By Jonathan S. Tobin, JNS
• Published October 10, 2019
In retrospect, no one should be shocked by the news that the United States has given the green light to Turkey for a military incursion aimed at sweeping Kurdish forces out of northern Syria. Trump has been very clear about wanting to cut and run from...
U.S. should take leadership role in Global FundThe next presidential campaign is closing in on us, and now the American people are looking for a strong leader yet again. A leader that will lead our country well and also represent us confidently on...
Watching the new documentary “Jim Allison: Breakthrough,” which opens Friday, Oct. 4, at the Tivoli Theatre, I considered the possibility that if James Allison had been born 15 or 20 years sooner, my mom might be alive today.
Allison, 71, chairs...
It has been commonly observed that polarization in America has increased greatly in recent years. It is hard to disagree, given the rancorous political discourse we witness on a daily basis between the two major political parties, not to mention among...
In these pages, you may have read of the struggles the Miriam Foundation endured in our failed attempt to purchase and renovate the site of the B’nai El Synagogue to house Miriam Academy, our rapidly growing high school for students who learn differently. This...
By Arielle Kaplan, Alma via JTA
• Published September 26, 2019
Much to my mother’s dismay, I’m not fasting on Yom Kippur and I’m not going to synagogue. Why? Because I don’t believe in God. But despite my lack of faith in a higher being, I take the High Holidays very seriously.For those who need a refresher,...
SHORT HILLS, N.J. (JTA) — Whether you watched the Emmys on Sunday night or or not, chances are you’ve been privy since the broadcast to what was likely the Jewiest moment of the show: Alex Borstein’s acceptance speech for her award as best supporting...
Remembering Al WaldmanLike a lot of us “senior-senior citizens,” the first thing I read when I get the Light is “the mitzvahs.” Next, the obits. My “group” gets thinner and thinner. But a recent issue had the passing of Al Waldman. Didn’t...
PITTSBURGH (JTA) — Our sages teach us that “kol hatchalot kashot,” all beginnings are difficult.This phrase feels especially resonant this Rosh Hashanah.The man who blew the shofar last year at my Pittsburgh synagogue, New Light, is not here to...
NEW YORK (JTA) — Taglit-Birthright is one of the most successful philanthropic projects in modern Jewish history. The result of decades of collaboration between donors and Israel’s Department of Diaspora Affairs, the organization has spent hundreds...
By Cheryl Adelstein
• Published September 12, 2019
Last week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, teaches tzedek, tzedek, terdof — justice, justice, you shall pursue. But how can we pursue justice, when some systems are inherently unjust?In this case, I am referring to the criminal justice system in the United...
Psychiatric medications can save livesMoritz Farbstein’s Sept. 4 letter points out that the pharmaceutical industry has been funding the “stop the stigma of mental illness” campaign, and not for altruistic reasons. They want to sell more drugs,...
