The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College has released what may be the quirkiest annual report in the mundane history of Jewish annual reports. Instead of the standard-issue PDF, chock full of corny staged photos and tritely colored financial bar graphs, the RRC built its 2015 report into an interactive website that captures the democratic essence of the…
Through the power of their funding, Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson and several associates are seeking to transform the fight on campus against groups advocating boycott and sanctions against Israel — and, in the process, shift the center of gravity of those engaged in this battle significantly to the right. The effort, which is being…
A controversial bill to appoint a monitor with veto power over the decisions of an Orthodox-dominated public school board in New York’s Rockland County won approval June 3 from the state Assembly’s education committee. The bill, which comes after years of advocacy by residents critical of the East Ramapo Central School District’s board, has drawn…
Standing on the steps of City Hall in downtown Manhattan, Letitia James, the New York City public advocate, turned to the private school students arrayed like a backdrop behind her and ended the speech she gave in mid-May with a shout: “We want school safety agents!” The children — Muslim girls with their heads covered,…
Could a lengthy document, written in Latin and published after extensive theological debates, overturn centuries of animosity between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people? Closing the book on almost 2,000 years of persecution seemed nearly impossible when the Second Vatican Council adopted Nostra Aetate, the Catholic Church’s historic rejection of the notion that Jewish…
Tensions rose when opponents argued the eruv’s presence would ruin Southampton — even though they can't see it
Washington – Leading Jewish mega-donors have summoned pro-Israel activists for a closed-door meeting in Las Vegas to establish, and fund, successful strategies for countering the wave of anti-Israel activity on college campuses. The meeting, taking place this weekend, will be hosted by casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson and was organized by several other top Jewish funders,…
Born to a Jewish family on Long Island, Jessica Singer was given the Hebrew name Yehudit, after the ancient figure said to have saved the Israelites by beheading an Assyrian general. For most of her life, Singer went by her Hebrew name in synagogue only. When she legally changed her name to Yehudit at age…
So how did you commemorate Jewish American Heritage Month this May? If you didn’t — or if you didn’t even know such a month existed — you are in good company, that of the majority of American Jews. But after nearly a decade of relative obscurity, Jewish American Heritage Month got national recognition this year…
The saga of the B’nai B’rith Klutznick Museum’s confinement has finally come to an end. The esteemed Washington collection of more than 1,500 Jewish works spanning ancient to modern times was put into storage in 2002 — a victim of the fading fortunes of B’nai B’rith International, a former powerhouse of the American Jewish community…
American Jewish history goes on trial June 1 in a courtroom battle that could decide the future of the nation’s oldest synagogue. At stake is a set of silver Torah bells known as rimonim, thought to be worth more than $7 million. But according to two warring congregations, the outcome could deeply affect Jewish life…
