Welcome to the Forward’s insightful posts and articles covering all things Jewish, from culture and traditions to history, faith and contemporary Jewish life.
Jewish
The Latest
-
Opinion How Not To Be a Jerk in Jewish India
“Wow, the ladies here wear saris to synagogue! Is that a Hindu influence?” Nathaniel Jhirad, a 23-year-old Indian Jew in Mumbai’s Bene Israel community, hears this question a lot. Every time, he’s tempted to reply: “You wear skirts; that is not an ancient garment from the Mythical Land of Authentic Judaism!” Jhirad’s fantasy riposte, told…
-
The Schmooze Woody Allen’s Art Imitates Life — Again
Woody Allen’s latest movie finally has a trailer. And the plot is, well, a little problematic. “Irrational Man,” starring fellow MOT Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone, promises another older-man-falls-in-love-with-young-muse, thinks-it-will-solve-inadequacies kind of story. According to the trailer, Phoenix plays philosophy teacher Abe Lucas, who joins a college faculty while grappling with an existential crisis. Lucky…
-
The Schmooze Hey Jake Gyllenhaal, We’ve Got A Nice Jewish Girl For You
Hey Jake! We have a great girl for you. She’s Jewish, she’s a princess, and — guess what — We’re talking about 30-year-old Chanel Omari, former “Princess of Long Island.” (She’s basically our Princess Di, except the paparazzi chase is in reverse.) You see, Jake, her mom has been talking to your mom (on our Facebook…
-
The Schmooze David Krumholtz’s Bubbe Impression Gets Its Own Show
You may know David Krumholtz as that cute guy from Numb3rs. If you’re of a certain generation (ie. mine), you may remember him as Michael from But the comedian’s claim to fame isn’t his nice Jewish boy looks or his nebbishy humor. It’s his ability to credibly portray a 76-year-old bubbe from Boca named Gigi….
-
The Schmooze Bloomberg Announces Winners of Genesis Generation Challenge
(JTA) — During a ceremony announcing the winners of the Genesis Generation Challenge, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wanted to set aside any confusion: “No, the [Genesis Prize] award will not go only to a ruggedly handsome international heartthrob named Michael,” he jested. Bloomberg last year won the inaugural $1 million prize, bestowed by…
-
The Schmooze Luckiest Kid in the World Gets Nicki Minaj to Perform at Bar Mitzvah
Some bar mitzvah boys . Others skip the drama and just invite Nicki Minaj. A New York City teen named Matt had the party of the century this weekend, when the singer, dressed in a black Herve Leger dress and Balmain cage sandals, showed up on stage to surprise his tweenage friends with a (hora-autotuned?)…
-
Culture Searching for My Indian Jewish Family, From Kabbalah to Bollywood
MUMBAI — On my first morning in India, I found myself staring at an egg. That and a cup of coffee was all my hotel’s “free continental breakfast” amounted to, but I didn’t feel cheated. I felt vindicated. After all, I’d come to India because of an egg. I cracked the hard-boiled shell and peeled…
-
Opinion Confronting Jewish Complicity in South African Apartheid
Freedom Day, the anniversary of the end of apartheid and South Africa’s first democratic elections, is on April 27. For many of us in the South African diaspora, myself included, it’s an important day of remembering the struggle, past and present, for a better and freer South Africa. Many American Jews join in the celebration,…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Opinion Outrage over Nicholas Kristof’s op-ed on sexual assault of Palestinians is missing the point
- 2
News They texted about Torah and mitzvahs. Feds say they were insider trading
- 3
Culture At Eurovision, Israel’s near triumph shows the limits of tolerance
- 4
Opinion I run The Jewish Theological Seminary. Here’s the real story about President Isaac Herzog speaking at our commencement
In Case You Missed It
-
Fast Forward Itamar Ben-Gvir draws criticism from Netanyahu for video taunting detained flotilla activists
-
Fast Forward What Tuesday’s primaries tell us about Democrats, Republicans and the Israel issue
-
Fast Forward AOC and other leading Democrats condemn Texas congressional candidate Maureen Galindo over antisemitic rhetoric
-
Fast Forward Pennsylvania’s Jewish governor, Josh Shapiro, faces Trump-backed challenger in reelection bid