for Friday, September 19, 2025

Torah ›

0 Torah Philosophy

Rabbi Aviva Richman of the Hadar Institute reflects on why the Talmud remains the foundation of her faith, especially as we approach the introspective period of Rosh Hashanah.

Education ›

0 Education Communities

Planting seeds of renewal: Philanthropy’s role in rebuilding early childhood education in Israel

eJewishPhilanthropy

In the aftermath of the devastation in Israel's Gaza Envelope post-October 7, 2023, a transformative initiative focusing on early childhood education is underway, led by organizations such as SASA Setton, Alumot Or, and the Center for Jewish Impact.

0 Education Culture

A new documentary shows what it looks like when Hasidic education fails

Jon Kalish in Forward

The new documentary, "Unorthodox Education," examines the contentious issue of secular education in New York's yeshivas, particularly those serving Haredi communities.

0 Education Culture

TRL: Totally Reimagined Learning. How an MTV alum is remixing the Jewish day school experience

Peter Ephross in JTA

Oren Kaunfer, a former MTV employee, has brought a unique approach to Jewish education at the Jewish Community Day School near Boston.

0 Education Holidays

Families need more accessible ways to find meaning in Jewish holidays

eJewishPhilanthropy

PJ Library is taking significant steps to make Jewish holidays more accessible to North American families, particularly those who might feel daunted by traditional practices.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy History

The Beauty of Rupture

Joseph Feit in Tablet

Exploring the concept of rupture, both in Jewish mysticism and modern physics, the article highlights how fragmentation and subsequent restoration form a fundamental pattern across Jewish history and thought.

0 Philosophy Politics

One Tribe

Jewdicious

Judaism is characterized by embracing and living within paradoxes, as Sarah Tuttle-Singer explores in her reflection on Jewish identity and values.

0 Philosophy Torah

A Parable of Barriers

Akiva Weisinger in Lehrhaus

The tale by Akiva Weisinger retells a Hasidic parable by the Baal Shem Tov, exploring themes of illusion and divine presence, particularly during Rosh Hashanah.

Communities ›

0 Communities Israel

Working with youth gives me hope

eJewishPhilanthropy

Adina H. Frydman of Young Judaea Global reflects on the invigorating impact of engaging with youth, particularly in Zionist contexts.

0 Communities Leadership

For Jewish communal professionals, internal rifts pose the greatest barrier to hope, survey finds

Grace Gilson in JTA

A new survey of nearly 950 Jewish communal professionals reveals deep-seated internal divisions as the primary source of hopelessness, surpassing concerns of antisemitism and external political tensions.

0 Communities Leadership

A High Holiday helpline for rabbis is flooded with millennial calls

Benyamin Cohen in Forward

The Elul Helpline, created by Jewish nonprofit Atra, is increasingly utilized by younger rabbis facing intense challenges leading up to the High Holidays.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Politics

The Jewish debate has lost its mind.

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

The article by Joshua Hoffman critiques the global discourse surrounding Israel and antisemitism, highlighting instances where traditional antisemitic tropes are repackaged as legitimate criticism.

0 Antisemitism Politics

University leaders among 100+ signatories to Jewish letter decrying Trump’s campus antisemitism wars

Andrew Lapin in JTA

An open letter from over 100 Jewish signatories, including academics, activists, and writers, criticizes former President Donald Trump's efforts to combat campus antisemitism, which they argue are disingenuous and target pro-Palestinian student activists.

0 Antisemitism Communities

The questions the American Jewish community must ask in the face of rampant antisemitism

eJewishPhilanthropy

In the face of increasing antisemitism, as highlighted by recent statistics of anti-Jewish incidents in the U.S., the American Jewish community is urged to reconsider its approach and focus on collaborative strategies.

Politics ›

0 Politics Israel

Yair Golan: On this Rosh Hashanah, Israel’s reckless government needs to hear the voices of Diaspora Jews

Yair Golan in Forward

Yair Golan, leader of the Israeli Democrats party, calls for Diaspora Jews to actively support Israel's democracy against its current government, which he views as extreme and divisive.

0 Politics Israel

Why does Andrew Cuomo have to keep clarifying his position on Israel and Gaza?

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

Andrew Cuomo, running for New York City mayor, continues to clarify his stance on Israel and Gaza amidst shifting political dynamics.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Mike Lawler, Josh Gottheimer slam Mamdani for vowing to drop IHRA definition of antisemitism

JTA

In a heated debate over the definition of antisemitism, New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler and New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer critiqued Mayoral candidate Mamdani's vow to reject the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition, which he argues conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism.

0 Politics Communities

Deploying the National Guard - The Rabbi's View

Emes Ve-Emunah

The piece explores the contentious issue of deploying the National Guard in major U.S. cities like Chicago and Memphis to curb crime, drawing parallels to previous actions in Washington, D.C. The author supports the deployment as a means of enhancing security, noting substantial declines in crime in D.C. following federal intervention.

0 Politics Israel

Venom against the Gedolim?

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism

Natan Slifkin reflects on a controversial quip he made comparing the situation of Gedolim visiting England to the sting of a bullet ant.

0 Politics Education

As Jimmy Kimmel is pulled off air, ‘this is so much worse than McCarthyism’

Nora Berman in Forward

In light of the recent backlash against Jimmy Kimmel's comments following Charlie Kirk's assassination, a new wave of censorship and academic repression reminiscent of the McCarthy era has emerged.

0 Politics Israel

Can Zohran Mamdani divest NYC from Israel? His likely comptroller, Mark Levine, dismisses the concern.

Joseph Strauss in JTA

Zohran Mamdani, a supporter of the BDS movement, is leading the race for NYC mayor, sparking concerns about potential divestment from Israel.

0 Politics Communities

‘I voted for you because Jews are good with money’: Mark Levine on running for comptroller

Joseph Strauss in JTA

Mark Levine, a veteran Jewish politician, is likely to become New York City's next comptroller, having won the Democratic primary.

0 Politics Israel

‘It is genocide,’ Bernie Sanders says about Gaza, becoming the first US senator to do so

Philissa Cramer in JTA

Senator Bernie Sanders has become the first U.S. senator to label Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide, a term previously used only by certain progressive and conservative members of Congress.

0 Politics Antisemitism

New York Jewish leaders reckon with a potential Mamdani win

Matthew Kassel in Jewish Insider

New York Jewish leaders are expressing apprehension over the potential mayoralty of Zohran Mamdani, given his staunch anti-Israel stance.

0 Politics Israel

The Brutal Logic of Israel’s Offensive in Gaza City

Andrew Fox in Future of Jewish

Andrew Fox, a former British Army officer, outlines the military strategy behind the Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) urban offensive in Gaza City.

Culture ›

0 Culture Politics

‘No place for Zionism’: Why some vegans are starting beef with Israeli chefs

Hannah Feuer in Forward

Israeli-born chef Guy Vaknin is facing backlash from parts of the vegan community for not condemning Israel, highlighting a growing intersection of politics and the vegan movement.

0 Culture Politics

They fled from Gaza to Egypt — will they ever find their way back home?

Olivia Haynie in Forward

The film "Who Is Still Alive," directed by Nicolas Wadimoff, explores the poignant stories of nine Palestinians who fled Gaza for Egypt and are now in South Africa, yearning for their homeland.

Sports ›

0 Sports Communities

She’s an Ultra (Orthodox) Marathoner

Guest Contributor in Lilith

Beatie Deutsch, an ultra-Orthodox mother and elite marathon runner, defies stereotypes by embracing athletics while maintaining her religious values.

Music ›

0 Music History

How the descendant of a notorious Jewish pirate became a swashbuckling rock ’n’ roll legend

Dan Epstein in Forward

Phil Manzanera, renowned guitarist of Roxy Music, discovered a surprising familial connection while writing his memoir "Revolucin to Roxy"—he is a descendant of Moses Cohen Henriques, a 17th-century Jewish pirate.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Culture

Lisa Edelstein on Playing a ‘Stereotypical’ Jewish Mom in Netflix’s ‘Long Story Short’

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Lisa Edelstein, known for her roles in 'House' and 'The Kominsky Method,' explores the role of Naomi Schwartz in the animated Netflix series "Long Story Short," a production by Jewish creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg.

Literature ›

0 Literature Culture

The Lady Rancher and the Grad Student

Dorit Rabinyan in Tablet

Dorit Rabinyan’s story follows Joe, a grad student who inherits a collection of stamps, coins, and other items from a distant uncle in Israel.

JL;DR

for Friday, September 19, 2025

Torah ›

Education ›

Philosophy ›

Communities ›

Antisemitism ›

Politics ›

Culture ›

Sports ›

Music ›

Television/Film ›

Literature ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

September 19's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

navigate_before navigate_next for Friday, September 19, 2025

Torah ›

Education ›

Philosophy ›

Communities ›

Antisemitism ›

Politics ›

Culture ›

Sports ›

Music ›

Television/Film ›

Literature ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

September 19's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Friday, September 19, 2025