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
-
The Forward Guide To Sitting Shiva
Not to be confused with Shiva, one of main Hindu deities, Shiva in Judaism is the week of mourning following the death of a family member. It is colloquially referred to as “sitting shiva,” in reference to the low stools that mourners are required to sit on in observance of the mourning period. In Judaism,…
-
American Jews Are Getting Rituals Like Mikveh All Wrong
In our community, there is a Marine Corps captain currently on yet another deployment to Afghanistan. He serves our country as both a soldier, and a medic and a firefighter. Every day of his deployment While he’s deployed, he sees the devastating effects of war on children, women and the elderly. And every time he…
-
An Etiquette Guide To Paying A Shiva Call
Exploring what the Shiva customs in Judaism are
The Latest
-
Top Four Myths Around Jewish Mourning
Death is often the elephant in the room, but luckily, Judaism gives us many guidelines for how to manage it when it happens, whether it’s been coming a long time, or surprises those closest out of the blue. Following those rules and keeping to Jewish law and practice can bring many people comfort in the…
-
Jewish Death And Mourning? There’s An App For That
It’s no one’s favorite topic, but facing death is inevitable. While hundreds of books and articles have been written to help families deal with the emotional repercussions of a loss, many fewer resources exist to advise them on how to deal with the logistics. In our complex society, most people have assets and accounts strewn…
-
What We Talk About When We Talk About Death
One sunny Thursday evening in June, eight people, ranging from thirty-somethings to senior citizens, sat around a table at the Manhattan Jewish Community Center nibbling on cookies. In front of them stood Sally Kaplan, one of three facilitators present from the organization What Matters, a New York City-based not-for-profit that facilitates group and individual conversations…
-
When Holocaust Memories Are Too Heavy – A Survivor Considers Assisted Suicide
I didn’t lay a hand on her — all I did was propose a suicide plan. My mother broke her hip this summer, and quickly went from being a remarkably mobile 86-year-old to facing a convalescence that began with a high degree of helplessness. During her first week of rehab, when she still needed two…
-
In Crown Heights, Hasidic Graffiti Artists Are Pushing The Boundaries
If you walk by Primo Hatters men’s hat shop on Kingston Avenue in the heart of Crown Heights, you might just miss it. Look into the alleyway on the side of the store, and you’ll see a striking bright blue portrait of an old Hasidic rabbi. Solomon Souza, a 25-year old graffiti artist, and 40-year-old…
-
These Women Are Running Booming Challah Businesses – All Through Instagram
NEW YORK (JTA) — Mandy Silverman remembers being scared of the kitchen as a child. “There was a constant joke in my house growing up that I would mess up instant iced tea,” she recalled in a phone interview with JTA last month. But a quick glance at her Instagram feed reveals how things have…
-
What The New York Times Got Wrong About Me As A Hasidic Woman
A few months ago I was featured in a photo essay in the New York Times. Now, I had my hesitations, because I was afraid of my words being misinterpreted or manipulated to say something I don’t mean. I breathed a sigh of relief when I actually saw the article, because overall the tone was…
-
Why Is This Kosher Establishment Selling Donuts To Boys – And Salad To Girls?
Earlier today, the following advert started making the rounds on social media: In time for ‘yeshiva week’, winter vacation from yeshiva day schools, this kosher restaurant in New Jersey posted an online advertisement for mid-winter specials. The only thing notable about it was the amount of misogyny they could fit onto one leaflet. Residents of…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Opinion Why is Netanyahu poised to OK a ceasefire that’s favorable to Hamas? One word: Trump
- 2
Opinion Here’s why I’ll gladly give Trump all the credit for the hostage deal
- 3
Music In lawsuit, Drake accuses Kendrick Lamar of picking on ‘Jewish heritage’
- 4
Opinion This hostage deal is months too late — because people like me believed Netanyahu’s lies
In Case You Missed It
-
Fast Forward Hostages Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher released as Israel-Hamas ceasefire sets in
-
Fast Forward ‘Palisades or Palestine’: Dave Chappelle tackles Middle East politics in ‘Saturday Night Live’ monologue
-
Yiddish פֿרוי קריטיקירט די עוולה וואָס די חסידישע קהילה באַגייט קעגן די בחוריםWoman criticizes the burden that the Hasidic community lays on its boys
מיידלעך זענען פֿרײַ צו טאָן וואָס זיי ווילן, זאָגט זי, בשעת בחורים מוזן לערנען אַ גאַנצן טאָג אָן שום לײַטישער הפֿסקה
-
Fast Forward Hamas has yet to provide names of hostages to be released, but Israel expects ceasefire to proceed
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
