Rhode Island, United States

0 Communities History

Here’s how American Jewish orgs are marking 250 years of independence

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA · 27 Jun

As the United States marks its 250th year of independence, various American Jewish organizations are commemorating the country's founding, reflecting on the Jewish community's contributions to American democracy and civic life.

0 Communities History

Celebrating 250 Years of America: The Orthodox Jewish Experience

JA Staff in Jewish Action · 2 Jun

As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, the Orthodox Jewish experience uniquely highlights gratitude for the country's acceptance and the ensuing religious and cultural flourishing.

0 History Communities

Why American Jewish History Matters: The Orthodox Experience

Rabbi Dr. Zev Eleff in Jewish Action · 2 Jun

American Jewish history continues to be a pivotal field of study, especially for Orthodox Jews grappling with their place in American society.

0 History Jewish Law

Moses Seixas (1744–1809)—The Promise of Liberty

Dr. Jeanne Abrams in Jewish Action · 2 Jun

Moses Seixas played a pivotal role in advocating for religious liberty for Jews in the newly formed United States.

0 History Communities

Aaron Lopez (1731–1782)—Faith Before Fortune: Jewish Life in Colonial America

Saul Jay Singer in Jewish Action · 2 Jun

Aaron Lopez, a Portuguese Jewish émigré originally named Duarte Lopez, settled in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1752.

0 History Jewish Law

Rabbi Abraham Joseph Rice (1802–1862)—In Complete Isolation: The Struggle for Torah in America

Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff in Jewish Action · 2 Jun

Rabbi Abraham Joseph Rice, born in 1802 in Bavaria, was the first traditionally ordained rabbi to settle in the United States, arriving in 1840.

0 Politics History

An Israeli genocide scholar looks to Israel's history to understand 'what went wrong'

Robert Zaretsky in Forward · 6 May

In his new book "Israel: What Went Wrong?", historian Omer Bartov provides a critical examination of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reflecting on its deep historical roots and the tragic developments post-October 7, 2023.

0 Politics History

Reform Judaism helped craft the Voting Rights Act. Its evisceration gives Jews a new mission

Jonah Dov Pesner in Forward · 4 May

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision further weakening the Voting Rights Act (VRA), Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner emphasizes the historical and ongoing role of Reform Judaism in shaping and defending voting rights in America.

0 Art Holocaust

Stumbling across Jewish history in a vintage store

Mira Fox in Forward · 17 Apr

Mira Fox recounts discovering an engraving by obscure yet significant Jewish artist Abram Krol in a Providence vintage store.

0 Holocaust History

Crime Scene with a View

Benjamin Balint in Jewish Review of Books · 14 Apr

Benjamin Balint's article explores the historical and moral dichotomy of the Wannsee Conference villa, which once hosted Nazi officials planning the Final Solution, and later housed American soldiers, including the Ritchie Boys, a group of mostly Jewish refugees who became intelligence operatives during World War II.

0 Literature Philosophy

Ben Lerner’s tale of three hotels is a lyrical novel of loss and human potential

Dan Friedman in Forward · 7 Apr

Ben Lerner's latest novel, "Transcription," explores themes of loss, identity, and memory through a narrative about a writer returning to his alma mater, Brown University.

0 Literature Philosophy

Ben Lerner’s tale of three hotels is a lyrical novel of loss and human potential

Dan Friedman in Forward · 7 Apr

Ben Lerner's latest novel, "Transcription," explores themes of loss, identity, and memory through a narrative about a writer returning to his alma mater, Brown University.

0 History Holidays

Remembrances Of Slavery How Two Cultures Commemorate A Vital Part Of Their History

Steve Lipman in Lehrhaus · 30 Mar

In a reflection on the commemoration of slavery, Steve Lipman explores how Jewish Passover rituals and African American slavery museums both serve to remember and educate about past suffering.

0 History Communities

America’s oldest synagogue closed. Then an unlikely group tended its cemetery.

Austin Albanese in Forward · 29 Mar

The Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, is a revered landmark as the oldest surviving synagogue in the United States, dating back to 1763.

0 Art History

My Favorite Aunt Was A Bold Artist Ahead of Her Time

Guest Contributor in Lilith · 27 Mar

Anna Walinska, a trailblazing artist, left an indelible mark with her prolific body of work, yet struggled with recognition both during her life and posthumously.

0 Politics Communities

Protesting Too Much

Jesse Tisch in Jewish Review of Books · 27 Mar

Jesse Tisch explores the tensions and dynamics of the contemporary Jewish left at a conference in Boston, highlighting the generational and ideological divides over Zionism and Palestinian solidarity.

0 Communities Culture

The first and second Jewish mayors of Providence, Rhode Island, just had a shared bar mitzvah

Grace Gilson in JTA · 20 Mar

Providence, Rhode Island witnessed an unusual communal and personal celebration as sitting Mayor Brett Smiley and former Mayor David Cicilline participated in a shared adult bar mitzvah ceremony at Temple Beth-El.

0 Education Antisemitism

Report on declining Jewish enrollment at Harvard raises alarm and sparks debate

Haley Cohen in Jewish Insider · 20 Mar

Jewish enrollment at Harvard University has declined to its lowest level since the pre-World War II era, evoking concerns and debates about the role of admission policies and campus culture.

0 Culture Jewish Law

Could my love of oysters actually be kosher?

Mira Fox in Forward · 6 Mar

Exploring the intriguing question of whether oysters could be considered kosher, the article delves into the history of a Jewish debate sparked by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise.

0 Antisemitism Politics

A Blood Libel at Penn

Abraham Wyner in Tablet · 26 Feb

The article by Abraham Wyner examines a controversial event at the University of Pennsylvania focused on the genocide accusations against Israel.

0 Culture Language

Dreams for Living Jews

Sapir · 25 Feb

The article reflects on a conference attended by the Wampanoag Nation representatives seeking inspiration from the successful Hebrew language revival.

0 Antisemitism Ethics

The End of Jewish Apology Culture

Mitch Schneider in Future of Jewish · 17 Feb

Mitch Schneider's essay highlights the emergence of a new confident Jewish generation that no longer apologizes for its identity or beliefs.

0 Culture History

REVIEW: ‘Playmakers’

Curt Schleier in Hadassah · 9 Jan

Michael Kimmel's book "Playmakers: The Jewish Entrepreneurs Who Created the Toy Industry in America" explores the significant impact Jewish innovators had on shaping American childhood through toys and comics.

0 Education Antisemitism

America is teaching kids to hate Jews — and even itself.

Eric Buesing in Future of Jewish · 27 Dec 2025

Eric Buesing's essay explores the influence of foreign funding on American academic and educational institutions, particularly focusing on the negative perception of Israel and rising antisemitism in the U.S. Buesing argues that curriculum materials developed at esteemed universities, with significant financial contributions from Middle Eastern countries, subtly propagate narratives against Israel and Western civilization.

0 Culture History

It’s not just a myth that Jews head to Chinese restaurants on Christmas. It’s science.

Grace Gilson in Forward · 25 Dec 2025

Jewish-Americans have cultivated a unique and enduring tradition of dining at Chinese restaurants on Christmas, rooted in early 20th-century immigrant adaptations and the convenience of Chinese establishments being open when others were not.

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