Judaism
Israelis stage largest protest since war began to increase pressure on Netanyahu
By Melanie Lindman, Wafaa Shurafa, and And Samy Magdy — April 1, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — Protesters blame Netanyahu for the failures of Oct. 7 and say the deep political divisions over his attempted judicial overhaul last year weakened Israel ahead of the attack.
High court ruling on Haredi draft exemption may set Israel on course for new elections
By David I. Klein — March 29, 2024
(RNS) — The draft exemptions, long a flashpoint issue in Israeli politics, have become even more fraught since the start of the war in Gaza, as Israel has called up over 300,000 reservists to active service while still exempting Haredis studying Torah.
Senator Joseph Lieberman’s real legacy to America and the Jews
By Jeffrey Salkin — March 29, 2024
(RNS) — A great American, and a great Jew, has died.
Joe Lieberman’s religiously promiscuous campaign
By Mark Silk — March 28, 2024
(RNS) — A missed opportunity for the first Jew on a major-party presidential ticket.
With its soldiers mired in Gaza, Israel fights a battle at home over drafting the ultra-Orthodox
By Melanie Lidman — March 28, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — Among Israel’s Jewish majority, mandatory military service is largely seen as a melting pot and rite of passage. The ultra-Orthodox say that integrating into the army will threaten their generations-old way of life.
Right-wing media descends into theological row over Israel-Hamas war
By Jack Jenkins — March 27, 2024
(RNS) — Over the weekend, right-wing pundits fiercely debated whether the phrase ‘Christ is King’ is antisemitic.
Purim’s original queen: How studying the Book of Esther as fan fiction can teach us about the roots of an unruly Jewish festival
By Esther Brownsmith — March 26, 2024
(The Conversation) — Whether thousands of years ago or right now, fans have always created new stories based on familiar characters, weaving their own experiences into the tale.
US Jews upset with Trump’s latest rhetoric say he doesn’t get to tell them how to be Jewish
By Peter Smith and Tiffany Stanley — March 26, 2024
(AP) – This week, Trump charged that Jewish Democrats were being disloyal to their faith and to Israel.
When Stephen Colbert and Paul Simon talked about faith
By Jeffrey Salkin — March 25, 2024
(RNS) — Two amazing personalities open their souls on national television. What a gift!
Polling places inside synagogues are being moved for Pennsylvania’s April primary during Passover
By Mark Scolforo — March 25, 2024
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — In Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, election officials relocated 16 polling places from six locations — synagogues as well as a Jewish community center
Religious affairs expert Thomas Bowen moves from city of Washington to White House
By Adelle M. Banks — March 22, 2024
WASHINGTON (RNS) — While shifting to national and international issues, he will still be acting as a clergyperson in the city that he has long served.
‘The Ally’: The cost of not being angry
By Beth Kissileff — March 21, 2024
(RNS) — A play that enables audiences to listen in on topics about which no one is able to speak courteously.
The zone of indifference
By Joshua Hammerman — March 21, 2024
(RNS) — Elie Wiesel's creed of non-apathy demands that Jews open our eyes to the suffering of innocents on all sides, including Gazans.
Israeli rabbinate under scrutiny as religious issues threaten government’s wartime unity
By David I. Klein — March 21, 2024
(RNS) — A complaint against the rabbinate's control of who is deemed Jewish comes as cracks are beginning to show in the sense of unity fostered by Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7.
Sen. Schumer called for Israel’s new elections. American Jews fractured.
By Yonat Shimron — March 20, 2024
(RNS) — The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations said in its statement that it was 'distressed' by Sen. Schumer's speech. Then a group of Jewish organizations revolted against the statement.
