorthodox Life” may be just entertainment for many viewers, but its skewed representation undermines the achievements of many Orthodox women and creates negative perceptions that hurt not only the Orthodox but also all Jews.
During the earliest weeks of lockdown, I felt as though everyone I knew was sitting shiva together.
Religious-based activities not only help preserve distinct cultural-religious traditions but also has been shown to afford important personal benefits to individuals and families.
