How the infamous Oberammergau Passion Play is evolving
(RNS) — For the past three decades, the most heinous anti-Jewish excesses of the world's most famous Passion play have been slowly eliminated, but more work needs to be done.
What about those Israeli settlements?
(RNS) — Evangelicals are cheering Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement that the U.S. no longer considers Israeli development of the West Bank illegal, but some Jewish values take precedence over land.
Vatican appears to rebuke new US West Bank settlement policy
(RNS) — The Vatican criticized ‘recent decisions’ it says undermine the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced this week that the U.S. no longer sees Israeli settlements on occupied territory as illegal.
FBI report: Jews the target of overwhelming number of religious-based hate crimes
(RNS) — Hate crimes motivated by religious bias accounted for 1,550 offenses, and the majority of those — 57.8% — were anti-Jewish.
Trump advisor calls Pompeo's West Bank decision an answered prayer
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Monday (Nov. 18) that it no longer considered Israeli settlement illegal, instead calling them 'ill-advised,' a term borrowed from Ronald Reagan. Pro-Israel evangelical leaders praised the move, but other faith groups criticized it.
How the US military has embraced growing religious diversity
(The Conversation) — The U.S. military has continually, and often slowly, adapted its relationship with American religion, cognizant of the pragmatic need to support religious diversity but fearful of too much splintering.
God's Uber driver in Pittsburgh
(RNS) — In a modern Hasidic story, Melchizedek appears as an Uber driver in Pittsburgh.
In the sacred stillness of Arlington National Cemetery
(RNS) — A visitors to the cemetery recognizes the enormous price in military dead America has paid, and continues to pay, for our freedom.
Museum of the Bible displays medieval Hebrew Pentateuch
(RNS) — The 15-by-24 Pentateuch bound in leather with metal bosses dates to around the year 1000 and was acquired two years ago by the Green Collection, headed by billionaire Steve Green of the Hobby Lobby arts and crafts chain.
She reclaimed her faith as a woman. Now she's teaching others to reclaim theirs.
DURHAM, N.C. (RNS) — A harrowing journey toward gender transition led Yiscah Smith to find God's dwelling within. Now she teaches others to do the same.
Anti-Semitism in the US today is a variation on an old theme
(The Conversation) — With anti-Semitism today bombarding American Jews from the right and the left, the moment appears new, but its language is not. It's a very old theme.
When a Jewish magazine dies
(RNS) — Sh’ma, the 40-year-old journal of Reform Jewish thought, utters Sh’ma, the deathbed prayer. Don’t mourn too much. It did its job.
Women's group brings Torahs to Western Wall, faces backlash from conservatives
JERUSALEM (RNS) — Several hundred schoolchildren, seminary students and adults gathered at the Western Wall to protest Women of the Wall members who brought Torah scrolls to pray with in the women's section.
When Judaism Meets Science — A new book for a new year
Judaism can be understood as an inter-family conversation over time and space. Today, however, the traditional pillars of Judaism are confronted with a comprehensive and unique challenge from the sciences, ...
At J Street Conference, presidential candidates say Israel policy is due for a reboot
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Sen. Bernie Sanders' popularity with young people and his willingness to take a tough stand on Netanyahu, Trump, the settler movement and the failed peace process won him exuberant support here.