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Community The pain and pride of (finally) being a ‘battleground’ state
Like many Georgians, over the last 20 years, I have enviously watched my friends in so-called battleground states feel a real sense of purpose with respect to their votes. Those friends in Iowa who launch presidencies? Yeah, I was jealous. My brother in Philadelphia, whose vote would help determine a President? I wanted to be…
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News Chicago Jewish deli supplies 1,000 sandwiches to help Catholic Church’s community battle food insecurity
Tom Sondag wanted to help his favorite Chicago Jewish deli, Manny’s Deli, while also helping his friend, Catholic pastor Michael Pfleger of The Faith Community of Saint Sabina, feed residents on the South Side of Chicago. Sondag, who owns the Castle Honda car dealership, bought 1,000 sandwiches, and on Monday, Dec. 21, stood with Pfleger…
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News Frum Flush: at World Series of Poker, an Orthodox Jew makes final table
It’s been all gimmels for Gershon Distenfeld at the 2020 World Series of Poker main event. The Orthodox Jewish resident of Bergenfield, New Jersey, is one of nine contestants to advance to the last round of the no-limit Texas Hold ‘em tournament, whose winner — considered to be the world champion of poker in a…
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Culture Sitting Shiva for Spot?
As I peer down at her cotton-puff head, my sense of guilt sets in. Peeps, my bichon frise associate, has just taken a cocktail of three different medicines meant to keep her ticker ticking. Her eyes water, and her mouth turns downward, quivering slightly. It’s obvious she is not digging this new regimen. At 13,…
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News What a Jon Ossoff victory in Georgia would mean for Southern Jews
This election cycle has become a tale of two Georgias for the state’s Jewish community. In January’s run-off election, Jon Ossoff is poised to become the first Jewish Senator ever elected, not just in Georgia but from any Deep South state since Reconstruction. At the same time, this campaign season has seen the rise of…
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News Wanted: Rabbi. Ten gallon hat optional.
When Cheyenne, Wyoming’s only synagogue began its nationwide search for a religious leader to replace its beloved rabbi, Larry Moldo, who passed away last year, some of the applications that came in were…interesting. In addition to the 22 or so resumes from qualified rabbis, rabbinical students and cantors, came resumes from a forklift operator, a…
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News As Chicago Jews mourn the Standard Club, some refuse to say goodbye
The announcement came in early March: The Standard Club, a nexus of Jewish life in Chicago for 150 years, would be closing its doors May 1 and its building, a 13-story, 1920s high rise designed by Detroit architect Albert Kahn, would be sold. Thanks to the coronavirus, the club didn’t last even that long. It…
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News In Chicago and Boston, Jewish chaplains are on the COVID-19 surge front lines
As he walks the hallways of a large suburban Chicago hospital amidst an increasing number of COVID-19 patients, Rabbi Ariel Marinelli is scared. “My wife and I are on the same page,” said the 37-year-old Orthodox rabbi. “She too gets nervous.” It’s a familiar but dispiriting return to the pandemic front lines for Marinelli, the…
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Fast Forward ‘Rabbi rebellion’: 33 Orthodox rabbis endorse Harris
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Opinion I was a Bernie supporter. This year, I’m voting Trump. Here’s why liberal Jews like me made the switch
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Opinion Here’s why Orthodox Jews are loyal to Trump — even if they don’t love him
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FIRST PERSON As a rabbi, he helped others mourn. So why wouldn’t his daughter say kaddish for him?
In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward Trump appears close to victory, promising to reshape the United States and its relationship with Israel
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Fast Forward Craig Goldman of Texas wins race, becoming 3rd Jewish Republican in Congress
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Fast Forward Adam Schiff wins race for U.S. Senate seat previously held by Dianne Feinstein
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Fast Forward Exit poll: 77% of Jewish voters back Harris over Trump
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