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Jewish Journal

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November 3, 2025

Surging Global Antisemitism Threaten to Drown Pope Leo XIV’s Embrace of Jews and Judaism in a Sea of Hate

Commentary, Opinion /

I was one of the Jewish leaders invited to the Vatican last week to witness Pope Leo XIV’s embrace of Nostra Aetate, first at a gathering of hundreds of faith leaders and the second at the pontiff’s weekly public appearance in St. Peter’s Square. Sitting near the podium I saw him declare to a 100,000 faithful:

“Sixty years ago, on 28 October 1965, Vatican Council II, with the promulgation of the Declaration Nostra Aetate, opened up a new horizon of encounter, respect and spiritual hospitality. This luminous Document teaches us to meet the followers of other religions not as outsiders, but as travelling companions on the path of truth; to honor differences affirming our common humanity; and to discern, in every sincere religious search, a reflection of the one divine Mystery that embraces all creation.

“In particular, it should not be forgotten that the first focus of Nostra Aetate was towards the Jewish world, which  Saint John XXIII intended to reestablish the original relationship. For the first time in the history of the Church, a doctrinal treatise on the Jewish roots of Christianity was to take shape, which on a biblical and theological level would represent a point of no return. A “bond … spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham’s stock. Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God’s saving design, the beginnings of her faith and her election are found already among the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets” (Nostra Aetate, 4). In this way, the Church, “mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of antisemitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone” (ibid.). Since then, all my predecessors have condemned antisemitism with clear words. And so I too confirm that the Church does not tolerate antisemitism and fights against it, on the basis of the Gospel itself.

“Nostra Aetate invites us to view every religion as a quest for truth and to see every sincere seeker of God as one who reflects his divine mystery.  Because our Christian faith has its roots in God’s plan of salvation, which began with his chosen people, the Church has a special love and reverence for the Jewish people …”

Pope Leo XIV’s dramatic embrace of Nostra Aetate on its 60th anniversary comes at a time of unprecedented surging antisemitism, should be welcomed by embattled Jewry. But antisemitic incidents this past week on both sides of the Atlantic, threaten to drown the Pope’s message of light in a sea of antisemitic darkness:

Apparently, a Catholic school in Hannover, Pennsylvania, didn’t get the memo. Students from St Joseph Catholic School included a replica of the infamous Auschwitz “Arbeit Mach Frei” gate as part of their float in the school’s parade. Despite a strong denunciation from the archdiocese, why did not one student or adult intervene to halt the mocking of the victims of Nazi Holocaust? 

Italy, home to the Holy See’s enclave, has witnessed a wave of recent violent anti-Israel protests that add to the drumbeat of 21st century blood libels falsely accusing the Jewish state of genocide, apartheid and mass starvation. At the entrance to the university in Napoli, is a declaration that echoes across Europe’s elite schools which stops every Jew in their tracks:

“Zionists not welcome.” 

Image by il_corvo.

Mussolini’s thugs would have been proud.

On Oct. 28, as the Pope spoke to religious leaders, Catholic University’s SGA Senate voted to send “Resolution 004: A Resolution to Advocate For A Ban on Clubs in Support of a Nation(s) Commissioning a Genocide” – meaning Israel, not Russia or China – back to committee.  

At the end of the Papal ceremony, I presented Pope Leo with an illuminated Book of King David’s Psalms (Tehillim).

 “We need your leadership to fight the continued surge of antisemitism here in Italy and around the world,” I said, adding, “we pray for your safety and good health.”

We need to add another prayer: A century ago, there was no Nostra Aetate. Jews were bereft of allies. We pray that today’s Catholics will follow Nostra Aetate and serve as friends and allies to help their Jewish neighbors in these perilous times. 

Rabbi Abraham Cooper is the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Global Advocate and former Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Surging Global Antisemitism Threaten to Drown Pope Leo XIV’s Embrace of Jews and Judaism in a Sea of Hate Read More »

“Unpacking Israeli History” Live Podcast Making a Stop in LA with Terrorism Expert Ronen Bergman

Community /

“Unpacking Israeli History,” a popular podcast from OpenDor Media that’s hosted by self-confessed history nerd Dr. Noam Weissman, is making the last stop on its 2025 roadshow at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 12. The live podcast will feature Weissman in conversation with renowned intelligence and terrorism expert Ronen Bergman, an Israeli investigative journalist, author of “Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations,” and a staff writer for The New York Times. Weissman and Bergman will be unpacking some of the biggest intelligence successes – and failures – in Israel’s history.

Ronen Bergman. Photos courtesy of OpenDor Media.

“Ronen Bergman is one of the world’s leading authorities on Israeli intelligence: a Pulitzer Prize winner, bestselling author, and an investigative journalist with an unparalleled network of sources inside Israel’s security establishment,” said Weissman. “His work has helped shape how people understand Israel’s moral, political, and strategic choices.”

OpenDor Media is a Jewish media organization that produces podcasts, videos, educational content, and social media, including the Unpacked website and Instagram, which explain Jewish and Israeli topics to a younger audience. This year, it took “Unpacking Israeli History,” its flagship podcast, on the road, creating live sold-out events in Chicago with Michael Oren and in New York with Dan Senor.

According to Weissman, who is also OpenDor Media’s senior vice president and head of content, the podcast helps listeners learn the Jewish story and history and understand what is going on beyond the headlines and polarization.

“We invite our audience to thoughtfully engage with the moments, ideas, and people that have shaped modern Israel and the Jewish experience,” he said. “If we can help people feel more connected, more curious, and more compassionate through that process, that’s the real win. And what we’ve found is that people find this approach quite refreshing.”

“We invite our audience to thoughtfully engage with the moments, ideas, and people that have shaped modern Israel and the Jewish experience.” – Noam Weissman

For Weissman, the tour stop in LA is a homecoming. He was formerly principal at Shalhevet High School, he earned his doctorate at USC, and he and his wife Raizie had their first three kids here.

“LA has played a big role in shaping who I am as an educator and storyteller. I always loved LA’s incredible blend of creativity, curiosity, and Jewish diversity. It’s a city that loves stories and embraces complexity, which is exactly what Unpacking Israeli History is about. After amazing sold-out shows in Chicago and New York, it felt only right to bring the live experience here, to a community that has meant so much to me personally and professionally.”

For those who listen to “Unpacking Israeli History” and attend the upcoming Sinai Temple event, Weissman aims to give them a more nuanced look at the important topics that impact the Jewish community.

“I hope people leave inspired to think more deeply about the dilemmas and decisions that have defined Israel’s story and, by extension, the Jewish story,” he said. “I don’t want people to just put Israel in a neat little box. We won’t shy away from difficult questions; we’ll explore them with honesty, respect, and curiosity. My hope is that people walk out not with simple answers, but with a richer understanding of what makes Israel’s history and its present so compelling and so worth being part of.”

Tickets for “Unpacking Israeli History” can be purchased at https://unpacked.bio/04c174. Use UIH20Social for a 20% off discount code.

“Unpacking Israeli History” Live Podcast Making a Stop in LA with Terrorism Expert Ronen Bergman Read More »

BRAVE-ish at AdWeek NYC: The Power of The Female Quotient Lounge

Blogs, Commentary, Travel /

BRAVE-ish at AdWeek: The Power of Community, Conversation, and The Female Quotient’s Book-SHE-lf

Lisa Niver, author of BRAVE-ish, Shelley Zalis, founder of The Female Quotient, Orlando Reece, Head of Global Sales, Insider Inc. Photos by NYC Party Booth

There are conferences — and then there are gatherings. Spaces where people don’t just show up to exchange business cards, but to connect, share, think, and imagine a better future together.

For me, AdWeek has always been one of those rare spaces — because of The Female Quotient.

Where It All Began: Shelley Zalis and a Different Kind of Room

The Female Quotient was founded by Shelley Zalis, a visionary force who saw something missing in corporate culture: not just seats for women at the table — but tables that women built themselves.

The movement began at CES, where Shelley invited women to walk the floor together — because walking alone can feel isolating, but walking together feels like power.

From that simple, bold act grew The FQ Lounge — a home base inside major global conferences — a sanctuary for women to gather:

A place to meet. A place to recharge. A place to be heard. A place to show up fully — without apology.

What started as women walking side by side has expanded into a global movement and a thriving community of leaders, creators, innovators, and changemakers.

The Book-SHE-lf: Celebrating Women’s Stories

One of my favorite elements of the Lounge is the Book-SHE-lf — a curated library of books written by women, displayed in a space built for conversation.

It’s more than a shelf. It’s a statement:

Women’s stories matter. Women’s voices matter. Women’s authorship matters.

In 2023, I was honored to have my memoir, BRAVE-ish, included — and to sign books and meet readers. It remains one of the most meaningful moments of my author journey.

In 2024, I was invited again — but I was deep in my book tour (airports, stages, interviews, suitcases with opinions). I promised myself: I’ll be back.

In 2025, I returned — and it meant even more.

Thank you to Christyl Lucille Murray for introducing me The Girl Scout Team. I loved being a Girl Scout!

Returning to the Lounge in 2025

For three days, I signed BRAVE-ish inside the Lounge — surrounded by:

women I admire, women I’ve learned from, and women I had just met but felt instantly connected to.

That familiar, powerful feeling returned: being in a space built for women, by women.

This year, I had the joy of reconnecting and connecting with:

  • Shelley Zalis, whose leadership continues to expand what community can mean
  • Orlando Reece, Business Insider
  • Holly Corbett, Forbes
  • Christyl Lucille Murray, Girl Scouts of the USA
  • Jennifer Baggett Brennan, co-author of The Lost Girls and journalist at The Washington Post

…and so many new friends, colleagues, and co-conspirators in courage.

I love spending time with the 2/3 of THE LOST GIRLS! Have you read it yet? It inspired me to write BRAVE-ish! Holly Corbett, Lisa Niver and Jennifer Baggett Brennan

Books Are Not Just Stories — They Are Bridges

When someone picked up BRAVE-ish, we didn’t just talk about the book. We talked about:

courage reinvention identity the beauty of starting again and how “small steps lead to BIG changes.”

I write those words in every book not because they sound nice — but because they are true.

A Space That Makes Room for All of Us

The Female Quotient Lounge isn’t just a lounge. It’s:

a gathering place a platform a listening room a launchpad a reminder that we belong here.

When women share stories and space, we don’t just change the conversation — we change the culture.

Gratitude

To Shelley — thank you for the vision and the invitation. To Erika and Paige — thank you for the warmth, coordination, support, and joy. To everyone who stopped by — thank you for trusting me with your stories. To The Female Quotient community — thank you for making the world feel wider, kinder, and more possible.

THANK YOU so much to the entire team at THE FEMALE QUOTIENT especially Paige and Erika!

Here’s to What Comes Next

More voices. More stories. More courage. More books on more shelves.

Here’s to all of us — finding our place, telling our stories, and being brave-ish together.

BRAVE-ish on the book-SHE-lf at The Female Quotient Lounge at AdWeek 2025

An honor to be back on the book-SHE-lf! AdWeek 2025

Signing my Memoir Brave-ish at AdWeek 2025 in The Female Quotient Lounge!

What an incredible honor to sign my memoir Brave-ish at AdWeek in The Female Quotient Lounge! Being part of the book-SHE-lf — surrounded by two dozen trailblazing female authors — was pure magic. I’ll never forget watching readers reach for my book, sharing stories, and smiling as I signed each one with my favorite reminder: “Small steps lead to BIG changes.”

Every conversation reminded me why I wrote Brave-ish — to inspire courage, connection, and the belief that every bold leap starts with one small step. Meeting fellow book lovers, celebrating women’s voices, and being part of this empowering community filled me with gratitude. Huge thanks to everyone who stopped by, took photos, and helped capture these unforgettable moments. And to @thefemalequotient and @adweek (powered by @juucecharging) — thank you for championing creativity, authenticity, and women who lift each other higher.

Three days. Countless conversations. So much heart.

I loved being back at AdWeek with The Female Quotient, signing Brave-ish in the Lounge and connecting with so many inspiring leaders, storytellers, creators, and changemakers. Some of my favorite moments were the people —standing shoulder-to-shoulder with women (and allies!) who are shaping culture, amplifying purpose, and lifting each other higher. It was such a joy to share this experience with:

Shelley Zalis, Founder of The Female Quotient

Orlando Reece, Business Insider

Holly Corbett, Forbes, Consciously Unbiased

Christyl Lucille Murray, Girl Scouts

Jennifer Baggett Brennan, The Lost Girls / Washington Post…and so many new friends I’m excited to continue building with.

Being part of the Book-SHE-lf again — surrounded by powerful women authors — felt like coming home. I’m still so moved every time someone chooses Brave-ish and shares what courage means to them. And a very special thank you to the entire TFQ team — especially Paige and Erika — for your kindness, coordination, warmth, sparkle, and support. You make everyone feel welcome and seen. I left feeling:grateful, supported, inspired and so incredibly honored. Thank you The Female Quotient and Advertisting week for making space for women’s stories, women’s leadership, and women’s voices. Here’s to courage, community, creativity… and being brave-ish together.

BRAVE-ish at The Female Quotient at AdWeek 2025

An incredible honor to be signing my book Brave-ish at AdWeek in The Female Quotient Lounge! Two years ago, I was here when the book had just been published — and now, after two years on tour and 10 awards later, it feels amazing to be back! So grateful to meet readers, connect with fellow book lovers, and see Brave-ish on the book-SHE-lf alongside so many inspiring authors.

Eli Golden at AdWeek 2025

My article about Brave-ish at AdWeek NYC 2023 on the Female Quotient Book”she”lf!

AdWeek NYC 2023 in the Female Quotient Equality Lounge

 

Yay!! My memoir on the bookSHElf at the Female Quotient Equality Lounge at Adweek NYC 2023!

VIDEOS FROM AdWeek 2023:

Read more about SHELLEY ZALIS and The Female Quotient

Thank you Shelley Zalis, The Female Quotient and Advertising Week!

BRAVE-ish at AdWeek NYC: The Power of The Female Quotient Lounge Read More »

Rabbis of LA | What Rabbi Cohen Learned From His Father-in-Law

Rabbis of LA /

Rabbi Elchonon Cohen of the Community Shul affectionately remembered the final time he walked his ailing, aging father-in-law to his brother-in-law’s Passaic, N.J. synagogue at the end of the Simchat Torah holiday. Eighty and in marginal health for decades, Harry Pascal, an economics professor, was trying to reach his son’s shul, which was some distance away. Exhausted, he needed to stop regularly. After several pauses, Prof. Pascal – called “Daddy” by Rabbi Cohen – puffed, “I can’t make it.” They detoured to a nearby minyan. 

Five years ago, during the pandemic, the rabbi wed Miriam, Prof. Pascal’s last unmarried child. Looking back, he noted many similarities between father and daughter. “Miriam and her father shared a deep, intellectual search type of personality,” Rabbi Cohen said. “Both have this drilling deep tendency. When she gets into something, she goes very deeply into it. She has a fascination with serial killers. She has encyclopedic knowledge of different people and their stories.”

They also shared a sense of humor. And a love of the kitchen. “Neither of her parents had training in the culinary arts, nor did my wife. She picked it up on her own, another example of her digging deeply into a topic. He was very passionate about getting things just right in the kitchen. She is, too. Very much so.” Even as Prof. Pascal was nearing his final innings, “there was a feeling in the back of [Rebbetzin Cohen’s]mind that her father would rally.”

After marrying, the Cohens relocated to Lakewood, near her large family, and they stayed until last May. That was when The Community Shul, where he grew up and which his father, Rabbi Moshe, led for decades, invited him to return. In spite of the ongoing health drama, “there was a certain shock” when the call came. All were confident he would rally.

Over the last several weeks of Prof. Pascal’s life, the rabbi and rebbetzin had frequent discussions. Since he was an economics professor, Miriam Cohen would say, “With everything that is going on economically, I wish I could discuss this with Daddy. He could explain it to me.”

The rabbi reflected on a “fascinating idea” from the Talmud. “Normally it takes 12 months for the person who has passed to be forgotten.  But with all the talk these days about tariffs, the memory of her father keeps coming up all the time.” “Daddy” had numerous idiosyncrasies. One frequently invoked phrase was “the pitter-patter of little feet.” He also hated misuse of the word “literally,” especially the frequency with which it is invoked. He would harp on it, his relatives recalled. 

Not long ago, the Cohens made a post-fire visit to Malibu Pier. A bird was making funny noises. “My wife was kind of making bird noises back to it,” the rabbi reflected.  “Jokingly, she said to the bird ‘I want to see if we speak the same dialect.’

This brought to mind the punch line of one of the professor’s jokes about the Japanese during World War II – “Oh, Yankee, you’re surprised I speak your language,” which he would say with an exaggerated Japanese accent. While she and the bird were talking, I said ‘Oh, Yankee, you’re surprised I speak your language!’”

“Unique” is a characterization that pops up frequently when Rabbi Cohen describes Daddy and daughter. “There was a unique relationship between my wife and her father because there was a very similar sense of humor, which is dry, intellectual,” he said. “They shared many unique interests. My father-in-law was a unique person. He had almost a doctorate in medieval French, and he picked things up from all sorts of places. He had a love of different cultures. He was passionately into the Japanese. He had jokes about ribbing the Japanese during World War II. “

He was especially impressed by Japan’s manufacturing and by the products they made  — a passion father and daughter shared: “My wife, who cooks a lot, has a passion for kitchen knives. The Japanese produce beautiful, very high quality and sometimes expensive kitchen knives. After we married, my father-in-law bought for my wife a high-quality kitchen knife from Japan. Anything he delved into, he went in deeply (like my wife). He was emailing with the manufacturer different kinds of steels for the knives. He was a fascinating person.”

How the Cohens met is not in doubt, but the exact date is. Rabbi Cohen’s sister-in-law – one of many Miriams in both families – thought they were an ideal match. Both Miriams went to high school in Monsey.  When Miriam’s daughter wanted to make a blueberry dish, she looked up the recipe on the rebbetzin’s blog. (She writes kosher cookbooks, too, as Miriam [Pasca] Cohen via ArtScroll.)  It occurred to her that her friend would be an ideal match for her brother-in-law.

There is a difference of opinion when their first virtual date was; it took place on the evening of Jan. 31 in Los Angeles, after midnight on the East Coast, or Feb. 1.  “Both of us had busy lives,” Rabbi Cohen said, “so we couldn’t travel to the other side of the country just to meet someone. It made more sense to start with a virtual encounter.”

There was, however, no disagreement over how the Cohens should respond to the Community Shul offer.  “She pushed very hard for us to come here,” the rabbi said, even though they had lived in Lakewood for 10 years. “Miriam did social media marketing, working with mostly kosher food companies, and her cookbooks. We had been visiting regularly, and she kind of fell in love with the community. She liked me in the community. She felt I was actualizing my potential more here.”

Fast Takes with Rabbi Cohen

Jewish Journal: What is your next goal?

Rabbi Cohen: We have been here for a year, and there is a lot more I would like to accomplish.

JJ: Your favorite childhood memory?

RC: My father had gone to Las Vegas to officiate at a wedding. On the way home, in mid-winter, the Grapevine was closed by snow, and he was stuck in his car. When he got home, he still was wearing his winter coat, and his skin still felt cold.  I ran and jumped into his arms.

JJ: Your favorite moment of the week?

RC:  We try to set a Date Night each week and do something together, whether going out to dinner, cooking together (I enjoy cooking, too) at home or just sitting on the couch together.

Rabbis of LA | What Rabbi Cohen Learned From His Father-in-Law Read More »

LA Jewish Symphony Concert, JFSLA Community Impact Network, Ziegler at Sharaka Luncheon

Movers & Shakers /

The Ebell of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS), under the direction of Founding Artistic Director and Conductor Noreen Green, performed “East Meets West: A World of Jewish Music” on Oct. 12 to an enthusiastic full house. The opening event of The Ebell’s “LA Voices Free Concert Series” for the 2025-26 performance season, this multicultural concert celebrated the joy of being Jewish through the power of music and dance.

In partnership with Recovered Voices, a Colburn School initiative highlighting composers whose lives were tragically cut short by the Nazi regime, and the Keshet Chaim Dance Ensemble, renowned for its fusion of contemporary dance and Jewish culture, the LAJS provided a dynamic musical and visual storytelling experience.

“Partnering with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony to present Chloe Pourmorady and these extraordinary artists is exactly what our LA Voices Free Concert Series is about,” The Bell of LA CEO Stacy Brightman said. “We’re committed to working with extraordinary organizations throughout Los Angeles to provide a stage for powerful performances like these, that bridge traditions, celebrate heritage, and remind us of the beauty we create when we come together as a community.”

Featured artists included Pourmorady, a Persian American vocalist and composer; Adam Millstein, a violinist who served as guest concertmaster; Keshet Chaim Dance Ensemble, which, under the direction of Eytan Avisar, brought stories to life through dynamic choreography; and Samuel Glicklich, an emerging piano virtuoso who performed “Piano Concertino” by Holocaust survivor Władysław Szpilman.

Representatives from L.A. City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky’s office were in attendance. The performers received a standing ovation in the 1,300-seat public space. 

Young adult participants of JFSLA’s inaugural Community Impact Meeting. Courtesy of Jewish Family Service LA

This month, Jewish Family Service LA (JFSLA) held its inaugural Community Impact Network meeting, a new leadership program empowering young adults to create social change through hands-on experience in social services, advocacy and community engagement.

Over 10 months, participants will learn from nonprofit and policy leaders, plan community initiatives like JFSLA’s Tools for School drive and Young Leaders Chanukah event and take part in the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California lobbying summit in Sacramento. The program aims to inspire the next generation of leaders to transform Los Angeles for the better and create lasting change.

JFLSA is a leading Jewish social services agency in Los Angeles. It’s focused on food services, domestic violence, aging, mental health, children and families as well as special needs life skills.

Attendees of a recent luncheon organized by Sinai Temple included (from left) AJU Ziegler Student Moe Howard; Rabbi Nicholas Losorelli; Sharaka US Affairs Manager Rachel Brynien; Rabbi Cheryl Peretz; Sinai Rabbi Erez Sherman; Sharaka Morocco Director Youssef Elazhari; Sharaka Gulf Affairs Director Fatema Alharbi; Rabbi Bradley Artson; Sharaka Board Member Maryam Younnes; AJU Ziegler Student Aviva Frank; and AJU Ziegler Student Shawn Weiss. Courtesy of American Jewish University

Sinai Temple’s Flesh Family Israel Center recently convened a special lunch-and-learn at the American Jewish University Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies’ Beit Midrash, with Sharaka (“Partnership”), a non-governmental organization bringing young leaders from Israel and across the Arab world together to foster dialogue, understanding and lasting connections in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.

AJU Ziegler students and faculty heard directly from Sharaka representatives about how grassroots connections can transform politics, culture, and peacebuilding and engaged in a thoughtful and meaningful dialogue. The luncheon occurred during a Southern California speaking tour featuring top leadership from Sharaka.

LA Jewish Symphony Concert, JFSLA Community Impact Network, Ziegler at Sharaka Luncheon Read More »