Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of the robust lives of American Jews. Here there’s a little of everything about the multifaceted world of Jewish life. There are light-hearted Jewish celebrity stories and shocking Jewish celebrity news. Food is also plentiful,…
Life
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Does ‘Just Not Sorry’ Hurt Women?
When I first heard about the Gmail plug-in from Cyrus Innovation aptly named I wanted it for myself. It highlights weak words in emails like “Just”, “I think” and “I’m sorry” to remove in order to better articulate the true meaning of the message. Like many other women, I am guilty of diluting the meaning…
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If ‘Downton Abbey’ Were Jewish
Natasha Solomons is the author of the new novel “The Song of Hartgrove Hall.” Her other novels include “The Gallery of Vanished Husbands” and “The House at Tyneford.” She lives in Dorset, England. Music plays a big role in The Song of Hartgrove Hall, and serves as a form of communication for some of the…
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First Woman Orthodox ‘Rabbi’ Is Hired by Synagogue
The first graduate of Yeshivat Maharat to take the title “rabbi” said she has been hired by an unnamed American Orthodox synagogue. Lila Kagedan, who was ordained this summer by the seminary created by Open Orthodox Rabbi Avi Weiss to train Orthodox female clergy, told the London-based Jewish Chronicle this week that she was recruited…
The Latest
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Was Eve Created From a Very Different Bone of Adam?
(JTA) — Bible scholars are not generally known for producing viral or sexy content. But American Jewish University professor Ziony Zevit is causing a stir with a new book suggesting that in Genesis, Eve was made from a bone in Adam’s penis — not his rib, as we have all been taught. In “What Really…
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Celebrating My Bat Mitzvah With My Hoarder Mother
Montreal, 1989 “Is everyone ready?” I called from my room.One of my eyes was focused on the mirror as I checked out my creation — an all-white “Working Girl “power suit from Jacob Junior with shoulder pads, a pleated skirt, and a blue and white polka dot shirt that sported a medieval jester’s 6-inch collar,…
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Barbara Goodstein, ‘The Most Original Sculptor of Her Generation’
Barbara Goodstein, an artist who trained in Mexico, England, and the U.S., whom critic Jed Perl “probably the most original sculptor of her generation,” died on December 5 at age 70, Bowery Gallery announced. In the three decades she showed at Bowery, which is based in Chelsea in Manhattan, Goodstein regularly exhibited sculptures and reliefs…
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More Arab Women Writers to Read
I wrote the first list of Arab women writers (and one Turkish woman writer) with the idea in mind that when we strive to diversify our reading and therefore our worldview, we might be tempted to start with those who are getting the most media exposure (men), and are the most accessible, instead of digging…
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Licoricia of Winchester’s Guide to Having It All
The word “moneylender” evokes the image of Shylock, the Western canon’s merciless Jewish anti-hero. However, as is the case with most stereotypes, the historical reality was much more diverse and nuanced. Moneylending, vital to the growth of kingdoms and empires throughout the middle Ages, provided a stepping-stone to independence, wealth and influence not only to…
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7 Things Miriam Adelson Does — Besides Back Republicans
(JTA) — Miriam Adelson and her husband, Sheldon, reportedly are at odds over which Republican presidential candidate deserves backing. But this isn’t a typical marital spat — it’s about which candidate most deserves to be showered with their money. Miriam Adelson, an Israeli-born physician, favors Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, while casino magnate Sheldon Adelson likes…
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Five Events in 2015 That Changed Jewish Women
It’s been a big year for Jewish women. Comic Amy Schumer catapulted to super stardom with “Trainwreck,” and drew our attention to the way women are treated in Hollywood; Tamar Epstein, whose fight to receive a religious divorce from her husband Aharon Friedman made national headlines, remarried despite never receiving a get; and Emma Sulkowicz…
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Six Arab Women Writers You Should Be Reading
For many American Jews, Palestinian-Israel author and journalist Sayed Kashua is not only a celebrity, he’s the only Arab writer they can name. In addition to reading Kashua’s columns in Haaretz, Kashua’s satirical sitcom, Arab Labor, portrayed the experiences of an Arab-Israeli family with the systemic racism present in Israel, was aired on Israel’s Channel…
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