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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In Other Jewish Newspapers: Hippies Reminisce, Forgotten Jewish Hoopsters, Funding Farrakhan’s Friends
San Francisco’s J. newspaper catches up with the Jewish veterans of the “Summer of Love” 40 years later. Chabad of San Francisco Rabbi Yosef Langer recalls the influence that the era’s music had on him in the days before he turned on to Orthodox Judaism. “My entry to self-realization was through music,” he tells J….
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Books Worst… Book Title… Ever
Wondering what the book’s about? Fortunately, there’s this informative back-cover testimonial from Stanford literature professor Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht: Reading the texts of a culture that could only achieve its Germanness by being so utterly Jewish, along the lines of the 20th-century’s terminal mass migrations, Todd Presner’s book opens our 21st-century eyes to a new way…
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Bintel Brief: Rabbi Irwin Kula on Israel and the Dilemmas of Jewish Power
Hello Rabbi, I am a convert to Judaism, or Jew-by-choice. Many elements contributed to my decision to join a synagogue and go to the mikveh. Of course, my wife, her family, our children together and the rabbis I’ve learned from are significant drivers of my decision. Our commitment to family and community, our faith in…
The Latest
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In Other Jewish Newspapers: Orthodox ‘Cultism,’ Birthright Overruled, Football to Faith
The longtime spiritual leader of North America’s oldest Jewish congregation and former president of the Rabbinical Council of America is warning that Orthodoxy is “slipping over the line to a cultic superstitious kind of religion.” Retiring after 38 years at New York’s Congregation Shearith Israel, Rabbi Marc Angel sounds off in The New York Jewish…
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Steinhardt vs. Steinsaltz: An Atheist Debates a Talmudist
I wish I had been there for this one: Jewish mega-philanthropist and avowed atheist Michael Steinhardt faced off in New York against renowned talmudist Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz (who happens to be heading up a new effort to revive the ancient Sanhedrin). Michal Lando of the Jerusalem Post gives the blow-by-blow: …[M]oderator Richard Joel, president of…
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The Historic Partnership Between the State of Israel and Maxim Magazine
As we noted earlier this week, not everyone in Israel is pleased with their government’s collaboration with Maxim magazine on its “Women of the Israeli Defense Forces” photo spread. But that didn’t put the kibosh on the New York Israeli consulate’s plans to co-host a celebratory bash Tuesday night with the raunchy lad mag. Gawker…
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Monkey Business at Jewish Girls’ School in Calcutta
India’s Express News Service reports: Much to the amusement of students and teachers, a monkey sneaked into the campus of Jewish Girls’ School today and caused quite a stir. However, it also attacked a few students when they came near it. The incident occurred at 10.30 this morning. After watching its antics for some time…
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Israel’s Public Relations, Offensive
Israel needs allies — and it will take them where it can get them. Occasionally this has meant embracing some dubious characters. Sometimes these alliances come back to bite the Israeli government in the rear end. And that’s exactly what has happened with Israel’s latest such ally: Maxim magazine. In its upcoming July issue, the…
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Bintel Brief: Rabbi Irwin Kula Helps a Poor Orphan Girl
Dear Rabbi Kula, I am 15 years old and in need of a consistent father figure in my life. It is not that I do not have a wonderful father — I do! It is just that he is rarely around. He is always working, traveling and at the office. It is quite upsetting. Please…
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In Other Jewish Newspapers: Transgender Shabbat, Wisdom of Pearl, The War on Kibitzing, Etc.
San Francisco’s J. newspaper reports from a “transgender Shabbat” — a first of its kind, organizers say. “The Saturday itinerary began with gender queer-themed Torah study and services in the Sha’ar Zahav sanctuary, followed by workshops. Topics ranged from legal issues facing the transgender community to developing new rituals to mark “trans” lifecycles at the…
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One of These People Is Not Like the Others
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Djimon Hounsou, Eva Mendes, Julianne Moore, Rihanna, Usher, Rachel Weisz and Elie Wiesel have been named Cartier “Bracelet Ambassadors.” According to the press release, “the new bracelet features an 18K white gold miniature bracelet graced with the word and accented with two signature screw motifs. It is set into a…
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