Tag: Judaism
450-plus Jews in entertainment industry condemn Glazer’s speech
More than 450 Jewish executives and Hollywood professionals have signed an open letter denouncing the speech film director Jonathan Glazer gave at the Academy Awards ceremony on March 10 when accepting his Oscar for...
Creating an environment where all Jewish people belong
“Getting in has gotten easier, fitting in has not.” These were the words on a poster I first saw more than a dozen years ago. Accompanying these words was a picture of a young...
It must be restated: Israel is central to Judaism and Jewish identity
Given the prevalence of misinformation on social media and the one-sided reports in news outlets, it’s not unreasonable for some people to think that Zionism—the belief that Jews have a right to self-determination in...
Judaism is not a state of mind
Writer Jennifer Cox recently published an article about her decision to raise her family Jewish despite the outpouring of antisemitism since Oct. 7. The piece outlines many of the choices she and her husband have made...
Thou shalt not?
Let’s begin with the old saying that reminds us: “It’s the Ten Commandments, not the Ten Suggestions.”
This is much more than a joke. In fact, it is the foundation of our moral behavior.
I understand...
Talking trees
I remember once teasing a friend whose birthday is on Tu B’Shevat, the New Year for Trees. I told him: “Make like a tree and grow up!”
Tu B’Shevat, literally the 15th of the Hebrew month...
Those who can keeping the day for those who can’t: Shabbat 4 Soldiers
When Sasha Litnaitzky-Drutz and David Drutz of Toronto held their first soup-to-nuts Shabbat on Dec. 22, the guest of honor was 6,000 miles away.
Now in their second year of marriage, the couple had been...
The secret of Jewish survival
We are the wandering Jews. Sometimes, I am also a wondering Jew. I wonder how we have survived as a people with the very same values and traditions that have been our legacy for...
Antisemitism at its deepest root
As antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed 500% in the past two months, it’s time to clarify the underlying cause of this malignant bigotry so it can be treated at is core. Rabbis, scholars, philosophers and...
The passion of oil
Chanukah, which is coming to an end this week, mainly celebrates the miracle of the oil. Yes, there were other miracles, too, especially the fall of “the mighty into the hands of the weak,...