This is the Forward’s coverage of Jewish affairs in Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital.
Washington，︀D.C.
The Latest
-
Opinion Why Barry Freundel Story Makes Me Physically Ill
Illustration by Kurt Hoffman Yesterday, prominent Modern Orthodox Rabbi Barry Freundel was arrested on charges of voyeurism. The police report obtained by the media indicates that he had used cameras to record women showering as they prepared to use the mikveh. Freundel should, and will, have his say in court. These charges are serious, though,…
-
News Rabbi Barry Freundel Arrested — Suspected of Peeping on Women in Mikvah
Rabbi Barry Freundel, the spiritual leader of one of Washington D.C.’s most prominent Modern Orthodox synagogues, was suspended without pay by his congregation Tuesday after police arrested him on charges that he used cameras to peep on women in the synagogue’s mikvah, or ritual bath. Freundel, whose congregation includes Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and ex-Sen….
-
News Rabbi Gil Steinlauf Wins Wide Support From Conservatives After Coming Out as Gay
(JTA) — Gil Steinlauf, a nationally prominent Conservative rabbi, made headlines this month when he announced to his large Washington, D.C., synagogue that he is gay, and that he and his wife of 20 years would divorce. As surprised as his congregants at Adas Israel may have been by the news, it was Steinlauf, the…
-
Opinion Why Rabbi Gil Steinlauf’s Coming Out Is Watershed Moment for Jews
In 1977, Gerson D. Cohen, chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, approved a petition by the Rabbinical Assembly to create a committee to study the role of women as spiritual leaders in the Conservative movement. The voices included were varied, some in favor of the ordination of women as rabbis, some opposed. It…
-
Fast Forward Rabbi Gil Steinlauf of Adas Israel Comes Out as Gay
(JTA) — Rabbi Gil Steinlauf struggled for decades with an identity that he only acknowledged publicly this week. On the Monday after Yom Kippur, Steinlauf, the married senior rabbi at Adas Israel — a large and historic Conservative synagogue in Washington, D.C. — announced that he is gay. In a letter sent to congregants, Steinlauf…
-
Fast Forward ADL Signs Letter Urging Broadcasters To Avoid Using The Name ‘Redskins’
The Anti-Defamation League signed a letter initiated by Native American groups to broadcasters urging them to avoid pronouncing the name of the Washington NFL franchise, “Redskins.” “Some might argue that objectivity requires broadcasters to continue promoting the racial slur as long as Washington team owner Dan Snyder keeps denigrating Native Americans by using the epithet…
-
News 600 Rally for Israel as Gaza War Expands
More than 600 people turned out for a rally for Israel in central Washington D.C., cheering Jewish and Christian clergy and lawmakers who pledged to stand with Israel during the Gaza conflict. Speakers at the rally Thursday in Farragut Square, just blocks from the White House, called for an end to the barrage of missiles…
-
Opinion Can Washington D.C. Save This Rare Synagogue Mural?
Washington’s Synagogue Mural / Jewish Historical Society Stephanie Slewka was peeling layers of paint and plaster from her just-purchased house in downtown Washington, D.C. when she spied a blue patch — unusual in the mildewy mess of browns and beiges. Removing a few more gunky strata revealed a Star of David. And tearing off even…
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 Israeli far-right minister orders Arab village evicted after saying ICC is seeking his arrest
-
Culture In celebration of David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, a very Jewish song
-
Fast Forward Barney Frank’s final warning on Israel: ‘America’s effort should be to support the opposition to Netanyahu’
-
Yiddish ייִדן פֿלעגן באַשווערן רוחות און שלאַנגען אויף ווײַסרוסישJews used to conjure spirits and snakes in Belarusian
בײַ ייִדן איז פֿאַראַן אַן אַלטע טראַדיציע צו שרײַבן רײַסישע סגולות מיט ייִדישע אותיות.