Judaism
“And in the end, the love you take”
By Jeffrey Salkin — June 28, 2023
My final sermon -- a mix tape with Sinatra, the Monotones, Rav Kook, and Cynthia Ozick. More than four decades of striving for the holy.
‘Rabbi, what happens after I die?’
By Jeffrey Salkin — June 23, 2023
(RNS) — If you never learned this in religious school, then (in Brooklynese) 'you was robbed.'
German curator on a mission to return silver heirlooms stolen from Jewish families by the Nazis
By Kirsten Grieshaber — June 13, 2023
(RNS) — The Bavarian National Museum is returning 111 silver objects at the that the Nazis stole from Jews during the Third Reich in 1939.
I am retiring. What will happen to my books?
By Jeffrey Salkin — June 13, 2023
What happens to Judaism in a biblio-phobic culture? It ain't pretty.
Why people have trouble praying
By Jeffrey Salkin — June 6, 2023
Does your spiritual life need a GPS? Meet the master teacher who helped create it.
We asked hard questions about Reform Judaism
By Jeffrey Salkin — June 6, 2023
(RNS) — Three hundred Reform Jews; three hundred fifty Reform Jewish opinions. It worked.
Is “Succession” Jewish?
By Jeffrey Salkin — June 1, 2023
The story of “Succession” seems like Shakespeare. Or, like Greek tragedy. And a little Bible as well.
Can you see the face of a friend?
By Jeffrey Salkin — May 30, 2023
Social justice, kosher-style 101. Wrapped up in one poetic piece of Jewish law.
The hidden Torah of Steely Dan
By Jeffrey Salkin — May 24, 2023
Listen closely, dig deeper. There is far more to Steely Dan than meets the ear. Just like our sacred texts.
Paul Simon gets religion
By Jeffrey Salkin — May 19, 2023
It only took him 82 years, but Paul Simon has created a masterful piece of Jewish liturgy.
God might be an underachiever
By Jeffrey Salkin — May 4, 2023
Rabbi Harold Kushner figured something out about God. Let's go one step further.
Harold Kushner was America’s rabbi
By Jeffrey Salkin — May 1, 2023
(RNS) — Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote the bestselling Jewish book of all time — with the possible exception of the Bible. His gentle wisdom helped and healed millions of people.
Happy 95th birthday, Cynthia Ozick!
By Jeffrey Salkin — April 27, 2023
"All the world wants the Jews dead." Cynthia Ozick was the prophetic voice that we needed. And, still need.
Why I am saying kaddish for Al Jaffee of Mad magazine
By Jeffrey Salkin — April 12, 2023
(RNS) — A childhood literary hero has died — the man who taught me the art of snark.
This year, Purim is not funny
By Jeffrey Salkin — March 7, 2023
The end of the book of Esther is not pretty. Here is why it matters -- more than ever.