for Thursday, January 9, 2025

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy Torah

Man vs. Prophecy? A New Look at the Classic Discussion of Predetermination in the Izhbitz School

Reuven Boshnack in Lehrhaus

Reuven Boshnack explores the complex interplay between free will and predetermination within the Izhbitz school, particularly through the lens of R. Shmuel Dov Asher Leiner's work, Neot Deshe.

Communities ›

0 Communities Ethics

Jewish community in Los Angeles unites amid devastating fires

Ayala Or-El in Jewish Insider

In response to devastating wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles, the Jewish community has shown remarkable unity and resilience.

0 Communities Food

At last, a long-awaited kosher supermarket opens on the Upper West Side

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA

After years of anticipation, the Upper West Side has welcomed a new kosher supermarket, Six60One, invigorating local Jewish communities with its expansive offerings.

0 Communities Ethics

I was hosting a shiva in LA — then the fires started

Rob Eshman in Forward

As wildfires ravage parts of California, the piece by Rob Eshman captures the devastation experienced by communities and individuals, emphasizing the emotional toll on those affected.

0 Communities History

‘Do you have the Torahs?’ Synagogue races LA wildfire to rescue its past and future

Benyamin Cohen in Forward

The devastating wildfires in Southern California have claimed the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, a pivotal community site with over a century of history.

0 Communities Gender/Identity

The nerves and rituals of a Charedi wedding night

Jewish Chronicle

In an intimate reflection, a Charedi woman from Manchester recounts her experiences leading up to and during her wedding night, shedding light on the rituals and personal challenges within her tightly-knit Orthodox community.

0 Communities Education

Remembering Joan Scheuer (1921-2024)

Nadine Epstein in Moment

Joan Gross Scheuer, who passed away at 103, was a cherished figure in Jewish educational and civic circles, as well as within Moment Magazine, where she served on the advisory board.

0 Communities Culture

Pasadena synagogue burns down as fires rage across Southern California

Philissa Cramer in JTA

The Pasadena Jewish Center and Temple, a historic synagogue with over a hundred years of presence in Pasadena, California, was destroyed by raging fires driven by strong winds.

0 Communities Holidays

At least one synagogue destroyed as unprecedented wildfires rip through Los Angeles

Louis Keene in Forward

Severe wildfires in Los Angeles have destroyed the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, a significant Conservative synagogue established in the 1920s, and threatened several other Jewish institutions including Kehillat Israel and Chabad of Pacific Palisades.

0 Communities History

Watersheds and Existential Threats

Carol Ann Schwartz in Hadassah

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari's recent visit to Hadassah Hospital in Israel underscores the enduring legacy and contemporary challenges faced by the Hadassah Medical Organization, especially during times of conflict.

Politics ›

0 Politics Antisemitism

Has the Canadian left lost the Jewish community for good?

Matthew Kassel in Jewish Insider

With Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing his resignation, Jewish community leaders express skepticism about the future prospects of the Liberal Party regarding key issues of antisemitism and Israel relations.

0 Politics Israel

Jewish expert on Egypt to join National Security Council as Middle East director

Philissa Cramer in Forward

Eric Trager, a Jewish Republican known for his expertise on Egypt and the Middle East, is poised to become President-elect Donald Trump’s senior director for the Middle East and North Africa on the National Security Council.

0 Politics Communities

Bedouin father taken hostage on Oct. 7 found dead in Gaza; evidence suggests son was also killed

Philissa Cramer in Forward

The body of Youssef Ziyadne, a Bedouin Muslim and father of 19 from the Israeli city of Rahat, was found in a Hamas tunnel in Gaza, having been taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

0 Politics Language

What critics miss when they accuse Israel of 'scholasticide' and 'domicide'

Aviya Kushner in Forward

The article by Aviya Kushner considers the growing usage of terms like "scholasticide" and "domicide" to critique Israel's military actions in Gaza, arguing that these terms echo the moral weight of genocide without substantive grounding in established dictionaries or historical context.

0 Politics Communities

Charedi protesters denounce new Schools Bill as ‘persecution’

Jewish Chronicle

Amid ongoing debates surrounding the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, around 200 members of the Charedi community gathered in Westminster to protest provisions requiring a register for children taught outside formal school environments.

0 Politics Israel

In One Israeli Cab, the Whole Catastrophe

Dan Perry in Moment

A late-night taxi ride from Jaffa to Tel Aviv becomes a microcosm of Israel's socio-political complexities for Dan Perry.

0 Politics Israel

As Iranian power recedes, Turkey and its Sunni allies are filling the vacuum

Jewish Chronicle

The Middle East landscape is shifting as Iran's influence wanes, largely due to strategic setbacks inflicted by Israel, resulting in a power vacuum increasingly being filled by Turkey and its Sunni allies.

0 Politics Israel

The IDF should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

Jewish Chronicle

The article argues that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) should be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize due to their role in combating and weakening terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

0 Politics Leadership

The Deep State Strikes Back!

Lee Smith in Tablet

The article discusses the complex dynamics between Donald Trump's prospective national security team and the existing U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), amidst concerns about Trump's agenda being undermined.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Scoop: Heritage Foundation plans to ‘identify and target’ Wikipedia editors

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, is reportedly planning a campaign to identify Wikipedia editors it accuses of promoting antisemitic and anti-Zionist content.

0 Politics Antisemitism

What the election of Pierre Poilievre would mean for Canadian Jews and Israel

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

Pierre Poilievre, poised to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada's Prime Minister, promises to be a staunch ally of Israel and the Jewish community.

Culture ›

0 Culture Antisemitism

The Worst Jewish Insult I Ever Heard

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Joshua Hoffman recounts a seemingly innocuous but deeply offensive comment he's heard: "You don't look Jewish."

0 Culture Food

The Thai vegan retreat where Israelis go to zen out

Jewish Chronicle

On Thailand's Koh Samui island, Kapuhala offers a unique sanctuary for Israelis and other global visitors seeking relaxation in a plant-based, nature-centric environment.

0 Culture History

What an obituary writer learned by saying goodbye to hundreds of people

Andrew Silow-Carroll in JTA

Jewish obituary writer Andrew Silow-Carroll reflects on his experiences editing the Jewish Life Stories newsletter, where obituaries served as a celebration of life rather than a fixation on death.

0 Culture Ethics

My tips for a healthy new you? No late noshes and a daily walk

Jewish Chronicle

After the indulgences of both secular New Year's Eve and the Hanukkah holiday, the author reflects on personal struggles with weight and the societal challenges of discussing obesity and health.

0 Culture Jewish Law

How a special Yiddish word and a phone company inspired Delia Ephron's new Broadway play

Samuel Eli Shepherd in Forward

Delia Ephron's Broadway play "Left on Tenth," inspired by an aggravating phone call with Verizon, explores her journey of rediscovering love and resilience after personal loss.

Music ›

0 Music Culture

For Late Jewish Musician Peter Yarrow, Being Jewish Gave Him a ‘Sense of Mission’

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Peter Yarrow, of the iconic folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, passed away in 2023 at age 86.

0 Music Culture

War Songs

Dana Kessler in Tablet

Israel's long history of conflict has given rise to numerous war-related songs that capture the emotions and atmosphere of each period.

0 Music Culture

Peter Yarrow sang the soundtrack to my Jewish childhood

Abigail Pogrebin in Forward

Reflecting on her unique connection with folk legend Peter Yarrow, Abigail Pogrebin shares personal memories tied to Yarrow's music, particularly the iconic Hanukkah song "Light One Candle," first tested at her family's Hanukkah party.

Art ›

0 Art Gender/Identity

This pioneering female artist's Jewish heritage is no longer a secret — but what about the rest of her life?

Olivia Haynie in Forward

Tamara de Lempicka, born Tamara Rosa Hurwitz, was a pioneering Art Deco artist whose life and work are explored in both a new documentary and a Broadway musical.

0 Art History

Visiting the artists’ village in the south of France where Chagall is buried

Jewish Chronicle

The artists' village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence in the south of France, a historical haven for creatives like Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso, continues to attract art lovers and celebrities alike.

0 Art Jewish Law

A Fabric Artist on Quilting Jewish Identity

Louise Silk in Hadassah

Louise Silk, a renowned quiltmaker from Pittsburgh, showcases her work at the Heinz History Center in an exhibition titled "A Patchwork Life."

0 Art Culture

A Fabric Artist on Quilting Jewish Content

Louise Silk in Hadassah

Louise Silk, a quiltmaker and fabric artist, reflects on her extensive career through a special exhibition at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Communities

Religious Fervor and Violence

Emes Ve-Emunah

The article discusses the issue of religious fervor leading to violence, particularly highlighting the situation in the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Israel.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Politics

The New Orleans attack is what ‘globalising the intifada’ means

Jewish Chronicle

In the aftermath of a terrorist attack in New Orleans by ISIS-inspired Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the conversation on terrorism and its global links, particularly concerning Jewish communities, has intensified.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Jews don't want to replace you!

Ben Koan in Future of Jewish

Ben Koan's essay delves into the concept of the "Great Replacement" theory, often used by white supremacists to target Jews unfairly.

Ethics ›

0 Ethics Communities

How to kick the gossip habit for 2025

Jewish Chronicle

The struggle against gossip, known in Jewish terms as lashon hara, gains a modern twist through a WhatsApp group founded by health coach Suzy Glaskie.

Holidays ›

0 Holidays Culture

‘Schindler’s List’ Is Now On Netflix, and I’ll Be Watching With My 10-Year-Old

Meredith Bodgas in Kveller

The article discusses the decision of a Jewish mother to watch "Schindler's List" with her 10-year-old son now that it is available on Netflix.

Education ›

0 Education Communities

My Solomon Schechter school embodied a bygone American, Zionist and New York Jewish dream

Gil Troy in JTA

Gil Troy reflects on the cultural and ideological transformation of his childhood Solomon Schechter Day School of Queens, which is transitioning to an Orthodox school named Queens Hebrew Academy.

0 Education Communities

Imagining tuition-free Jewish day schools

eJewishPhilanthropy

As the new year encourages reflection and aspirations for the future, the idea of tuition-free Jewish day schools emerges as a transformative possibility for the Jewish community.

History ›

0 History Politics

The Gates of Gaza

Daniel Greenfield in Future of Jewish

"The Gates of Gaza" by Daniel Greenfield examines the historical and ongoing conflicts between Israel and its neighbors, with a focus on the violent attacks by Islamic jihadists from Gaza.

Holocaust ›

0 Holocaust Literature

New and Noteworthy Holocaust Books

Sandee Brawarsky in Hadassah

Five recently published books offer diverse and profound insights into the Holocaust and its enduring impact.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Culture

Jewish Director Jeff Baena Made Movies that Were Dark and Divine

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Jeff Baena, a Jewish director known for blending dark themes with humor, passed away at 47.

JL;DR

for Thursday, January 9, 2025

Philosophy ›

Communities ›

Politics ›

Culture ›

Music ›

Art ›

Jewish Law ›

Antisemitism ›

Ethics ›

Holidays ›

Education ›

History ›

Holocaust ›

Television/Film ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

January 9's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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Philosophy ›

Communities ›

Politics ›

Culture ›

Music ›

Art ›

Jewish Law ›

Antisemitism ›

Ethics ›

Holidays ›

Education ›

History ›

Holocaust ›

Television/Film ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

January 9's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Thursday, January 9, 2025