When she set out to write the first comprehensive Jewish travel guidebook on the countries of the former Eastern bloc, Ruth Ellen Gruber might as well have been documenting the secret life of a New Guinea tribe of cannibals.
Stephen Prothero, author of the new book \”Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know-And Doesn\’t\” and chair of the religion department at Boston University showed up on \”The Daily Show\” recently, hawking the fact that his book contains a quiz to test the reader\’s \”religious literacy.\” Which raises the questions: Can a 15-question quiz test religious literacy?
For all those sacred moments, memories and hopes, may we continue to remember God\’s precious blessings, first conveyed by the priests, then by rabbis, loving parents and many others who all feel privileged to bestow these hopes and promises upon a world that needs them now more than ever.
News briefs.
The Democratic presidential candidates\’ attitude toward Israel is undergoing the same sort of word-by-word examination that was such an important feature of the 2004 campaign.
Almost 25 years ago, I read a one-line description of Jewish leadership that has haunted me ever since. The author, whose name I have repressed, wrote: \”Only a confirmed anti-Semite could believe that the Jewish people have the leadership they deserve.\” I protested his statement then, but I am not sure I can disagree now.
What I did not expect was to get a phone call from one of the city\’s illustrious Orthodox rabbis defending the magical, mystical, community-building power of … the cheesecake.
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