Новости за 31.08.2015

Last week, Dartmouth sophomore Cameron Isen began circulating a petition calling for his university to provide kosher food options acceptable to all students who observe the Jewish dietary laws. The issue at play was complex: Though Dartmouth does offer kosher food, it is certified by Tablet-K, an organization whose standards are not widely accepted in the American Orthodox community. As such, the provided food is unhelpful for many of the students it is intended to serve. By contrast, all other... Читать дальше...

In the early morning hours of August 12, vandals struck an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in San Antonio, Texas, breaking windows and spray-painting anti-Semitic graffiti, swastikas, and hateful epithets on over 30 cars and homes. In its wake, the hate crime left the residents of the insular, north-side enclave reeling, asking themselves and one another who could have done such a terrible thing.

There is a prominent liberal meme concerning “yoostabees”: people who supposedly “used to be a Democrat” until 9/11 changed everything—including on issues wholly unrelated to 9/11. The joke usually takes the form of a mock declaration that “I used to consider myself a Democrat, but thanks to 9/11, I’m outraged by Chappaquiddick.” The idea is that while it is perfectly plausible that the September 11th attacks might change one’s views on foreign policy, there is no reason why it should affect beliefs... Читать дальше...

We were out on a fun date on that summer night a few weeks ago, laughing hysterically, when my Ethiopian-Israeli boyfriend–in the typical Israeli way–nonchalantly slipped in some bad news with the good times.

For the past nine years, at this time of year, Andy Bachman, a favorite Vox Tablet guest, would be gathering his thoughts in order to lead High Holiday services at Brooklyn’s Congregation Beth Elohim. Bachman was the head rabbi there. It’s a synagogue with a reputation for community engagement and social activism, and claims among […]

For the past nine years, at this time of year, Andy Bachman, a favorite Vox Tablet guest, would be gathering his thoughts in order to lead High Holiday services at Brooklyn’s Congregation Beth Elohim. Bachman was the head rabbi there. It’s a synagogue with a reputation for community engagement and social activism, and claims among its congregants a host of outspoken and influential personalities (Sen. Charles Schumer and Jonathan Safran Foer are among them).

The Israeli culture wars arrived in my kitchen a few months ago when I discovered that the cure for my daughter’s grumpy preschooler moods was a Hebrew dance hit called “Happiness Revolution.” The song is of the genre known loosely as Mizrahi, a blend of Middle Eastern, Greek, and Western influences associated with Israelis who have roots in the Islamic world. In the country’s early decades Mizrahi music was deemed primitive and generally kept off radio and TV, shunted instead into an underground of small clubs... Читать дальше...