The Facts About ‘Sharia’ May Surprise You
Given the instant publicity of any reprehensible action taken in the name of “sharia law,”…
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‘Jesus is my Vaccine’ Has a Millennium-Long History Rooted in Antisemitism
In early April, the internet was entranced by televangelist Kenneth Copeland summoning the wind of…
Read MoreHow Ancient Rabbis Can Help Combat STI Stigma
The sages, or rabbis, whose teachings were collected in the Mishnah, had a concept they called ‘tumah,’ or ritual impurity. This term, which to some readers might conjure visions of judgmental tub-thumpers, isn’t at all equivalent to today’s abstinence warriors.
Read MoreThe Conflation of Antisemitism and Israel Criticism Isn’t Unique, But It Is a Problem
Our focus should be on the capture of the debate over U.S.-Israeli relations by a dominant narrative in which a single set of authorities (both political and religious) claims exclusive access to a rich and fluid set of political and religious traditions.
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Why I Wrote the Freedom Seder And Why It’s Still Necessary 50 Years After Dr. King’s Assassination
Fifty years ago, on April 4, 1968, the transformation of my life began with the…
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Maybe The Question Is: *Should* Shabbat Be The New Yoga?
In a recent article at Bloomberg Businessweek, Jennifer Miller examines the budding Jewish wellness-and-lifestyle scene—think…
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Reimagining Twentieth Century Harlem as a Jewish Mecca
In his latest book, Dr. Jeffrey Gurock of Yeshiva University takes a nuanced look at the story of Jewish Harlem and its intersection with black history.
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Religious Liberty? It’s Simple, A Hasidic Woman Explains
To almost nobody’s surprise, 2016 ended with another confusing and un-American blow in the “religious freedom” vs. freedom…
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Besides a Love of Chinese Food on Christmas, Why “JewAsian” Unions Work
A new book from married co-authors, Helen Kiyong Kim and Noah Samuel Leavitt, explores the intricacies of mixed partnerships and blended heritages.
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Filling the Awkward Silence: A Response to Laura Levitt on the Passing of Jacob Neusner
I had met Jack at an Association of Jewish Studies conference while I was in my first year as a professor and, after a brief talk, he invited me to apply for the position at Brown.
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