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Film Review | The Offering
Chaya Sara Oppenheim’s review of The Offering combines a close reading of the film’s Jewish details as well as the bigger message of the meaning of family in the face of horror.
Back in Time to 1909: The Black Jewish Relationship and the founding of the NAACP with Lillie J. Edwards and Nadine Epstein
W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, Henry Moskowitz, Rabbi Emil Hirsch, Rabbi Stephen Samuel Wise, Lillian Wald and others came together to found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), launching a historic chapter in the fight for civil rights. Dr. Lillie J. Edwards, Professor Emerita of History and African American studies at Drew University discusses what was going on in 1909, the importance of this Black-Jewish coalition, and how the Black and Jewish communities can continue to work together to counter racism.
Meet the Five New Jewish House Members
Forget about the ‘Jew-ish’ guy. These five new members of Congress have real lives worth noting.
From the Newsletter | Holocaust Remembrance Day: Recall, Engage and Preserve. But Reimagine?
As the number of survivors shrinks, their experiences can be preserved, as new innovations allow us to hear those we’ve lost.
Who Will Replace the Last Eyewitnesses to the Holocaust?
Programs use storytelling and technology to allow students to be “second witnesses” to the Holocaust.
Why Were 99 Percent of Holocaust Murderers Never Prosecuted?
“If the man on the London bus was the impetus for committing to make the film, this man in his prized, hateful jacket validated that commitment.”
Kyiv Diary 1/26/23: Powerful Gifts from the United States
Donations of portable generators, lanterns and more spark hope and memories of assistance during WWII.
Escaping Auschwitz with Jonathan Freedland and Dan Raviv
Guardian journalist Jonathan Freedland, author of The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World joins former CBS News correspondent and Moment contributor Dan Raviv for a conversation about the heroic efforts of Vrba and why his report did not achieve its goal—of ending the Nazi slaughter of the Jews.
Spice Box | When J-Date’s Not Good Enough
For frogs and boils, you’re on your own.
Ten Jewish TikTokers
As on other social media apps, there are plenty of prominent Jewish TikTokers who have built platforms for themselves on the ever-growing app.
Poem | Augury
We buy the house next door to my parents, because dread is proportional to the years.
Interview | Max Weinberg, King of the Beat
In a conversation with drummer Max Weinberg, a few things become clear after a beat or two.
Abortion Rights: Where Jewish Ultra-Orthodox and Christian Conservatives Meet
Moment Institute Fellow Nathan Guttman examines the beliefs and practices of the Haredim, specifically in regards to abortion rights.
The Conversation
I was pleased and surprised to read in Moment’s fascinating Role Model Project article (November/December) that Esther Wojcicki named Varian Fry as one of her role models.
Jewish Word | Semicha—When a Rabbi Becomes a Rabbi
Semicha is a Hebrew word that means “leaning” and a widely used synonym for rabbinic ordination.
An Interview with Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova
Accepting Moment’s Women in Power Award, Ambassador Markarova spoke about the importance of ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine, the challenges of serving in wartime and what it’s like to work with President Volodymr Zelenskyy.
Will Netanyahu Follow the High Court’s Order on Deri?
Wednesday’s ruling disqualifying Aryeh Deri from his ministerial positions has pushed the country into serious political turmoil.
Visual Moment | Tales of Rifles and Resistance
These are the words of Faye Schulman, who, at age 16 during World War II, fled to the forests outside her hometown of Lenin, Poland, after witnessing her entire family being executed by the Nazis.
Book Review | The Journey of a Baghdadi Dynasty
The Sassoons were Baghdadi Jewish merchants whose patriarch fled an autocratic Ottoman governor, first to Iran and then, in 1832, to Bombay (today’s Mumbai).
Talk of the Table | Waste with Taste: Peels, Stems, Tops and More
Recipes designed to minimize waste have been part of Jewish culture for generations.
The Educational Legacy of Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington with Dorothy Canter, Marian and Valerie Coleman, Stephanie Deutsch, Andrew Feiler and Aviva Kempner
A discussion about Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington’s historic partnership, the impact the Rosenwald schools had on the African American community and the importance of remembering and preserving their legacy.
Book Review | Degrade and Destroy
Michael Gordon explores America’s response to ISIS throughout the last few presidential administrations in great depth.
The Meaning of ‘Semicha’
How did a word that means “leaning” become the way to describe the act of becoming a rabbi?
Governor Josh Shapiro: Not Your Grandfather’s Jewish Politician
Shapiro isn’t the first Jewish governor, but he is the category’s leading exemplar—unafraid to talk about his faith but mindful that 97.7 percent of Pennsylvanians are not Jewish.
From Zero to Hate in Just a Tik and a Tok
I created a new TikTok account to see how long it would take for the algorithm to go down the “alt-right pipeline.” The result was shocking.
Setting Santos’s Congressional District Free
George Santos isn’t Jewish, but he could still benefit from listening to what the Jewish tradition has to say about truth.
Book Review | A Girl Who’s Born to Climb
Allegra Goodman’s new novel is the first “Read With Jenna” book of 2023.
Moment Debate | Will Changing the Law of Return Harm Israel-Diaspora Relations?
The Law of Return is a sacred bond between the Jews of the world and the State of Israel.
Opinion | Does the Law of Return Need Changing?
Israel’s 1950 Law of Return is the instrument through which the State of Israel has sought to fulfill two main goals: to be a refuge for all Jews, and to ensure Israel as a Jewish domain.
Opinion | The Neurosis of ‘Jewish Power’
Itamar Ben-Gvir heads an Israeli political party called Jewish Power.
Opinion | A Perilous Path for Republicans
Last February, the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) issued a stinging rebuke of Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right Republican representative from Georgia, over her participation in the America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC), hosted by neo-Nazi demagogue Nick Fuentes.
From the Editor | First Encounters of a Hateful Kind
Everyone remembers the first time they encountered religious, ethnic or racial hatred.
Ask the Rabbis | What Jewish Wisdom Would You Offer Today’s Billionaires?
Best to hold on to it so you can enjoy your bounty, but make sure you leave some for me.
Opinion | Who’s Afraid of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich?
Israel’s most recent election results, in which the Israeli people slammed the door on left-wing politicians and completely voted out the extreme left-wing Meretz party, have allowed it to create the most right-wing government in the nation’s history.
The Musical Legacy of Leonard Cohen with David Broza and Amy E. Schwartz
Join David Broza and Moment Book & Opinion editor Amy E. Schwartz, for a conversation about Leonard Cohen, his legacy, why he was so beloved and what it was like to reimagine his songs.
Was ‘Mensch Mayor’ Steve Schewel Good for Durham’s Jews?
Former Mayor Steve Schewel may have turned Durham into a research and tech hub, but faced scrutiny from the city’s Jewish community along the way.
Wisdom Project | Donald J. Stone, 93
Dallas’s Don Stone is a gift that just keeps on giving—to the city’s schools, the arts, and, since the early 1980s, to Hebrew Union College.
The Good, the Bad and the Algorithm
A discordant and disturbing playfulness animates antisemitic content on TikTok. To be sure, there are more nefarious forms of antisemitism on the wildly popular video-sharing app, as well as content that attempts to counteract it.
America Responds to Bibi
Moment’s Nathan Guttman provides in-depth analysis of American politicians’ reactions to the reelection of Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel’s Prime Minister.
From the Newsletter | Sniffing Out the Messiah in 2023
2023 promises to be a tumultuous year. Instead of looking for saviors, let’s make it a year of study, justice, and love in our own lives.
Remembering My Colleague, Barbara Walters
Stuart Schwartz, former senior broadcast producer for ABC News, reflects on his experiences working with Barbara Walters, who passed this week.
12 Books That Made Us Think in 2022
Here are 12 books that made us think—one for each month of 2022—along with some of the books they made us think of reading next.
Moment Memoir | Shame, Names and the Mengele Tractor Factory
Netanyahu Rolls Out His New Government; Jewish Americans React
Kyiv Diary 12/26/2022: Light in the Winter Darkness
American synagogues are stepping up to the plate to help Ukrainian Jews get crucial supplies during this time of war and winter.
Wisdom Project | Rabbi Arthur Ocean Waskow, 89
“It took me a long time, but I learned how to love people,” says Rabbi Arthur Waskow. “I realized I had been not-soft, not-loving. I’d been sharp and smart, maybe even partly wise, but not loving.”
Moment’s Top 10 Most-Read Stories of 2022
A Musical Journey in Search of Iraqi-Jewish Roots with Yoni Avi Battat and Joe Alterman
Yoni Avi Battat discusses his journey into Jewish Arabic poetry, researching translations and tracking down rare editions of Arabic books so he could weave his Arab-Jewish ancestry into his music
After Corbyn’s Exit, Is the Labour Party Safe for UK’s Jews?
Sir Keir Starmer has sought to rid the party of far-left antisemitism. Has he succeeded enough for British Jews to trust the party again?
Crime or Crisis: Disentangling Mental Illness and Antisemitic Violence
Three years after the Hanukkah stabbing attack in Monsey, NY, both antisemitic attacks and mental health crises are still on the rise.
The Seifter Menorah: Fingerprints From a Vanished World
As is often the case with material culture, the Seifter menorah tells a complex story.
From the Newsletter | Let’s Make Hanukkah a Time to Remember Great Women
Returning the women of the Hanukkah story to the spotlight.
From The Rabbit Hole: Yanuka, the Youtube Antichrist
“Who has been hearing about the Jews allegedly finding a highly possible candidate for their Messiah?”
Who Edited Hanukkah Out of the Bible?
Why are the Maccabees—the account of the Jewish insurrection celebrated at Hanukkah—included in the Christian Bible, but not the Hebrew one?
Hanukkah: The Festival of Cheese with Vered Guttman
Potato latkes aren’t the only tradition on Hanukkah, there’s actually another-cheese! Join Israeli chef and food writer Vered Guttman to learn about the bravery of Judith, how she saved the Jewish people with salty cheese and why Hanukkah has become a Jewish celebration with a feminist angle for some. Guttman demonstrates how to make Polish syrniki cheese latkes, Moroccan sfinge doughnuts and Ukrainian pampushki (fried potato balls filled with cheese)
Can the Government Save America from Antisemitism?
The Power of Friendship: Dinners with RBG and others with Nina Totenberg and Nadine Epstein
Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Nina Totenberg were friends for nearly 50 years, meeting long before Ruth became a Supreme Court Justice and Nina an award-winning NPR journalist. They shared the ups and downs of life, the opera, shopping and so much more, and then during Justice Ginsburg’s final year of life, Saturday night dinners. Join NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, author of the new book Dinners with Ruth, for a conversation about the trailblazing paths they both created for future generations of women and the power of friendship. In conversation with Moment editor-in-chief, Nadine Epstein, author of RBG’s Brave and Brilliant Women.
A Virulent Antisemitism: An Interview with Dr. Peter Hotez
Rabbis in States with Abortion Restrictions Find Hope in Interfaith Work
Jewish leaders in states with trigger bans hope interfaith activism may help them advocate for reproductive health.
Closing the Circle with an Old Comrade
Journalist Mark Pinsky reflects on his experiences after the Six-Day War with Max Haber and Norman Rosenbaum. Both men died, and Pinsky returns to Israel to find their graves.
A Wide Open Conversation with Ken Burns and Michael Krasny
Filmmaker Ken Burns joins award-winning journalist Michael Krasny, retired public radio host of KQED Forum, for a wide open conversation about Burn’s just released book Our America: A Photographic History and the new three-part series The U.S. and the Holocaust.
This program is part of a Moment series on antisemitism supported by the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation.
Trump’s Table: Heaps of Antisemitism with a Side of Possible Indictments
Israeli leaders won’t condemn Trump for dining with Ye and Nick Fuentes, but Netanyahu may have some advice for running for office while under indictment.
Jewish and LGBTQ Communities Stand Together Against Club Q Shooting
Aside from her pastoral responsibilities, Aviv, as one of the few lesbian rabbis in Colorado, feels this tragedy on a personal level.
‘Ukraine Never Asked for Blank Checks,’ says Ambassador Oksana Markarova
Kevin McCarthy aside, the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. feels the support from both the American people and their government.
Deborah Lipstadt‘s Mission to Fight Antisemitism
Lipstadt is the U.S. special envoy for monitoring and combating antisemitism and Moment’s 2022 RGB Human Rights Award.
From The Archives | The Pomegranate: A Rich and Holy History
Pomegranate designs were embroidered on the robes of the ancient high priests and adorned King Solomon’s temple
From the Archives | Arthur Waskow’s Thanksgiving Story
Every year, Rabbi Arthur Waskow tells this story to his many followers on Thanksgiving. Moment first published this story in 2000.
Moment 2022 Gala Clips
What Are Sayanim?
The most dangerous conspiracy theories start with a germ of truth that can make them difficult to identify and condemn.
A Robert Siegel Interview with Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova
Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova sits down for an in-depth interview with Moment Special Literary Contributor Robert Siegel, former host of NPR’s All Things Considered. Ambassador Markarova is the 2022 recipient of the “Moment Women and Power Award.”
An Amy E. Schwartz Interview with Emily Bazelon
New York Times Journalist Emily Bazelon sits down for an in-depth interview with Moment Book & Opinion Editor Amy E. Schwartz. Bazelon is the 2022 recipient of the “Moment Robert S. Greenberger Journalism Award.”
A Robert Siegel Interview with Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt
Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism sits down for an in-depth interview with Moment Special Literary Contributor Robert Siegel, former host of NPR’s All Things Considered. Ambassador Lipstadt is the 2022 recipient of the “Moment Ruth Bader Ginsburg Human Rights Award.”
A Nadine Epstein Interview with Max Weinberg
E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg sits down for an in-depth interview with Moment Editor-in-Chief Nadine Epstein. Weinberg is the 2022 recipient of the “Moment Creativity Award.”
Chappelle Stirs the Pot As Fallout from Kanye’s Antisemitism Boils Over
Comedian Dave Chappelle sparked controversy about antisemitism after commenting on Ye’s recent comments in his SNL monologue.
After the Midterms: Now What? And What’s the State of Our Democracy? with Jennifer Rubin and Robert Siegel
What do the midterm election results mean and what should we expect over the next two years? A post-election conversation about the state of our democracy with Washington Post opinion columnist Jennifer Rubin and Robert Siegel, former NPR host of All Things Considered.
Role Models Part II
If as rabbinic sages say, an angel touches us before we are born and causes us to forget all the Torah we have learned in the womb, then we arrive in the world ravenous to learn.
Talk of the Table | Falafel: The Crunch that Binds or Ball of Confusion?
Let’s face it, Canada and the United States are not in conflict over the origins of the donut and which national brand is superior, Dunkin’ or Horton’s.
Jewish Word | ‘Almah’ Grows Up
After working for seven years at a Jewish parenting website, Molly Tolsky wanted to create a space for an audience she herself identified with: young Jewish women focusing on careers and their place in the world who weren’t necessarily thinking about marriage or children.
Breaching the Wall
For many Israelis, TV reporters covering Palestinian affairs offer an increasingly rare glimpse into the world of their Arab neighbors.
The Conversation
I hope devoutly that your September-October online issue really is a one-off, sparked by a temporary paper shortage.
First Jewish Miss Wyoming Heading to National Stage
Fiction | Calculated Moves
So troubling was the dream, and so restless was he as a result, that he stayed in bed longer than usual.
Poem | ALIYAH
Blessed are you, God our God, Sovereign of the World, who has given us the Torah of truth, planting within us life everlasting.
Victories and Tensions in U.S. and Israeli Elections
Americans and Israelis went to the polls recently. Here’s how they’ll deal with the outcomes.
Spice Box | The Merger We Should Have Seen Coming.
Book Review | Whose Biblical Law Is This, Anyway?
In The Book of Revolutions, Edward Feld explores the different political traditions that shaped the Torah as we know it today.
Wisdom Project | Martin Katz, 95
Born in New York, Katz is the “uncle” of the birth control pill which catalyzed the sexual revolution and an avid sculptor.
From the Newsletter | How We’re Responding to Changes at Twitter
On October 27, Elon Musk became the new CEO of Twitter. It does not seem to be going well.
How We’re Responding to Twitter
On October 27, Elon Musk became the new CEO of Twitter. It does not seem to be going well.
Election Day 2022: Jewish Jokes Edition with Bill Novak
There are some days when you just need to laugh! Take a break from pundits and their predictions to savor the fine wine of Jewish jokes. William Novak, co-editor of The Big Book of Jewish Humor, hosts an hour of Jewish humor, including a few jokes you’ve never heard before.
Bibi’s Back: Quick Reactions from Four Moment Contributors
Moment reached out to three of our regular contributors to learn what the latest Israeli election results can teach us.
Book Review | Henry Kissinger on Successful Leadership
Henry Kissinger, now 99 years old, has added to his prodigious scholarship a valuable and enjoyable book on the qualities of great leadership.
Moment Debate | In Embracing Hungary’s Orbán, Are American Conservatives Romancing an Antisemite?
Quite a few conservatives support Orbán.
Ask the Rabbis | How Would You Counsel a Parent and Child Who Are Estranged?
I wouldn’t. Assuming the child in question is an adult, and depending on the degree to which the estrangement has festered, and barring cases of abuse, trying to heal such rifts is misplaced effort.
Book Review | Very, Very Dirty Money
The stories that David de Jong first reported for Bloomberg News and now recounts in his book Nazi Billionaires document the sordid embrace of the Nazi regime by Germany’s wealthiest industrial dynasties and those dynasties’ continued prosperity today.
Book Review | The Maus That Roared
The latest cycle of public panic over book-banning—as distinct from the constant, threatening drumbeat of book-banning itself—kicked off last January when The New York Times reported that a school board in McMinn County, Tennessee, had withdrawn Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel/memoir Maus: A Survivor’s Tale from the eighth-grade Holocaust education curriculum.
Opinion Interview | Who Gets a Religious Exemption?
The landscape of church-state issues is increasingly fluid, but even so, few people probably expected Yeshiva University (YU), a Modern Orthodox Jewish institution in New York, to ask the Supreme Court to permit it to block recognition of gay student groups on campus.
Book Review | A Jewish Kid Who Loved Yeats
Robert Pinsky’s father, an Orthodox Jewish optician in Long Branch, New Jersey, liked to sum up success stories with a favorite phrase: “It all worked out okay.”
Visual Moment | The World Inside Carl Moll’s ‘White Interior’
Looking into the calm of artist Carl Moll’s 1905 White Interior feels something like inhabiting the imaginative space at the periphery of a dollhouse.
Film Review | When Austrian Justice Fails
Thomas Roth tells the story of “law, justice and revenge” in Schächten – A Retribution, a post-war thriller.
Beshert | From Cuppa to Chuppah
Now married 35 years, Betsy and Stuart met when she went to rent the apartment he was vacating. He appreciated her choice of hot beverage.
From the Editor | The Eighth Night: A Time to Remember Great Women
The story of Hanukkah, the annual festival of Maccabean might and miracles, doesn’t talk much about women, although two are occasionally associated with the holiday.
Opinion | We Are What We Give
When I was a girl, my mother told me I must always wear clean panties in case I got hit by a bus.
Opinion | The Case Of The Praying Coach
Late last term, the Supreme Court decided a case that fundamentally transformed the relationship between church and state.
Opinion | Are Haredim Failing Their Children?
Like the misguided heroes of some Greek tragedy, Haredi leaders and educators in both the United States and Israel are waging battle to defend, as they see it, their way of life.
Kyiv Diary 11/4/22: Even Without Electricity, Kyiv Has Power
On Monday, Russian missiles damaged critical infrastructure facilities in Kyiv, and at least 350,000 apartments lost power.
From the Newsletter | The Jewish Vote in the Midterms
Alabama Israelite: New York Transplant Seeks Seat in Alabama Legislature
Phillip Ensler hopes to build on the legacy of the civil rights movement as Alabama’s only Jewish state legislator.
Is There Such a Thing as a Bad Jew? The Confluence of American Jewish Politics and Identity with Emily Tamkin and Dan Raviv
Should Jews be considered “Good Jews” or “Bad Jews” based on their level of observance of Jewish holidays or their feelings about Israel or their political stance? Emily Tamkin, author of the new book Bad Jews: A History of American Jewish Politics and Identities, discusses how these terms have been weaponized against members of the community, what it means to be Jewish and the ever-changing American Jewish identity. In conversation with former CBS News correspondent and Moment contributor Dan Raviv.
Tomorrow’s Election in Israel : A Guide for the Perplexed
Israel, and those following Israeli politics from afar, should prepare for these following scenarios:
The Great Jewish Short Stories of Singer, Malamud, Ozick & Roth with Dr. Michael Krasny
Who Should See the New Tree of Life Documentary
The tragic anniversary and a new documentary on the Tree of Life attack check the current pulse of antisemitism in America.
Analysis | How the Israeli Right Hopes to Reshape the Legal System
The proposed plan would change the balance of power between Israeli politicians and the legal system, and also could be a “get out of jail free” card for Netanyahu.
Shanda! Shameful Family Secrets with Letty Cottin Pogrebin and Abigail Pogrebin
Stanford’s Apology and the Importance of Archives
A postdoc’s archival research unearthed a 70-year-old memo, which led Stanford University to apologize for past antisemitic admissions policies.
What You Need to Know About Kanye West’s Recent Comments About Jewish People
Opinion | What Was Different about the Latest Riots in Jerusalem
These riots weren’t about religious or even nationalistic fervor. They were a desperate expression of hopelessness and rage by Jerusalemites.
Trump Is at It Again
What’s behind the timing of Trump’s latest rant about the American Jewish community?
Chickens and Sheep and Goats, Oy Vey! The New Jewish Farmer with Wendy Rhein, Adrienne Krone and Noah Phillips
All over the country Jews are reconnecting with the land, and some would say the Jewish farming movement is stronger than ever. Wendy Rhein, who bought a 10-acre farm she named Chutzpah Hollow in North Carolina and moved there with her sons in 2021, is one of them. Wendy shares why and how she created a thriving and growing Jewish farm and Adrienne Krone, who has studied Jewish American farms, discusses the movement today and the history of Jewish farming. In conversation with Moment digital editor Noah Phillips, an alum of Urban Adamah, a Jewish farm community in Berkeley, CA.
Book Review | Biography of a Baron
Baron Maurice de Hirsch was one of the wealthiest and most influential Jews of the 19th century, but his name is largely forgotten.
Wisdom Project | Eileen Lavine
At 97, veteran journalist and Moment senior editor Eileen Lavine is still uplifted by gratitude, and uplifting others.
Moment Memoir | Who Shall Live and Who Shall Die?
My father couldn’t believe the numbers of dead during the Holocaust. Today, struggling with news of Ukraine, I must say “Hineni.”
Kyiv Diary 10/10/22: The Missile Blast In My Neighborhood
On Monday, I was doing exercises on my balcony when our Kyiv neighborhood was rocked by a thunder-like explosion from a Russian missile.
From the Archives | Edward R. Murrow: As Good as His Myth
Years before his broadcasts captivated America, Edward R. Murrow rescued Jewish and anti-Nazi scholars.
The Little-Known Story of Jewish Refugee Professors at Historically Black Colleges & Universities with Lillie J. Edwards and Nadine Epstein
When German Jewish scholars were expelled from universities after the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s, many hoped to flee to the United States. But it wasn’t easy to find educational institutions to sponsor them due to rampant antisemitism in academia. Some of the lucky ones found homes at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Join Dr. Lillie J. Edwards, Professor Emerita of History and African American studies at Drew University, for a conversation about why HBCUs offered Jewish scholars positions, the influence these teachers had on their students and the impact the students and schools had on the lives of these refugees. In conversation with Moment editor-in-chief Nadine Epstein.
This conversation is part of a Moment series on antisemitism supported by the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation. The program is also a part of The Wide River Project, a yearlong, joint initiative of Western States Center and Moment Magazine, that takes a deep dive—and fresh look—into the art, history and issues that both unite and divide the Black and Jewish communities.
Does the Government of Hungary Really Have a “Zero Tolerance” Policy When it Comes to Antisemitism? with Ira Forman, Kati Marton and Amy E. Schwartz
His supporters in Europe and the U.S. insist that the government of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban is not antisemitic. But others point to his rhetoric, including a speech he made in Romania that his critics have called “pure Nazi,” and his policies in Hungary. Join Moment Senior Fellow Ira Forman, former U.S. State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism and Hungarian-American journalist Kati Marton, founding advisory council chair of Action for Democracy, for a discussion about why we should be very concerned about antisemitism in Hungary. In conversation with Moment Book & Opinion editor Amy E. Schwartz.
This program is part of a Moment series on antisemitism supported by the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation.
Who Are Your Role Models?
If as rabbinic sages say, an angel touches us before we are born and causes us to forget all the Torah we have learned in the womb, then we arrive in the world ravenous to learn.
Creating Streetscape Art: An Interview with Simonida Perica Uth
Moment Arts Editor Diane M. Bolz recently interviewed Uth about her latest project for the French Embassy.
Spice Box | “What Am I,” asks Hamm, “Chopped liver?”
On Poetry | Nelly Sachs and the Poetry of Flight
Sachs dropped the masks that had let her speak through the murdered Jews of Europe and wrote from her own position in the world.
The Conversation
What makes a word Jewish? Every word is Jewish when it has a Jewish story to tell.
Opinion | A Brief Break from ‘To Bibi or Not to Bibi’
Netanyahu has long been the center of Israeli politics. But last week, Lapid finally changed the narrative.
Biden Does Rosh Hashanah
The First-Ever White House Celebration of Rosh Hashanah
Thoughts at the End of a 7-Year Shmita Cycle
Imagine all the people at the end of a shmita cycle…
Midterms ’22: What Our Jewish Voters Are Thinking
With the clock ticking down to midterm elections on November 8, Moment checked in with the participants in our Jewish Political Voices Project (JPVP).
From Undocumented Child to Successful American Jewish Lawyer and Writer with Qian Julie Wang and Sarah Breger
Qian Julie Wang came to America with her parents when she was seven years old, living in the shadows and always looking over her shoulder throughout her childhood. Learning English and surviving the harsh realities of being undocumented, Qian Julie eventually made her way to Swarthmore College and Yale Law School, marrying and converting to Judaism. Wang is in conversation with Moment editor Sarah Breger about her family’s search for the American dream, her connection to Judaism and the struggles and antisemitism faced by Jews of Color from within the Jewish community.
This program is part of a Moment series on antisemitism supported by the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation.
Book Review | A Family of Ambitious Aristocrats
The Morgenthaus, the late New York mayor Ed Koch once said, were “the closest thing we’ve got to royalty in New York City.”
Book Review | Secrets of a Musical Family
Mary Rodgers’s posthumous autobiography is a brash, outrageous and entertaining excursion into the life of its author.
Visual Moment | The Subversive Art of Philip Guston
Frances Brent discusses a new exhibit of Russian-Jewish painter Philip Guston’s sometimes controversial art.
Book Review | Studying Talmud with Beruriah
When the ancient rabbis had a question about the Torah—an important detail that seemed to be missing, an inconsistency between two passages, even a redundant word or verse—they would often solve the problem by writing a midrash, or story, filling in the missing piece or reconciling the seeming contradiction.
Talk of the Table | The Feast Before the Fast
Vered Guttman highlights the preparations that take place for the Yom Kippur pre-fast meal, and gives a recipe for Moroccan Sfenj Doughnuts.
Where’s My Blockbuster King David TV Show?
From House of the Dragon to Lord of the Rings, everyone is looking for the next Game of Thrones. But one saga that has yet to be streamed is the epic story of King David.
Opinion | The GOP’s Christian Supremacy Problem
The Republican Party has a Christian supremacy problem—which is also an antisemitism problem.
Ask the Rabbis | Can Jews Married to Non-Jews be Considered Spiritual Leaders in the Jewish Community?
Why not? Moses was not such a bad spiritual leader of our people, and he was married to Tziporah the Midianite.
From the Editor | ‘Make for Yourself a Rabbi’
Recently, my three-year-old began starting every sentence with the qualifier “I feel like”: “I feel like I had a good day at school,” “I feel like we should go to the park now,” “I feel like I want to color.”
Opinion | Why is Israel Deadlocked?
The prospect of Israel’s fifth election in less than four years does not seem promising.
Moment Debate | Are There Dangers in the Increase of Israel-Related Money in American Electoral Politics?
Will the involvement of Israel-related PACs end up magnifying small policy differences on Israel? Andy Levin and Josh Block weigh in.
Foreign Affairs | Israel’s Complicated Dance with Putin
Vladimir Putin has earned his reputation as a dictator, but he has often behaved warmly toward Jews.
Opinion | Who’s Crazy Now?
Anyone who spent much time in Israel before the last few years has probably heard this trope from multiple Israelis: “Everything here is crazy! Why can’t we live in a normal country?”
The Road to Gender Equity with Ting Ting Cheng and Nadine Epstein
Women still do not have equal rights to men in the United States, leaving them vulnerable to changing political winds. What needs to be done to finally achieve this critical goal? Moment editor-in-chief Nadine Epstein is hosting a series of informal “dinner party” conversations, exploring long-term strategies that could lead to true gender equity. The focus is not on politics but on big picture legal, organizational and cultural change. In this inaugural conversation, Epstein talks with civil rights attorney Ting Ting Cheng, Director of the Equal Rights Amendment Project at Columbia Law School.
“The Road to Gender Equity” series is in memory of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose legal strategies, based on the 14th Amendment, helped strengthen the rights of American women.
Everything Is as You Thought It Would Be in Latest Jewish Voter Poll
Jewish voters care about Israel, and they hold different views on Israel depending on their party affiliation. But they don’t vote based on these differences.
Yeshivas in the News
Yeshivas are in the news, raising questions about what we should teach our children and why.
Moment Nominated for ‘Religion Story of the Year’ and More
It’s the season for journalism awards, and we’re proud to announce that Moment is up for some exciting ones.
Moment’s 2022 Benefit & Awards Gala
Film Review | The Anguish of Losing Faith
Set in an Italian villa, “Where Life Begins” is the story of a young Haredi woman and a divorced farmer who both long to break free.
Book Review | Reviving Selihot, Judaism’s Midnight Prayer Service
Selihot, the pre-High Holidays service often held at midnight, has fallen on hard times recently. This new prayerbook aims to change that.
The U.S. Senate: America’s First and Last Lines of Defense with Ira Shapiro and Rabbi Eric Yoffie
Today’s Senate looks very different from the Senate of the 1960s and 1970s, a time when those serving in Congress put “country over party.” Ira Shapiro, a former longtime Senate staffer and author of the new book The Betrayal: How Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans Abandoned America, discusses the many functions of the Senate, how it’s failed to provide leadership and what lies ahead of the 2022 elections and beyond. Shapiro is in conversation with Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President Emeritus of the Union of Reform Judaism about how we can return to a time when Senators worked across the aisle.
Deep Dive | More Jews Murdered in France
What explains the rise in antisemitic violence in the past 20 years in France, and what can the government do about it?
Wisdom Project | Ted Comet
At age 98, Ted Comet has served the global Jewish community for more than 70 years. He has no plans to stop.
Camel Caravans, Kasbahs and Berber Jews
Venturing south from Marrakesh across the Atlas Mountains, you can still sense Moroccan Jewish life along these ancient caravan routes.
Kyiv Diary 9/12/22: Soldiers Drink for Free
“I hear stories about the horrors of the war, and it makes my skin crawl,” says Vermuteria’s owner, Svetlana.
Why Antisemitism Flourishes in Election Season
The uptick in antisemitic incidents and comments in recent months has to do with the simple fact that this is an election season.
The Politics of Being Gay with Congressman Barney Frank, Eric Orner and Ann F. Lewis
Barney Frank was the first member of Congress to voluntarily acknowledge being gay in 1987. Frank joins his former congressional aide, Eric Orner, author of the new graphic novel Smahtguy: The Life and Times of Barney Frank, in conversation about growing up Jewish, his lifelong crusade for civil rights and his 30+ years in the U.S. House of Representatives. With Ann F. Lewis, a champion for women’s rights, a former White House Director of Communications, and the congressman’s sister.
From the Newsletter | Martha’s Vineyard Jewish History Presented at Island’s Museum
“They Planted the Seeds” exhibition tells the story of the first Jews who came to Martha’s Vineyard, 120 years ago.
Sponsorships for Moment’s 2022 Benefit & Awards Gala
Moment’s Gala 2022 Honorees
Montana Jewish Project Succeeds in Buying Back Historic Helena Synagogue
Helena’s synagogue was sold to the state in 1935, but now Temple Emanu-El is back in Jewish hands.
Kyiv Diary 8/31/22: Hustling in Krakow
During the darkest days of the invasion, Anya and her daughter left Kyiv with no particular destination in mind.
Zionophobia: A Wide Open Conversation with Judea Pearl
What is Zionophobia and how is it different from Antisemitism—and what can be done about it? Is Israel key to the survival of the Jewish people? Moment editor-in-chief Nadine Epstein speaks with Judea Pearl, who grew up in Israel and is the father of journalist Daniel Pearl who was killed by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002.
This program is part of a Moment series on antisemitism supported by the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation.
My Dinner Party for Women’s Equality Day 2022
Moment Editor-in-Chief Nadine Epstein shares her fantasy guest list for a Women’s Equality Day dinner party.
Can Jewish Drag Help Combat Conversion Therapy?
Yochai Greenfeld was subjected to conversion therapy in his Israel. That process, and his recovery, is the subject of ‘It Gets Bitter.”
From the Newsletter | Frozen Russian Tanks and Rockets’ Red Glare
Marking Ukraine’s 31 years of independence and six months of war waged by Russia, we look back on our coverage.
