The world’s most popular podcast featured a guest in a yarmulke. And he wasn’t there to talk about Judaism. He was there to talk about anxiety, and why it might not be something to fear. “How can I set up an appointment with him?” “What a sincere gentleman and scholar.” Those were just two of […]
Dear Jew in the City, With the recent Donald Trump/Elon Musk spat dominating headlines, what guidance does Jewish wisdom offer about how to argue passionately without crossing a line? How can we disagree better/respectfully, especially in such a polarized world? Sincerely, Kate Dear Kate, Thanks for your question. I’ll share some thoughts on disagreeing, […]
Dear Jew in the City, I have a few Orthodox friends who are very pro-Israel, but I have also read that some forms of Orthodoxy are vehemently anti-Zionist. I’ve heard of other sects who completely separate the concepts of Zionism and Judaism as two essentially separate belief systems. I have no idea if any of […]
Dear Jew in the City, With all the international attention on Israel’s war with Hamas, I’ve been hearing a lot of debate—both within the Jewish world and beyond—about whether Israel is obligated to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. Some argue that as Jews, we’re commanded to help all people, even our enemies. Others say that […]
When Orthodox Jewish U.S. Army Specialist Daniel Agami was killed by an improvised IED in Iraq, he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart among several other honors, and his parents earned the designation of being Gold Star Parents. Despite this bittersweet distinction, his mother Beth Agami’s deep faith in Hashem has allowed her journey to […]
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 […]
