Being Jewish

Arts
Idina Menzel Dishes on ‘Redwood’ and Jewish Ethics
The Tony award-winning actor and singer is now starring in what may be the most positive Jewish play on Broadway in decades.

The Tony award-winning actor and singer is now starring in what may be the most positive Jewish play on Broadway in decades.
Being Jewish
I Forgive a Country
For professor and writer Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor, reclaiming German citizenship almost 90 years after her grandfather fled Munich has helped her come to terms with her family’s past.

For professor and writer Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor, reclaiming German citizenship almost 90 years after her grandfather fled Munich has helped her come to terms with her
Being Jewish
The Last Generation of Holocaust Survivors
Five women who survived the Shoah as children share their harrowing stories, their resilience and their fear that ‘history is repeating itself.’

Five women who survived the Shoah as children share their harrowing stories, their resilience and their fear that ‘history is repeating itself.’
Books
‘On Being Jewish Now’ at Full Volume
‘I am a Jewish author who refuses to remain silent. ‘Loud and proud’ is the new ‘Never again.’

‘I am a Jewish author who refuses to remain silent. ‘Loud and proud’ is the new ‘Never again.’
Being Jewish
Ramping up—and Rethinking— Israel Education
Jewish day schools in the United States tackle the impact of October 7 in the classroom.

Jewish day schools in the United States tackle the impact of October 7 in the classroom.
Being Jewish
‘Let There Be Light’ Feels More Urgent Than Ever
‘I can’t think of a declaration more intrepid or poignant for the first painful anniversary of October 7,’ writes Abigail Pogrebin.

‘I can’t think of a declaration more intrepid or poignant for the first painful anniversary of October 7,’ writes Abigail Pogrebin.
Being Jewish
Time for a Reassessment Among Jewish Americans
“If antisemitism is a fact, then what can we do about it?,” Rabbi Diana Fresko writes. “Historically, there are three options: Stay and fight, leave and rebuild, or do nothing.”

“If antisemitism is a fact, then what can we do about it?,” Rabbi Diana Fresko writes. “Historically, there are three options: Stay and fight, leave
Being Jewish
Israel’s Other Secret Weapon
Israel’s secret weapon, Golda Meir once said, is that “we have no place else to go.” But there’s another tool in our arsenal: community.

Israel’s secret weapon, Golda Meir once said, is that “we have no place else to go.” But there’s another tool in our arsenal: community.
Being Jewish
Jewish Girls Make the Grade
Girls are reaching new levels of academic success, in the process surpassing boys in earning undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Girls are reaching new levels of academic success, in the process surpassing boys in earning undergraduate and graduate degrees.

The bride and groom stood in front of a camera in the chapel at Ansche Chesed. Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky stared back at them from a laptop screen.

Being Jewish

Jewish College Students Are Uniting in Zoom University Hillel

by Deanna Schwartz | JTA

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced nearly every college to transition to online courses and, in most cases, move students out of their dorms.

Being Jewish

Being the Child of Survivors Prepared Me for This Pandemic

by Sara Nuss-Galles | JTA

This pandemic is my first realistic encounter with the hyper-wariness my parents harbored and I long struggled to squelch inside me.

Being Jewish

Passover in a Pandemic: Solo Seders and Broken Traditions

by Ben Sales | JTA

Families are scrapping traditions as Passover approaches, relying on Zoom get-togethers and solo or small-scale meals in the face of the pandemic.

Being Jewish

Purim Reminds Me of All We Haven’t Learned After #MeToo

by Sheila Katz | JTA

In the era of #MeToo, should we now question why Mordechai is often extolled as the Purim story’s hero rather than an enabler of abuse?

Being Jewish

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi Is Shifting the Conversation on Disabilities

by Hilary Danailova

Laszlo Mizrahi runs RespectAbility, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit dedicated to fighting stigma and advancing opportunities for—and with—people with disabilities.