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Now showing 1 - 20 of 62
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    Mordecai Kaplan: Founder of Reconstructionist Judaism
    (My Jewish Learning, 1980) Seltzer, Robert M.
    Seltzer writes about Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism. His first major book, "Judaism, as a Civilization," offered "detailed criti­cism of existing Jewish movements and... call[ed] for the “reconstruction” of Jewish life." Reconstructionism created a set of liturgical texts, including a Passover Haggadah, sabbath prayer books, and liturgies for Jewish holidays. Click on the link to read the article.
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    Purim spiels: Skits and satire have brought merriment to an ancient Jewish holiday in America
    (2022-03-22) Eleff, Zev
    A central ritual in Purim observances is the reading of the Scroll of Esther to commemorate Queen Esther's bravery in foiling the plans of Haman, the advisor of her husband, King Achashverosh, to annihilate the Jews. Less well known is the tradition of the "Purim spiel," jocular, satirical plays that are performed in synagogues and Jewish schools. Eleff, a scholar of American Judaism, believes that these spiels are "carefully curated lampoon meant to allow for a limited amount of public criticism of rabbis and the institutions that support Jewish life." This tradition of satirical spiels became deeply ensconced in the United States, which, according to Eleff, serve as a "measuring stick of Jewish self-confidence in the New World." Click on the link to read the article.
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    A Friendship in the Prophetic Tradition: Abraham Joshua Heschel and Martin Luther King, Jr.
    (2018) Heschel, Susannah
    Susannah Heschel, daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, explored the relationship between Rabbi Heschel and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Despite the obvious differences in background, religion and ethnicity, She notes that their bond was forged in the prophetic tradition, which both men shared. As Heschel stated in this article, "[w]hat brought them together were the prophets: the rhetoric of indictment and hope, irony and promise, but above all, the prophetic understanding of God." For both, ethical and political engagement were not a choice, but a responsibility to which we are called by God. Click on the link to read the article.
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    Theological Affinities in the Writings of Abraham Joshua Heschel and Martin Luther King, Jr.
    (Conservative Judaism, 1998) Heschel, Susannah
    An article about the seemingly unlikely friendship and collaboration between Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Dr. Martin Luther King. Susannah Heschel, Rabbi Heschel's daughter, argues that the relationship was based on the ethical, prophetic tradition that both men were part of. Professor Heschel is the Eli Black Associate Professor of Jewish Studies a t Dartmouth College. Click on the link to read the article.
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    Want to Fight Antisemitism? Embrace Jewish Traditions
    (New York Times, 2023-09-14) Lipstadt, Deborah E.
    An opinion column in the New York Times by Deborah Lipstadt, a professor of Jewish history and Holocaust studies at Emory University, and currently serves as special envoy to the State Department charged with combating antisemitism abroad. In this column, Lipstadt contends that the fight against antisemitism is most effective when, rather than reacting to an antisemitic attack, Jews fully and openly embrace Judaism's values of ethics and justice. Written as Jews prepared to observe the High Holy Days, just prior to Rosh Hashannah, she exhorts Jews to celebrate their own culture and demonstrate solidarity with all persecuted groups and to focus on "how Jews, and anyone confronting persecution, live rather than how they suffer." Click on the link above to read the column.
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    Judith Shulevitz on the Radical Idea of the Sabbath
    (The Atlantic, 2010-05-14) Goldberg, Jeffrey
    An interview conducted by Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic Magazine with Judith Shulevitz about her book, "The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time."Shulevitz claims that the Sabbath is a radical concept in that it establishes the idea that "everyone, not just the upper classes, not just the priests and doctors and elites and the king have the right to rest in a regular way one day a week Indeed, she states, "[the Sabbath]...was so radically progressive that it even mandated that you had to give your animals the day off." Click on the link to read the interview.
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    Yidele, Farlir Nit Dayn Hoffnung
    (YouTube, 2020-08-12) LaRue, Thomas ,"Der Shvartzer Khazn"
    Recording in Yiddish of the song, "Yidele, Farlir Nit Dayn Hoffnung (Don't Give Up Hope, Mr. Jew)," Click on the link above to listen.
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    In the 1920s, a Black cantor moved the world
    (The Forward, 2021-01-17) Grisar, PJ
    In observance of Martin Luther King Day, The Forward republished an article about Thomas LaRue, known as “Der Shvartze Khazn” or, “the Black Cantor” in the 1920s. His mother was not Jewish and it is not clear whether or not she converted. However, she preferred the company of Jews to Christians and "she insisted he have a Jewish primary school education, be able to pray from a siddur [Jewish pray book] and have a bar mitzvah in his 13th year." LaRue was raised in a Jewish environment. Click on the link above to read the article.
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    Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
    (2022) Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
    Founded by Rabbi Stephen Wise as the Free Synagogue, the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue still adheres to the values of its founder, committed to social justice and to close ties to Israel. Click on the link above to see the Synagogue's homepage.
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    Stephen Samuel Wise: American Zionist leader
    (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2022-03-13) The Editors of Encylopedia Britanica
    Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1874, Stephen Wise emigrated to New York City, where he became a prominent leader of the Zionist movement and exerted major influence in shaping the direction of Reform Judaism in the United States. In 1907 he founded the Free Synagogue dedicated to liberal Judaism, where he served as rabbi until his death in 1949. Click on the link above to read the article.
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    When Jews Wearing Masks On Purim Were Arrested Under The ‘Anti-Mask Law’
    (The Jewish Press, 2022-03-09) Singer, Jay Saul
    An article about a nineteenth century New York law prohibiting public masking resulted in the arrest arrest and imprisonment of Jews returning from Purim celebrations in 1868. The article also includes a general discussion of the history of Purim celebrations in New York State. Click on the link to read the article.
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    Keep your ugly sweaters – Hanukkah isn't Christmas and doesn't need to be
    (Salon, 2021-11-30) Simon, Jen
    This commentary begins with "Hanukkah is not a Jewish Christmas. It never was and shouldn't be treated like it is. So pay attention retailers: knock it off. Stop trying to sell us dumb products." The article is about the tug of war between assimilation and differentiation, and how corporations try to package Hanukkah as a kind of Christmas. Click on the link above to access,
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    The Radical Heschel
    (Jewish Currents, 2020-12-23) West, Cornel
    In this article, scholar Cornel West contextualizes the belief of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel within the Jewish prophetic tradition. West describes Heschel as "greatest exemplar of the prophetic legacy of Jerusalem in the most anti-Jewish century of recorded time." It was Heschel's view of Judaism, particularly in the wake of the holocaust, that led him to work closely with Martin Luther King and to march side-by-side with him during the struggle for civil rights in Selma and Birmingham, Alabama. Click on the link above to read the article. Click on the first link below to read Heschel's writings. Click on the following links for other articles about Heschel.
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    Rabbi Schneerson Led A Small Hasidic Sect To World Prominence
    (The New York Times, 1994-06-13) Goldman, Ari L.
    An obituary for Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, which discusses his life, work, contributions and his considerable influence on the Lubavitch Chassidic movement. It also considers the controversial incident that took place in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, NY, when Rabbi Schneerson's motorcade lost control and killed a 7-year old black child. sparking a series of disturbances. The article also notes the emphasis Rabbi Schneerson placed on the importance of Jews, through good deeds and actions hastening the coming of the Messiah. Additionally, it notes, that some of his followers believed he actually was the Messiah, a belief that his critics charged he did not forcefully disabuse them of. Click on the URI above to read the obituary. To see Chabad's perspective on Rabbi Schneerson, click on the See Also link below.
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    The Rebbe: A Brief Biography
    (Chabad.org, 2004-12-23) Chabad.org Staff
    This is a biographical sketch of Rabbit Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the most prominent and best-known leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The article states that he was the "most phenomenal Jewish personality of modern times." His leadership was responsible for the extensive growth of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and saw the establishment of Lubavitch centers and Chabad houses in many cities and university campuses worldwide. His primary mission was fostering among Jews the kinds of good deeds and actions that would bring the world closer to the coming of the Messiah. Click on the URI above to read the biography. If you would like to read an obituary of Rabbi Schneerson in the New York Times, click on the See Also link below.
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    Erich Fromm and Religion Without God
    (The Algemeiner, 2020-01-26) Rosen, Jeremy
    An essay on "You Shall Be as Gods: A Radical Interpretation of the Old Testament and Its Tradition" by Erich Fromm, the prominent Jewish American psychiatrist. Towards the beginning of the essay is the provocative claim that "Here was one of the most acclaimed psychiatrists of the century arguing for the benefit of Orthodox Judaism – but without God. He was a completely non-religious, atheist Jew writing about how psychologically important Jewish Law and its behavioral rituals (including keeping Shabbat and Kashrut) were for the sanity of modern society." Click on the link above to read the rest.
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    Maggid
    (Poetry Foundation, 2001) Piercy, Marge
    In the Passover Seder the Maggid is the telling of the Passover story. This poem is the poet Marge Piercy's commentary on the story. Click on the link above to read it.
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    Jack Wertheimer, "The New American Judaism: How Jews Practice their Religion Today" (Princeton UP, 2018)
    (New Books Network, 2019-10-29) Jackson, Lindsey; Wertheimer, Jack
    An audio interview with Jack Wertheimer, author of "The New American Judaism: How Jews Practice their Religion Today" (Princeton UP, 2018). "Wertheimer argues that American Jews are indeed engaging with Judaism, albeit in unique and unorthodox ways." Click on the link above to access the interview.
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    Light and Shadows: Thoughts for Hanukkah
    (Ideals (jewishideas.org), 2019-12-18) Angel, Marc D.
    The writer is Dr. Rabbi Marc D. Angel, " Founder and Director of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals (jewishideas.org), and Editor of its journal, Conversations. He is Rabbi Emeritus of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of New York City." Click on the link above to read this contemplation on Hanukkah,
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    The Birthday of the World
    (Poetry Foundation. Originally published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2006) Piercy, Marge
    A poem by the Jewish American writer Marge Piercy, on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah. Click on the link above to access.