Mira Fox is a reporter at the Forward. Get in touch at [email protected] or on Twitter @miraefox.
Mira FoxStaff Writer
By Mira Fox
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Culture This frum vet travels the world, treating elephants and jaguars — and still keeps kosher
Dr. Gabby Zonenshine — aka Gabby Wild — is what kids dream of when they say they want to grow up to be veterinarians — she is a wildlife vet, who travels the world to treat animals in the field, including jaguars, toucans and more. Her new book “Wild Vet Adventures,” published by National Geographic…
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Culture The CPAC stage was shaped like the Othala rune…which is what?
At the just-wrapped Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, headlining speaker Donald Trump made an inflammatory speech from a strange, zig-zagging stage. The speech, of course, drew attention, but it featured largely the kind of content we have grown to expect from the former president. The stage itself, however, drew anger for its shape —…
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News On the scene: Photos from a pandemic Purim in Brooklyn
A ninja in moon boots. Rectangular brothers, a Rubix cube and washing machine. Many a princess. A few questionable Native American costumes, complete with feather headdress and brownface paint. Purim fell on a warm and sunny day in New York City, after weeks of snow, and the kids were out in force in the Haredi…
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Culture TikTok didn’t know Jews of color existed. This frum Black Jew is teaching them.
I met Tony Westbrookin Jerusalem, in 2016, when we both studied at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. Tony was a large presence in the program; he was known for hosting beautiful, multi-course Shabbat meals and making soup to deliver to anyone in the program who got sick. Today, Tony is the Assistant Director of…
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Culture Why Hamantashen are the most divisive cookies in the world
Hamantashen are divisive cookies. Named after the Purim story’s villain, Haman, the triangle confections are supposed to resemble either his hat or his ears, depending who you ask — and many consider the often dry and crumbly cookie about as appetizing. Defending their honor is even part of the famed Latke-Hamantash Debate. (The Forward staff…
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Culture Is it kosher to smoke weed for Purim?
The Talmud (Megillah 7b to be exact) tells us to get — and I’m paraphrasing here — totally smashed on Purim, so intoxicated that we cannot tell the difference between the story’s villain, Haman, and the hero, Mordechai. But the Talmud doesn’t specify which intoxicants to consume. Could you, perhaps, smoke a blunt instead of…
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The Schmooze Is Azealia Banks Jewish now?
Hip-hop artist Azealia Banks proudly posted her engagement ring on Instagram Monday, announcing conceptual artist Ryder Ripps had proposed to her. Unlike most women, who might be showing off a large rock, Banks’ finger was adorned with a chunky gold ring featuring a relief of a menorah. The photo was captioned “I’m Jewish now. MAZEL…
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Culture The 9 Bible characters who should be canceled
Can Bible characters be “canceled?” This dire fate was suggested by Bill Hemmer, of Fox News, as the natural continuation of criticism of American presidents. “I tell ya, if they start canceling these American presidents, they’re going to come after Bible characters next — mark my words, right?” he warned. The topic under discussion was…
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Yiddish דער קאַפֿע-הױז װי אַ מקום-מקלט פֿאַר ייִדישער קולטורThe cafe as a refuge of Jewish culture
אין די בערלינער קאַפֿע־הײַזער האָט די אינטעליגענץ געשמועסט, געלײענט צײַטונגען און געשפּילן שאַך.
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