Jordie Gerson
By Jordie Gerson
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Opinion This Sukkot, Ditch Your Etrog and Lulav in Favor of Apples and Maple Leaves
No Jewish holiday is more beloved among American and Israeli environmentalists than Sukkot. With its agricultural roots and its dictum to live close to the earth, Sukkot is the sine qua non of Jewish environmentalism. Camp out under the stars in what is essentially a lean-to, eat all your meals in it, invite friends over…
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Life Trump’s Misogyny Business As Usual For GOP
This morning, in the Washington Post, Carl Paladino was quoted as saying that Donald Trump’s leaked ‘gutter talk’ about women was something ‘all men do, at least all normal men.’” If this is true, we’re all in big trouble, because what Trump did in his conversation with Billy Bush (besides bragging about sexual assault) was…
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Life That Time Donald Trump Tried To Mansplain Hillary Clinton — and Lost the Debate Hands Down
Every woman who has ever been mansplained, condescended to or bullied by a louder, bigger, blustery man in a professional context was cringing last night, as Donald Trump, in the first presidential debate, interrupted Hillary Clinton 51 times. 25 of those times were in the first 26 minutes of the debate. (And then defended his…
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Life An Ode to Female Friendships, from Ruth to Donna Brazile
Female friendship is having a moment in the spotlight with two hot books: the recently published “Feminist Fight Club” and “Colored Girls,” a work in progress. “Colored Girls,” co-authored by Donna Brazile; Minyon Moore, powerhouse lawyer and Clinton operative; Leah Daughtry, director of the Democratic Convention’s podium operations; Yolanda Caraway, a public relations and affairs…
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Opinion 5 Reasons You Should Stop Kvetching and Go To Synagogue On Rosh Hashanah
Jay Michaelson published an opinion piece in these pages last week, titled “Why You Shouldn’t Go To Synagogue on Rosh Hashanah This Year.” It was kvetching — the good old-fashioned kind, with the good old-fashioned upshot of accomplishing nothing other than making a bunch of people (many of them congregational rabbis) really, really angry. When…
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Life Why Ivanka Trump’s Maternity Leave Plan Wouldn’t Help Us ‘Be Fruitful and Multiply’
The first commandment in the Torah is pru u’rvu, be fruitful and multiply. That is, have babies, lots of ‘em. According to Jewish law, it’s a mitzvah – an obligation. Which Ivanka Trump would seem to take seriously, already 3 kids in. The Torah – and Jewish tradition – was able to require this of…
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Life As a Jew, Ivanka Trump Is Supposed to Honor Her Father — Right?
One of the most well-known “thou shalts” in the Torah, and one that has best withstood the test of time, is one of the Ten Commandments: the one that says to honor your father and mother. Actually, you’re supposed to go even further – the concept moreh av v’em means you should stand in awe…
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Life What Would Maimonides Say About Sexting and Anthony Weiner’s Betrayal
Aggrieved political wives have a long, sad history in this country, and in Judaism. From King David to Bill Clinton, betrayed wives have, sadly, become part of the fabric of the entitlement that surrounds powerful men. And in Judaism, figures like King David’s conquests have been, in some quarters, celebrated as evidence of his virility….
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