The Jewish Theological Seminary has become the largest Jewish seminary in America to offer its employees fully paid parental leave. The policy, which JTS announced in an email today, grants six weeks of paid parental leave to “primary caregivers” who have worked at the Conservative seminary for more than one year and eight weeks of…
Two prominent progressive Jews are among the seven candidates joining the fray to win one of the rarest prizes available in Congress these days: an open seat in which the incumbent has chosen not to run. Both Jamie Raskin, a Maryland state senator, and Joel Rubin, a former Obama administration official, boast deep Jewish roots…
When a frightening spate of terror attacks targeted Israelis in early October, the violence seemed to arrive right on cue: amid rising tensions over the Temple Mount, after the Israeli army’s killing of a young female student at a checkpoint and on the heels of dueling speeches by leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority…
In the heated debate over Israel raging on college campuses, both sides are claiming the mantle of victimhood. Two recent reports published by pro-Palestinian groups that support the use of boycott, divestment and sanctions measures against Israel portray a troubling picture of students being intimidated by pro-Israel activists and of an organized effort to stifle…
(JTA) — I interviewed Bernie Sanders a couple years ago, when word first circulated that the Vermont senator might seek the presidency. Though he knew about JTA going in — and must have known questions about his Jewish background were coming — he didn’t want to get into it. I wrote at the time: “But…
The last time Jerry Nadler faced a serious threat to his congressional seat, Bill Clinton had never met Monica Lewinsky, Newt Gingrich had not yet been voted speaker of the House, Kurt Cobain had just died and Justin Bieber had just been born. But now, after more than two decades as the largely-uncontested representative-for-life of…
Federal prosecutors are investigating the collapse of the bankrupt Jewish charity FEGS Health & Human Services, the charity revealed in an October 2 court filing. The nature of the investigation by a U.S. Attorney’s office is unknown, and spokespeople for the U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern and Southern District of New York would not confirm…
A feud over a famed archive brimming with Olympic history has spilled over into the Jewish world, with scholars pressing for access to documents they believe could shed light on both the notorious 1936 Nazi Games in Berlin and the Munich massacre in 1972. Ironically, the aggressive tactics of the driving force behind the push…
Half-pint is fighting to go from the Little House on the Prairie to the House on the hill. Capitol Hill. Melissa Gilbert, a Michigan mom of two, is running as a Democrat in the state’s 8th District, hoping to win the party’s nod to take on anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, right-wing Republican Congressman Mike Bishop, who…
At the end of her Rosh Hashanah sermon, Rabbi Elyse Frishman turned to congregants and asked them to take out their cell phones and start dialing. An unusual scene at the sanctuary, and even more so during a High Holiday service, but Frishman explained that on this day, the cell phone would serve as a…
The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation picks an annual class of between 20 and 30 fellows from all types of vocations and professions who will receive a sizable (this year $625,000) and unrestricted grant to help further their work over five years. Known generally as the “genius” grants, nominations and discussions are confidential…
