JL;DR

Daily Podcasts Video Research

for Thursday, December 5, 2024

Communities ›

0 Communities Politics

UAE remains an enclave of peace and template for tolerance

Jewish Chronicle

The recent tragic murder of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan has shaken the Jewish community in the UAE but has not diminished the country's reputation as a haven of tolerance for Jews since the Abraham Accords in 2019.

0 Communities History

News Jews Can Use

Hana Raviyt Schank in Future of Jewish

Hana Raviyt Schank explores the enduring challenges of antisemitism and assimilation experienced by Jewish communities, both historically and in contemporary contexts, through the lens of her family's immigrant narrative.

0 Communities Leadership

From innovation to tradition: Rediscovering the power of the synagogue

eJewishPhilanthropy

Rabbi Jonathan Leener shares his transformative experience running the Prospect Heights Shul in Brooklyn, highlighting the timeless value of synagogues in Jewish life.

0 Communities Politics

Loved ones gather to memorialize American-Israeli soldier Omer Neutra

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA

Family and friends of Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli soldier killed in action over a year ago, gathered for a memorial service on Long Island.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Communities

American campuses are now even more toxic for Jews

Jewish Chronicle

In recent months, American university campuses have seen a rise in overt hostility towards Jewish students and institutions, particularly Hillel, a key organization for Jewish student life.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Jews and Israelis may face hiring discrimination in the U.S., study finds

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward

A study sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League reveals hiring discrimination against Jews, focusing on the response rates to job applications from candidates with Jewish, Israeli, and Anglo-American names.

0 Antisemitism Communities

Australia saw antisemitic incidents quadruple after Oct. 7, Jewish group reports

Shira Li Bartov in Forward

Antisemitic incidents in Australia have seen a dramatic increase, quadrupling to over 2,000 reports in the year following the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Politics ›

0 Politics Israel

The uprising in Syria is providing a convenient distraction for Bibi

Jewish Chronicle

Amidst the turmoil in Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategic focus on the conflict serves as a valuable distraction from domestic demands and criticisms of his handling of the conflicts involving Hezbollah and Hamas.

0 Politics Ethics

Amnesty International says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward

Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, situating a controversial human rights claim within the global discourse.

0 Politics Literature

Novelist Boualem Sansal Is Being Murdered by the Algerian Government

Liel Leibovitz in Tablet

The Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal, renowned for his candid critiques of Algerian and global issues, has been detained by the Algerian government on charges of endangering the nation.

0 Politics Communities

Who is Steven Donziger, the Jewish environmental lawyer who politicians want Biden to pardon next?

Samuel Eli Shepherd in Forward

Steven Donziger, a Jewish environmental lawyer known for his legal battle against Chevron over pollution in Ecuador, is being advocated for a presidential pardon by U.S. politicians at the end of Biden's term.

0 Politics Culture

Almost one month after Election Day, here’s what we know about how Jews voted

Ron Kampeas in JTA

The voting behavior of American Jews in the most recent election, occurring nearly a month ago, reflects an enduring but slightly weakened Democratic preference.

0 Politics Israel

Trump taps Abraham Accords negotiator as ambassador-level hostage envoy amid Gaza crisis

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Adam Boehler, a key figure in negotiating the Abraham Accords with Gulf states, as his special envoy for hostage affairs, which he plans to elevate to ambassador level.

0 Politics Culture

How changing daylight saving time may impact Jews

Benyamin Cohen in Forward

Benyamin Cohen explores the potential impacts on Jewish practices if the U.S. changes its daylight saving time observance.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Why I'm hopeful for Trump's second term — and my fellow American Jews shouldn't panic

Pini Dunner in Forward

Pini Dunner, an Orthodox rabbi, addresses American Jews' anxieties over Donald Trump's return to power in his second term as U.S. President.

0 Politics Israel

Christian Influences on Zionism

Emes Ve-Emunah

Yizhar Hess of the World Zionist Organization (WZO) expresses concern over religious Orthodox and right-wing political influences within his organization, fearing it could become overly Jewish in representation.

0 Politics Jewish Law

How Many Learners?

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism

Natan Slifkin tackles the complex issue of drafting charedi Jews into the Israeli army, highlighting both practical and ideological challenges.

0 Politics Israel

Opinion | Netanyahu vs. the “Deep State”

Eetta Prince-Gibson in Moment

Israeli politics are currently embroiled in two major controversies, overshadowing even significant international concerns.

0 Politics Israel

Allegations of Christian influence surface as World Zionist Congress election heats up

Asaf Elia-Shalev in JTA

As the World Zionist Congress election looms, allegations of Christian influence have stirred controversy.

0 Politics Communities

The Israeli flag is more popular than you’d think

Jewish Chronicle

In a personal narrative, the author reflects on unexpected support for Israel within the UK, exploring perceptions among different demographics toward the Israeli flag.

0 Politics Israel

Trump promised ‘all hell to pay’ if the hostages aren’t freed. What does that mean?

Ron Kampeas in Forward

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stern warning promising severe consequences if hostages held by Hamas are not released before he assumes office, leading to speculation about his true intentions.

0 Politics Education

The Re-Skilling of America

Michael Lind in Tablet

Michael Lind argues that America's workforce is miscredentialed due to an over-emphasis on four-year college degrees.

0 Politics Israel

The Democrats’ DSA dilemma in New York City

Matthew Kassel in Jewish Insider

In the New York City mayoral race, leading candidates are recalibrating their strategies post the striking performance of Donald Trump in the city.

0 Politics Culture

Readers help a ‘left-wing Zionist’ find their political tribe

Samuel Eli Shepherd in Forward

The Bintel Brief advice column in the Forward highlights the political isolation of leftist Zionists in progressive spaces, especially amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

0 Politics Antisemitism

New York awards record $63.9M in security funding for organizations at risk of hate crimes

Luke Tress in JTA

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced a historic $63.9 million in security funding for organizations vulnerable to hate crimes, focusing on enhancing physical and cybersecurity measures across 336 groups.

0 Politics Ethics

Zionism has Made Judaism a Hate Crime

guestpost in Jewschool

Eliana and Isaac Brooks Fishman argue that Zionism has intertwined with Judaism to the point where Jewish symbols and holidays are now implicated in the oppression of Palestinians.

Sports ›

0 Sports Culture

Pass the matzo: Brigham Young’s Jewish quarterback lands endorsement deal with Manischewitz

Louis Keene in Forward

Jake Retzlaff, the Jewish starting quarterback at Brigham Young University (BYU), has signed an endorsement deal with Manischewitz under the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness agreement.

0 Sports Culture

BYU’s star Jewish quarterback Jake Retzlaff scores sponsorship deal with Manischewitz

Jacob Gurvis in JTA

Jake Retzlaff, the Jewish starting quarterback for BYU, has secured a groundbreaking sponsorship deal with Manischewitz, marking the iconic kosher brand's first sports collaboration.

0 Sports Communities

Smashing Jewish table tennis back into shape

Andrew Sherwood in Jewish Chronicle

Maccabi GB Table Tennis, a significant player in the Jewish sports community with a storied past, is experiencing a revitalization.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Culture

What to Know About Jewish ‘Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ Star Meredith Marks

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Meredith Marks, a star of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, recently celebrated her bat mitzvah, an event featured in the show's fifth season.

0 Television/Film Culture

The Other Israel Film Festival, spotlighting ‘marginalized voices’ in the country, is back in NYC this year with a hopeful message

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA

The Other Israel Film Festival has returned to New York City's Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, focusing on the narratives of marginalized voices in Israel through the works of Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers.

0 Television/Film Culture

Disney’s New Spider-Man Hanukkah Episode Is an Ode to Latkes

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Marvel's Spidey and His Amazing Friends celebrates Hanukkah in the episode "Hanukkah Heist," as part of Disney Jr.'s holiday programming.

0 Television/Film Politics

In 'The Order,' Jude Law enters the heart of white nationalist darkness

PJ Grisar in Forward

"The Order," directed by Justin Kurzel, is a thriller that delves into the sinister world of white power groups inspired by the true story of the murder of radio host Alan Berg by a terrorist faction of the Aryan Nations in 1984.

0 Television/Film Culture

Jewish Life Stories: Jim Abrahams, the filmmaker who co-piloted ‘Airplane!’ into comedy history, dies at 80

Andrew Silow-Carroll in JTA

Jim Abrahams, renowned Jewish filmmaker and member of the comedy trio ZAZ, died at 80 in Santa Monica.

0 Television/Film Music

This Israeli Diva Voices Elphaba in the Hebrew ‘Wicked’

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Shiri Maimon, one of Israel's most renowned singers, takes on the challenging role of voicing the character Elphaba in the Hebrew dub of the musical film Wicked.

Leadership ›

0 Leadership Education

On Jewish Leadership

Sources

The latest issue of "Sources" explores the multifaceted aspects of Jewish leadership, prompted by reflections on Rabbi David Ellenson's impactful contributions during his tenure as President of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

0 Leadership Education

The Learning Leader: Orchestrating Organizational and Personal Change

B. Elka Abrahamson in Sources

B. Elka Abrahamson explores the dynamics of leadership in contemporary Jewish organizations, emphasizing the need for adaptive leaders to create transformative change through open communication and strategic partnerships.

0 Leadership Jewish Law

On These Things the World Stands: Leading with Religious Vision

Avi Killip in Sources

Avi Killip explores three models of Jewish leadership, drawing on personal experiences and religious teachings.

0 Leadership Politics

Doubt, Empathy, and Hope: Leadership for the Israel of Tomorrow

Sources

The article explores pivotal aspects of Israeli leadership amid current societal upheaval.

0 Leadership Communities

Jewish Communal Leadership: A Board Chair’s Perspective

Sources

This reflection by a former chair of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations explores the nuanced dynamics of Jewish communal leadership, specifically focusing on the necessity of building consensus.

0 Leadership Communities

Mission, Vision, and Jewish Philanthropic Leadership: A Conversation with Rachel Garbow Monroe and Paula B. Pretlow

Sources

The conversation with Rachel Garbow Monroe and Paula B. Pretlow of The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation explored their philanthropic vision and leadership dynamics.

0 Leadership Communities

Do Lay Leaders Actually Lead?

Sources

Lay leadership in Jewish organizations depends on the alignment of the organization's scope, community characteristics, and the leaders' skills.

0 Leadership Philosophy

Spiritual Leadership in Israel after October 7

Sources

Spiritual leadership in Israel after October 7 faces the challenge of reconciling hope and despair amidst trauma and political turmoil.

0 Leadership Culture

Picture This: Three Very Different Views of Jewish Social Justice Leadership

Sources

James Forman, known as McDew, was a distinguished civil rights activist and leader within the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), whose Jewish faith deeply influenced his approach to social justice.

Gender/Identity ›

0 Gender/Identity Leadership

Relational Rabbinics: Reframing the Role of Female Clergy

Sources

The article explores the evolving role of female clergy in Judaism, emphasizing the importance of relational rabbinics, where clergy combine deep community connections with traditional scholarship.

0 Gender/Identity Torah

How to Read the Torah from a Trans Perspective (Even If You Aren’t Transgender)

Sources

Rabbi Elliot Rose Kukla's book, "The Soul of the Stranger: Reading God and Torah from a Transgender Perspective," explores how transgender perspectives can illuminate new understandings of the Torah.

0 Gender/Identity Politics

Gender-Care Whistleblowers Go to Court. Plus. . .

Madeleine Kearns in The Free Press

The article delves into two significant cases surrounding gender-affirming care currently unfolding in U.S. courts.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Philosophy

Rereading the Story of the Oven of Akhnai: From Interpretive Rights to Interpretive Responsibilities

Sources

Rabbi Eliezer's passionate insistence on his interpretation in the Oven of Akhnai story unveils a deeper critique of rabbinic authority.

0 Jewish Law Gender/Identity

A Tale of Two Women: Standing at the Center of the Talmud

Sources

Exploring the role of women in the Talmud, this piece encourages readers to re-evaluate assumptions about female invisibility in ancient rabbinic texts.

0 Jewish Law History

The Quest for an Objective Halakhic Standard by which to Judge Artistic Expression: A Case Study from the Eighteenth-Century Synagogue Menorah

Yosie Levine in Lehrhaus

In the 18th century, members of a Jerusalem synagogue crafted a seven-branched candelabra, reminiscent of the Temple Menorah, prompting rabbinic disapproval due to a halakhic prohibition against replicating Temple items.

Literature ›

0 Literature Culture

Book Review | A Rebbe with a Fiddle and No Followers

Michael Krasny in Moment

Howard Langer's debut novel, "The Last Dekrepitzer," follows Rebbe Shmuel Meir Lichtbencher, the lone survivor of a fictional Hasidic sect destroyed in the Holocaust.

0 Literature Philosophy

‘The Triumph Of Life’: An Inspiring Response To Eternal Questions

Gary Rosenblatt in Between The Lines

Marking Jewish Book Month, Gary Rosenblatt highlights "The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism" by Rabbi Irving Yitz Greenberg.

Culture ›

0 Culture Politics

Bobby Kennedy helped shape my Jewish values, so I wrote a biopic. Cue the RFK Jr. wrecking ball.

Todd Ellis Kessler in Forward

Todd Ellis Kessler reflects on how Robert F. Kennedy Sr.'s legacy profoundly shaped his Jewish values and inspired his screenplay, "The Ascent of Bobby Kennedy."

0 Culture Holidays

A very Jewish, very New York gift guide for Hanukkah 2024

Lisa Keys in JTA

Hanukkah 2024 coincides with Christmas and New Year, providing a unique opportunity for festive combined celebrations.

0 Culture Jewish Law

‘If you’re grieving poetry has power beyond words’

Jewish Chronicle

Eve Grubin, an American-born poet based in London, explores the transformative power of poetry in navigating grief.

0 Culture Ethics

Playing Your Way To Happiness

Jewdicious

Amy Salman reflects on how adult play—a concept involving engaging in joyful and creative activities—can lead to greater happiness and well-being.

0 Culture History

Spain’s Sephardi sounds

Jewish Chronicle

The article delves into the rich Jewish history of Córdoba, Spain, highlighting the enduring Sephardic legacy.

0 Culture Antisemitism

A Jew’s Unexpected Journey Into the Gun Shop

Future of Jewish in Future of Jewish

Jeremy Garelick, a New York Jew recently relocated to a small town, reflects on unexpectedly visiting a gun shop after the events of October 7th, when Israel was attacked.

Food ›

0 Food Culture

Hottest teen-approved London foodie trips for December

Jewish Chronicle

December offers a range of festive outings in London geared towards teenagers, featuring various food delights and activities.

Education ›

0 Education Politics

VAT on private education ‘could force closure of strictly Orthodox schools’, fear leaders

Jewish Chronicle

The imposition of a 20% VAT on private education fees and other related tax changes in the UK could lead to the closure of many strictly Orthodox Jewish schools, warns groups like Chinuch UK and PaJeS.

0 Education Culture

Let’s Talk Schools: our new book shows where Jewish schools do work

Jewish Chronicle

Inspired by the British TV series Seven Up, Helena Miller and Alex Pomson's book "Jewish Lives and Jewish Education in the UK" presents findings from a longitudinal study tracking a cohort of students who entered UK Jewish secondary schools in 2011.

0 Education Culture

UHaifa International. Live your Israel experience.

UHaifa International in Forward

The University of Haifa, located on Mount Carmel, offers a vibrant and multicultural academic environment amidst Israel's dynamic cultural landscape.

Israel ›

0 Israel History

Why Jews Are So Obsessed With Israel

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Jewish affinity for Israel is not a mere political stance but deeply rooted in historical, religious, and existential ties.

0 Israel Politics

Israel looks to ‘shape deterrence regime’ in Lebanon after cease-fire

Lahav Harkov in Jewish Insider

Amid a delicate ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, Israel finds itself in a challenging position with Hezbollah, as it continues airstrikes against ceasefire violations to maintain deterrence.

0 Israel History

The Light We Shine

Carol Ann Schwartz in Hadassah

Carol Ann Schwartz reflects on the enduring challenges and triumphs of Israel, likening its struggles and resilience to the wisdom of David Ben-Gurion who balanced wartime exigencies with political resistance against the British White Paper of 1939.

History ›

0 History Holocaust

David Lehman in Tablet

David Lehman's article recounts his uncle Leo Liebe's journey as a Jewish refugee during WWII.