The little-known Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer starts tonight and goes through tomorrow. This day of late-spring fun interrupts a period of national mourning for the Jewish people. How did this annual pre-Memorial Day festival come to be? Two thousand years ago, the great Torah sage Rabbi Akiva, who was considered to be the best teacher of […]
Dear Jew in the City, With all the recent media attention on the Vatican and the process of selecting a new pope through a conclave, I was wondering—does Judaism have anything remotely similar? Is there a historical or halachic equivalent to locking leaders in a room until a decision is made? How are major religious […]
After a star-studded and incredibly inspirational 2nd JITC Jewish Media Awards this past November in Lincoln Center with studio and agency reps in attendance, we are thrilled to start planing the next one. JITC’s 3rd Jewish Media Awards will yet again be: The Greatest Night In Jewish Representation. When we launched JITC (Jewish Institute for […]
At the 2nd annual Jewish Media Awards, held at Lincoln Center on November 12, 2024, actress and proud Sephardic Jew Emmanuelle Chriqui introduced Israeli TV series “Fauda” as the recipient of the prestigious Keter Shem Tov Award. Doron Ben-David, who plays the beloved character Steve, accepted the award on behalf of the show. “I am […]
Dear Jew in the City, Why does a Jewish couple get married under a chuppah? Sincerely, Ben Dear Ben, Thanks for your question. For the answer, let us turn to the Talmudic tractate of Kiddushin, which deals with the subject of marriage. The very first Mishnah tells us that marriage is effected through […]
Even though it’s the Omer right now, and weddings and other celebrations are forbidden because we are in mourning, wedding season will soon be upon us. Jewish weddings are unique; they come with their own customs and traditions. You may have seen people dancing the Hora and lifting the bride and groom onto chairs at […]
