Beliefs and concepts
Path of Least Resistance?
By now you have surely recovered from Pesach (Passover) so we can break the news to you that there is also a Second Pesach. But don’t worry; you won’t have to do it all over again. This week’s Parsha tells the story of a group of men who were unable to bring the Passover offering on Erev Pesach (the day preceding Passover) in the wilderness and approached Moses with a sincere request. “Why...
April 17, 2013 9:15 am
Of Love and Hate
At the center of the mosaic books is Vayikra (Leviticus). At the centre of Vayikra is the...
April 17, 2013 8:23 am
The Boston Marathon: A Response
An Abrupt End Yesterday, life in America took on a different meaning. At 2:50pm ET,...
April 15, 2013 1:24 am
“Women of the Wall”: As if we Don’t Have Enough Problems Already
A group called “Women of the Wall” is in the news again. For some time now they have been...
April 12, 2013 4:31 pm
Not My Bible
I am not amongst those who consider it a religious crime to live outside Israel. After...
April 12, 2013 8:02 am
Cardinal Sean O’Malley Joins Other Boston Catholic Leaders on Israel Pilgrimage
Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who was considered by some to be a leading candidate for Pope at...
April 11, 2013 3:07 am
Holiness and Childbirth
The sidrot (Torah portions) of Tazria and Metsorah contain laws which are among the most difficult...
April 11, 2013 3:02 am
Western Wall Egalitarian Prayer Section Proposed by Jewish Agency’s Sharansky
At the Western Wall, a new plan has emerged for the creation of an egalitarian prayer section...
April 9, 2013 9:37 am
Judaism and Revelation
We’ve all heard the sensible saying that history is written by the victors, but on second...
April 8, 2013 1:22 am
The Sexualization of Our Teens is Becoming Endemic
It speaks volumes about a culture when a President, whom by all accounts is personally honorable,...
April 4, 2013 7:02 am
Fire: Holy and Unholy
The shock is immense. For several weeks and many chapters – the longest prelude in the...
April 4, 2013 1:39 am
Presbyterian Church Publishing House Promotes Conspiracy Theories
The publishing house owned by the Presbyterian Church (USA), Westminster John Knox Press (WJK),...
April 3, 2013 2:01 am
Belittling Tormentors Allows Us to be Free
A friend from New Jersey, who lived through Hurricane Sandy, as did I, called and asked me...
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Arts and Culture Blogs
Film Review: Fill the Void (VIDEO)
Rama Burshtein’s Fill the Void (Lemale et ha’halal) is the second film in as many years to emerge from Israel with not only a strong international presence, but a unique perspective on religious Judaism. Just as Footnote before it, this was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards after a run of significant festival appearances (including winning Best Actress at the 2012 Venice Film Festival). The film represents the crowning jewel of an emerging religious women’s cinema [...]
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Arts and Culture Blogs
EXCLUSIVE: Gal Gadot on Jewish Identity, American Films and Representing Israel in Hollywood (INTERVIEW)
Gal Gadot is arguably Israel’s second hottest export at the moment. The former Miss Israel 2004 and Miss Universe contestant has a starring role in the most recent film from the Fast and the Furious Franchise and is one of the faces of Israel’s largest clothing brands, Castro. Now she’s teaming up with Vine Vera skin care products,which incorporates the breakthrough ingredient Resveratrol, which she tells The Algemeiner is “a new innovative discovery which helps slow down the aging process [...]
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Arts and Culture Blogs
Jonathan Ames, ‘Herring Wonder’ and HBO Series Creator, Does Israel
Writer Jonathan Ames, creator of the HBO television series “Bored to Death,” is known for his fearless and exhibitionistic persona. One can find YouTube videos of him eating herring and boxing at the same time, having knives thrown at him by a person called “Throwdini,” and ranting drunkenly at an awards ceremony. And when it comes to writing, Ames’s essays tend to cover racy topics. Given these exploits, it’s a bit surprising to learn that Ames’s recent trip to Israel [...]
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Arts and Culture Beliefs and concepts
Jewish Presence in Contemporary Art
The Jewish presence and identity in the contemporary world of art is one truly worth noting. At the 3rd annual conference of “Jewish Arts & Identity in the contemporary world” in Baruch College’s Jewish Studies Center, at a panel entitled “Jewish Ways of Seeing: The Visual Arts and the Jewish Tradition”, the Jewish impact on the creative world is exemplified through the discussion of artist Audrey Flack and her various works. Flack was born in 1931 to a fairly Orthodox [...]
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Blogs Features
Black Jazz Musician Encounters Mixed Reactions to Subway Renditions of Hatikvah, Hava Hagila
At first you may be skeptical of Isaiah Richardson Jr. He doesn’t look like somebody who would be playing Hava Nagila for passengers waiting for their train in the subway. Firstly, he seems too young, and secondly, he’s a black kid from the Bronx, dressed sharply, derby hat and all. But when upon meeting Isaiah, the 32-year-old ticked off “Hevenu Shalom Aleichem,” “Bashana Haba’ah,” and “Zum Gali Gali” as some of his favorite songs to play passing crowds, I knew [...]
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Blogs Music
Mother’s Day Performer Blends Israeli Independence and the Jewish Side of Verdi
This Mother’s Day, the music of opera singer Sharon Azrieli Perez will integrate the varied threads that have made up the fabric of her life. Perez, in a Mother’s Day concert May 12 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, will weave a musical experience that brings together intimations of Israeli independence, Giuseppe Verdi’s use of Jewish melodies, medieval Ladino music, and modern Jewish show music. These musical elements are particularly personal for Perez, whose Juilliard education has [...]
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Blogs Jewish 100 Social
Harvey Weinstein to Elie Wiesel: Without You There Would be no ‘Schindler’s List’ (VIDEO)
Famed film producer Harvey Weinstein presented Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel with the Algemeiner newspaper’s ‘Warrior for Truth’ award at its recent star studded 40th anniversary ‘JEWISH 100’ Gala. “My mother, the Miriam of Miramax […] was so thrilled when she heard that I was presenting to Professor Wiesel,” Weinstein said as he called on the professor to accept the award. “I am happy to be here on the Algemeiner’s 40th anniversary and to celebrate their top 100,” Weinstein added. Commenting [...]
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Israel Sports
Israeli Soccer Star Victim of Anti-Semitic Abuse on Twitter
Israeli soccer star Yossi Benayoun, who currently plays for FC Chelsea in the English Premier League, was recently the victim of anti-Semitic abuse on Twitter. After thanking his Twitter followers for sending him birthday wishes, Benayoun, who many consider to be the greatest Israeli soccer player ever, was sent the following message: “f***in Jew a**hole.” Benayoun posted a response, saying, “Some nice people in the world.” His team has called on the police to investigate the matter, according to the Britain’s [...]
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