Rabbi Jonathan Leener is a co-founder of Base Hillel, a new initiative in Jewish engagement, and rabbi of its Brooklyn site.
Opinion When Should Religious Leaders Get Political From the Pulpit? One of the best debates I remember having in rabbinical school was whether a rabbi should speak about politics from the pulpit. In theory it makes sense why a rabbi would try to avoid doing so as God is neither a Republican or a Democrat. The rabbi not only runs the risk of potentially alienating… By Jonathan Leener Jan 25, 2017 | 3 min read
Opinion The Iran war ended terribly for the US, and even worse for Israel By Dan Perry Jun 15, 2026 | 4 min read
Film & TV In ‘Disclosure Day,’ Steven Spielberg finds himself at odds with Jewish thought about aliens By PJ Grisar Jun 15, 2026 | 5 min read
Opinion Cultural boycotts of Israel just reached peak absurdity By A.J. Goldmann Jun 13, 2026 | 5 min read
News New Jewish-Arab political party debuts in Israel, aiming to topple Netanyahu By Rachel Fink Jun 16, 2026 | 5 min read
Fast Forward Mamdani calls AIPAC ‘monsters’ in rally ahead of NY primaries By Kelly Hartog Jun 19, 2026 | 2 min read
Fast Forward Jewish groups push back against Trump’s Iran deal — but more quietly so far than in 2015 By Andrew Lapin Jun 19, 2026 | 5 min read
News Who is Gadi Eisenkot, the Israeli politician who could dethrone Netanyahu? By Simone Saidmehr Jun 19, 2026 | 4 min read
Culture My father was my hero and, when he was dying, I wrote this song for him By Peter Himmelman Jun 19, 2026 | 6 min read