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
-
Jonathan Sarna Thinks Trump Can’t Turn Back the Clock
In Philip Eil’s article “6 Jewish Historians Tell Us What To Expect in 2017 and Beyond,” Jonathan Sarna worries about efforts to reverse progress made on liberal causes. Here’s what he had to say: Jonathan Sarna Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University Author of “American Judaism: A History” Part of me worries that…
-
Why Jews Can’t Remain Neutral in Trump’s America
In Philip Eil’s article “6 Jewish Historians Tell Us What To Expect in 2017 and Beyond,” he speaks to Professor Riv-Ellen Prell, who says that Jews will not be able to play it safe this time around. Riv-Ellen Prell Professor Emerita of American Studies at the University of Minnesota Author of “Women Remaking American Judaism”…
-
Why We Probably Shouldn’t Worry About New Pogroms
In his article “6 Jewish Historians Tell Us What To Expect in 2017 — and Beyond,” Philip Eil spoke to historian David Biale about how anti-Semitism was granted legitimacy in 2017. Here’s the full text of his remarks: David Biale Professor of Jewish History at University of California, Davis Author of “Not in the Heavens:…
The Latest
-
Why Jews Will Pay More Attention to Civil Liberties
In his article “6 Jewish Historians Tell Us What To Expect in 2017 — and Beyond,” Philip Eil interviewed historian Gary P. Zola about how Jews are reacting to Donald Trump’s election. Here’s the full text of Zola’s remarks. Gary P. Zola Professor of the American Jewish Experience and Reform Jewish History at Hebrew Union…
-
Why Jews Should Get Ready To Organize in Trump’s America
In Philip Eil’s article “6 Jewish Historians Tell Us What To Expect in 2017 — and Beyond,” professor Deborah Dash Moore tells us why she feels Jews should get ready to get organized. Here’s the full text of her remarks. Deborah Dash Moore Professor of History and Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan Author…
-
You Will Soon Be Able To Visit Rome’s Jewish Catacombs
Cemeteries are naturally spooky places – fields littered with old gray stones marking dead bodies. But you know what’s spookier than cemeteries? Catacombs, those underground passages filled with human remains. For those of us that find such places more interesting than scary or disgusting, there was recently some good news out of Rome. As the…
-
Mass-Reproduction Is Changing The Experience of Art. Mark Rothko Is Here To Help.
There is something that happens to a work of art when it becomes absorbed into posterity – its copies and reproductions begin to rapidly grow in number. Reproductions will always (obviously) outnumber the original, but in the case of famous works of art, they do so in such a great number that the aesthetic status of…
-
The Man Who Made Those Viral Sweaters Has One For Every Jewish Holiday
Sam Barsky came to knitting by chance, perhaps a divine one: it was 1999, he’d recently dropped out of nursing school due to medical issues, and he was searching for a new purpose. He came across a yarn shop, fulfilled a longtime dream of taking an introductory knitting class, and, well, followed that thread. (Sorry.)…
-
Why Did Japan Treat Jews Differently During World War II?
During World War II, why did the Japanese refuse orders from Nazi Germany, its wartime ally, to kill all the Jews within its borders? A new book from Academic Studies Press, “Under the Shadow of the Rising Sun: Japan and the Jews during the Holocaust Era” addresses this question. Its author, Dr. Meron Medzini, former…
-
Long, Long Ago in a Jewish Fantasyland Far, Far Away
The Book of Esther By Emily Barton Tim Duggan Books, 432 Pages, $27 The medieval kingdom of Khazaria has long been used as a Jewish Zembla, or fantasyland, a shadowy alternative to unpleasant realities. In the 12th century, the Spanish philosopher Judah Halevi dreamed up a Khazar king who converted to Judaism, imagining an upside-down…
-
6 Films To Watch At The New York Jewish Film Festival
On January 11th, in partnership with the Jewish Museum and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, the Jewish Film Festival will return for its 26th edition. The festival offers a varied look at the world of Jewish film, both in terms of genre and time period. In addition to the newer films that make up…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Holy Ground A Jewish farmer broke ground on a synagogue in an Illinois cornfield. His neighbors showed up to help.
- 2
Opinion I discovered anti-Zionism at the University of Michigan. I’m glad it lives on there
- 3
Culture An Israeli genocide scholar looks to Israel’s history to understand ‘what went wrong’
- 4
News Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s selection as JTS commencement speaker roils graduating class
In Case You Missed It
-
News Remembering Abe Foxman, the longtime ADL leader known as the ‘Jewish pope,’ who always answered my calls
-
Fast Forward Michael Jackson biopic revives legend of Jewish music mogul who battled MTV’s ‘color barrier’
-
Fast Forward DOGE’s cuts to Jewish humanities grants were unconstitutional, judge rules
-
Fast Forward As anti-LGBTQ laws spread, these two Jewish nonprofits are funding moves to safer states