This is the Forward’s coverage of Jewish culture where you’ll learn about the latest (and sometimes earliest) in Jewish art, music (including of course Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen), film, theater, books as well as the secret Jewish history of…
Culture
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Is Facebook biased against Palestinians?
During the most recent Gaza conflagration, both Israelis and Palestinians hurled accusations of censorship at social media giants, including Facebook and Instagram. Palestinians said that their posts about Israeli soldiers entering the al-Aqsa mosque complex in Jerusalem were disappearing without even a warning, and so were other posts accusing Israel of violence. Meanwhile, Israeli influencers…
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Why Jewish compassion shouldn’t just apply to human animals
Marc Bekoff, an American Jewish biologist and professor emeritus at the University of Colorado, Boulder, has studied coyotes, dogs, penguins, fish, grosbeaks, and jays to understand their thoughts and emotions from a perspective of interdependence akin to the German Jewish philosopher Martin Buber’s “I and Thou.” Benjamin Ivry spoke to Bekoff from his home in…
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On an artist’s journey of discovery, embracing mythology while rejecting the bible
At an exhibit titled “Personal Mythology” by an Israeli artist, you’d expect to see some biblical references — perhaps an apple tree, or King David with his harp. But there aren’t any; Tarot cards, witches and alchemical creatures populate Ranei Mazor’s sculptures and dioramas. “I have a very good history and record with the stories…
The Latest
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The secret Jewish history of Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs of all time
This past week Rolling Stone magazine published an updated list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” It was the first time the list has been updated since 2004, and out of curiosity, we combed the list for Jewish performers and songwriters. Depending on one’s criteria — e.g., if a band has a Jewish…
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September 30: Film screening & discussion of “The Forward: From Immigrants to Americans”
This event is in partnership with the Museum at Eldridge Street. It will take place on Thursday, September 30 at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT. Register here. Join the filmmakers and Editor-in-Chief of the Forward in a conversation about this historic documentary. From its founding in New York in 1897, the Forward served…
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From Drake to Javanka, 12 celebs who need to atone this Yom Kippur
Everyday Jews have the benefit of not having our sins amplified by TMZ or splashed onto tabloid covers. We can hide in our anonymity and use Yom Kippur to engage personally with our creator, taking stock of our sins while God, like Anna Wintour plotting the Met Gala invitations, decides who will be inscribed in…
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October 6: The Boston Festival of New Jewish Music 1.1. Zach Mayer CD Release
This event is in partnership with the Boston Festival of New Jewish Music. It will take place on Wednesday, October 6 at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. Register here. We’re excited to partner with the Boston Synagogue on the launch of the Boston Festival of New Jewish Music, a free monthly concert series…
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They believe Jesus died for their sins — so why do some Christians observe Yom Kippur?
Last Passover, Jewish Twitter erupted over Christian Seders. Now, Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, is joining the Christianity club, and Jwitter is just as upset. Christians observing Yom Kippur isn’t exactly new, but it does seem to be increasingly widespread. This time, the discourse seems to have started in large part…
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Bless the moon? The case for Yom Kippur’s hardest mitzvah
This year, say yes to Kiddush Levana.
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How one Jewish prayer helped to heal a distinctly non-Jewish community
The first time I heard “Avinu Malkeinu,” I was at the top of Arthur’s Seat, a dead volcano in the center of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. The climb to the top and back is 2 miles. It was earlier this year, sometime in June. In the wake of the COVID outbreak during the previous…
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November 4-11: Other Israel Film Festival
The Other Israel Film Festival will run November 4-11. Learn more and get tickets here. We’re excited to co-sponsor the 2021 Other Israel Film Festival! Tickets are now on sale and this year’s festival will feature both in-person and virtual films and events. The Other Israel Film Festival, founded in 2007, presents cinema and television…
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