“Laughter is one of those things that’s universal,” says Joan Weiner, an Orthodox female comedian. When it comes to jokes about cholent pots, Shabbos prep, and head coverings, religious Jews have a personal connection to the humor. Nevertheless, Weiner has the ability to reach people from every community. Born in Long Island to a traditional […]

Dear Jew in the City- What is Shabbos Nachamu? I know it’s the Shabbos after Tisha b’Av but what’s the point of it? Are you supposed to do anything on it? Thanks! Sincerely, Cici Dear Cici- For the three Shabboses leading up to Tisha b’Av, we read haftaros of admonition – two from Jeremiah and […]

When I reached out to Makom several years ago, I was in a severe spiritual crisis. I grew up in a Hasidic household and also had my share of abuse which included emotional, sexual and religious abuse. I so badly felt a need to belong but never had that feeling. My father abandoned me and […]

Rare Combo: Religious Jew Takes Jazz Music Scene by Storm Israeli saxophonist and jazz singer Daniel Zamir was born to secular parents in Petah Tikva, but while studying at a prestigious New York university, he found a connection to the Jewish faith and returned to Israel as a reborn Jew, becoming the first Haredi musician […]

This time of year, we love to talk about hate. We love to quote the Talmudic passage (Yoma 9b) that says the Second Temple was destroyed because of sinat chinam, usually translated as baseless hatred; we love to talk about increasing ahavat chinam, baseless love, to end the exile that hated began. And we love […]