Not So Secular: Jews Occupy Wall Street

by Steven Philp The Occupy Wall Street movement is populated by the disaffected and anti-religious left--that is, if you ignore the Jews. A recent article by Mitchell Landsberg of the Los Angeles Times argues that counter to much of American history--where faith communities often stood at the vanguard of progressive causes--this particular movement shows the widening gap “between the religious right and the not-so-religious left.” Landsberg finds evidence of this in his cursory examination of the Occupy L.A. protest, where the only signs of faith communities are a meditation tent and a sukkah. Yet Landsberg gives those short shrift, pointing instead to the lack of organized Christian involvement. He interviews John Green, director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron in Ohio. Green bemoans the dearth of Christian representation. “Where...

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Recipe of the Moment: Etrog Jam

By Niv Elis Although careful steps are taken to ensure an unblemished, perfect etrog for Sukkot, once the holiday is over it has little use. Or does it? Many families use the post-Sukkah etrog, a member of the citrus family, to make a delicious jam!  Here’s our favorite recipe, taken from the out of print “Jewish Cooking for Pleasure” by Molly Lyons Bar-David. Etrog Jam   1 etrog 1 orange sugar water Wash the etrog and orange, cut them in half lengthwise, and then very thinly slice them. Remove seeds. Soak the fruit overnight. Change the water to cover the fruit, and bring to a boil. Change the water again, and bring to a boil once more. Pour off the water. Weigh the fruit, and add an equal weight of white sugar. Cook over a low heat for about 45...

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