Scribe, the Forward’s curated contributor network, is a place for showcasing personal experiences and perspective from across our Jewish communities. Here you will find a wide array of reflections on Jewish issues, life-cycle events, spirituality, culture and more.
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You say matzah — and matzo and matzuh and matzee and more
Readers respond to our editor-in-chief’s column about a Passover copy-editing conundrum
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How the Rapper Kosha Dillz Helped Me Go ‘Full Jew’
A funny thing happened the other day. I was minding my own business when I came across the following tweet on social media: Matisyahu and Kosha Dillz making big waves with new Anti-BDS song. Intrigued, I clicked on the YouTube link for the music video and listened. It’s a really catchy song, so when it…
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Prepent Day 6+7: Honoring My Queens
Friday 9/9/16 Elul 6 5776 Today, we are publishing a double love letter for your double super Sabbath souls. Wishing you a restful, peaceful, and love-ful Sabbath. Be back on Sunday! Dear Mother, It’s early morning here in Sussex, I’m sitting at the window seat of this sweet little cottage, looking at the lush lawns…
The Latest
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Two Small Miracles That Saved My Life On 9/11
“Did you do the book order with Baruch?” This is what my wife yelled down to me as I was walking out the door, on my way to work, at 6:45 AM, Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001. Baruch was my fourth grader. Knowing that I did not do the book order, I turned around and…
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Trump’s Advisers May Be Thugs, but Hillary’s Chill the Jewish Soul
Donald Trump surrounds himself with thugs that are more crude than cunning. Hillary Rodham Clinton surrounds herself with thugs that are more cunning than crude. It is well reported (indeed over reported) that Donald Trump has some unsavory supporters — for that matter, some unsavory advisors. What else would you expect from a businessman who…
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Prepent Day 5: The Pastor who Risked His Life for Love
Thursday 9/8/16 Elul 5 5776 Dear Rev. Jide Rebirth Macaulay, My brother – have I told you yet you are my hero? When we first met in a room full of LGBTIQ faith leaders at a global interfaith conference exploring our common cause and concern for more human rights and dignity, I didn’t quite know…
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Ask the Rebbetzin: How Do I Forgive My Family?
Q: Dear Rebbetzin, How do you deal with forgiveness and family? I’m not talking about differences of opinion around the dinner table or annoying idiosyncrasies. To be clear, I’m also not talking about physical or serious verbal abuse. But I am describing people – members of my family of origin and ones acquired by marriage…
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Prepent Day 4: My Unsung Airport Hero
Wednesday 9/7/16 Elul 4 5776 Dear Mr. Baggage Handler, I left for the airport today with a driver named Tom. The Delta crew welcomed me at check-in: Diana and Rachel and Louis, each with a first name on their tag, just like the TSA folks and the flight attendants, and Captain Darcy, welcoming passengers on…
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How Do Israelis Feel About their National Anthem?
It all started with a question: Is there one song that all Israelis sing? I expected the answer to be simple. What I discovered was a rich, passionate, nuanced conversation about the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah. A few years ago, The Forward attempted to start a conversation around the words of Hatikvah. With Neshama Carlebach…
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Prepent Day 3: Remembering Rabbi Kook
Tuesday 9/6/16 Elul 3 5776 Dear Rabbi Kook, On this day in 1935 your soul departed. Like other saintly sages and memorable teachers whose births and deaths become part of our calendar, this date remains one of gratitude and honor for the rich and complex legacy you left behind. Like other visionary leaders, your legacy…
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Prepent Day 2: You Had Me at Nice
Monday 9/5/16 Elul 2 5776 Dear Ms. Mayefsky, One of the online security questions that sometimes pops up asks me for the ‘name of a favorite teacher.’ I usually name you but I don’t think I’ve ever really thanked you for your gift of reverence for words. Back in 10th grade, at the Yeshiva University…
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Prepent Day 1: Let’s Fly
Sunday 9/4/16 Elul 1 5776 Dear me, age 22 Remember that Saturday night in NYC, Labor Day Weekend 1991, alone on the Hudson, on the edge of some pier downtown, staring into the dark water? The only time you ever paused for more than a second to consider jumping in and ending the pain already….
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