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Opinion A Trailblazing Cantor
In many ways, Mark Goldman’s a traditional cantor. He serves a 900-member Reform congregation, in Plantation, Florida. He’s performed around the world, including a historic group gig at the Vatican. And he loves to chant the “haunting, yet familiar” Kol Nidre. But this year, the UK expat became a trailblazer. After nearly two decades as…
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News Sex-Therapist Advocates Masturbation For Orthodox Women Despite Taboo
(JTA) — When Max Grunberg wants to know more about the sex lives of the couples he treats, he asks the women to describe what happens after they return from the mikvah. Grunberg, a Dutch-born couples therapist specializing in the Orthodox Jewish community, needs to ease clients into talking about sex, an activity many religious…
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Fast Forward Ethiopian-Born Knesset Member Rejected As a Blood Donor
Israeli lawmakers called for an examination of Magen David Adom blood donation policies after an Ethiopia-born Knesset member was rejected as a donor. Pnina Tamano-Shata of the Yesh Atid party tried to donate during a special blood drive Wednesday at the Knesset but was told she could not because she had “the special kind of…
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Life The Jewish Women Who Worked Alongside Mandela
As a young Jewish woman privileged to have grown up in the new multi-racial South Africa, I like most of my fellow citizens, mourn Nelson Mandela’s passing like that of a family member. Mandela brought out the best in those around him. Women and children always held a special place in our beloved Madiba’s heart,…
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Fast Forward Stanley Fischer Offered Position of Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve
Former Israeli central bank governor Stanley Fischer has been offered the position of vice chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. “He’s been offered the job” the source, who declined to be named, said. The source added that the process would still require approval by the…
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Life Edie Windsor on TIME’s Top Five
Edie Windsor, the plaintiff who toppled the Defense of Marriage Act before the Supreme Court, was named the number three runner up for Person of the Year by TIME magazine; she’s also the only woman on the list of five. (Number one was Pope Francis, and number two was NSA leaker Edward Snowden.) The Forward…
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Fast Forward Benjamin Netanyahu Cancels Live Speech at Reform Biennal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled plans to speak in person to the biennial meeting of the Union for Reform Judaism. The announcement was made Tuesday, a day before the start of the conference, which is scheduled to run through Dec. 15 in San Diego, Haaretz reported. Netanyahu will address the closing plenary of the…
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Fast Forward Romanian Public Television Channel Airs Christmas Carol About Burning Jews
A Romanian public broadcaster distanced itself from a Christmas carol celebrating the Holocaust that aired on the new channel. TVR3 Verde, a television channel for rural communities, presented the carol on Dec. 5 during its maiden transmission. Sung by the Dor Transilvan ensemble, it featured the lyrics: “The kikes, damn kikes, Holy God would not…
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