Dear Jew in the City, For St. Patrick’s Day, we learn about the “luck of the Irish.” Do Jews believe in luck? Best, Marsha Dear Marsha, Thanks for your question. Before I answer, let tell you about the expression “luck of the Irish,” because it doesn’t mean what people think it means. It may […]
When I was young, my mom brought me with her to a shiva house for a woman whose husband had died. I didn’t really know the woman or her husband, but for some reason, when I got there, I decided to make a joke. It got a big laugh, so I continued. Before I knew […]
My friend has been crying endless tears for Israel. She is a proud American Reform Jew who has been overcome with grief since October 7. She’s a redhead, who’s been especially hit hard by the tragic news of the Bibas family murders in Hamas captivity. I told her she can’t only have darkness enter her […]
Ah, Hollywood. The land of glitz, glamour, and, apparently, rewriting history for future generations. The latest example? The Oscar-winning “No Other Land,” a film that presents itself as hard-hitting investigative journalism but conveniently omits any historical evidence in favor of a carefully curated narrative. And now, thanks to its shiny golden statue, it will undoubtedly […]
Dear Jew in the City, Ozempic and similar treatments are trending like crazy. Is there any Jewish law against using them? Or is it a good thing to take care of your body in this way? Best, Barbara Dear Barbara, Thanks for your question. My answer, perhaps surprisingly, starts in the book of Bereishis. In […]
Being a proud Jew in Hollywood isn’t easy these days, especially in a time when the best documentary at the Oscars goes to a pro-Palestinian film, where the filmmakers call what is happening in Gaza “ethnic cleansing,” and the crowd applauds. Being an Orthodox Jew in Hollywood has never been easy, especially when a call […]
