In an age when so many Americans and Israelis fear for the stability of democracy, what can Jewish history and Jewish texts impress upon us about the future of a government by the people?
LINK: api.neonemails.com/emails/track...
Today many American Jews regard their religion and democracy as non-negotiable values. From ancient rabbinic courts to the Knesset (Parliament) in the modern State of Israel, Jewish communities have put different democratic experiments to the test.
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Please join me tonight at 7:30 PM CT for
"How Jewish is Democracy?"
I'll be teaching online at The New Reform Congregation Kadima of Deerfield, IL.
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Mazzal tov!
At least as of this time--I am intrigued that more votes in the Texas Democratic Primary for Senate have been reported than in the Texas Republican Primary for Senate.
Why do polls for the Senate race in Texas look so different from polls for the Governor race?
If you've ever thought about becoming a rabbi but haven't found the right school for you yet, let's discuss Hebrew Seminary sometime?
Am I correct that Madeline Walter and Zeke Nicholson behind Wonder Man are the improv actors of the same name from Comedy Bang Bang?
Image of first page of an editorial (presumably by Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan, about Antifa, "(the Palestinian League Against War and Fascism and For Jewish-Arab Solidarity)," in The Reconstructionist III:2, dated March 5, 1937.
Today I learned that the English word Antifa is about 100 years old.
Moses grew up an elite member of Egyptian society.
When he saw an Egyptian abusing a minority, Moses questioned if he was Egyptian.
Don't these numbers usually add up closer to 100?
I see the possibility of an average of +7 shift in favor of Democrats in light-red states and districts.
(Voter turnout is usually lower during special elections, and not every election in 2026 will get as much attention/money as tonight did.)
Your takeaways on tonight's election in TN-07?
My read is that Democrats should not get comfortable but can learn well from this that they can benefit from investing more time and money in face-to-face organizing in recently light red districts/states.
I would like to see as much (hopefully positive) coverage about Democratic Senate candidates in Alaska and Iowa as Platner has gotten.
Yashar ko'ach! Well said!
I don't always write Torah commentary that relates to contemporary issues in the United States, but, when I do, this can happen.
hebrewseminary.org/a-king-like-...
Is Iowan Democrat Senate hopeful @sageforiowa.bsky.social quoting from Pirkei Avot in saying "If not now, then when?" About 45 seconds in.
youtube.com/watch?v=K-FX...
hebrewseminary.org/down-at-frag...
Have you ever wondered what I thought about the Big Beautiful Bill?
Do you have a non-bluetooth mic-&-speaker headphone set that you like?
I have been using Arama headphones for a while. They tend to break every few months, but, when they work, they do the job--and they cost less than other sets I see. Might you have recommendations for a more durable set?
What do Jewish law and Jewish wisdom teach about how and if a Jew should switch up their uniform when antisemitism is in the air?
Whether Jews identify as religious or not, different Jewish symbols commonly decorate Jews' dress: kippot, Star of David earrings, Hebrew necklaces, and more visual cues expressiog the religion of the Jew on the street.
TONIGHT:
Wearing Jewish Symbols In an Antisemitic World
led by Rabbi Jonah Rank, Rosh Yeshivah of Hebrew Seminary; free and in-person at Temple Israel of Natick or livestreaming, through MetroWest Tikkun Leil Shavu'ot 5785 on Sunday June 1, 2025, circa 9:15 PM-10:00 PM CT
(links below)
I feel A New Hope is now a darker movie in light of what we now know about the Empire.
Did you fall off the Daf Yomi bandwagon? Just looking for some reading about metaphors of marriage and Jerusalem?
Look no further than www.myjewishlearning.com/article/shev... .
I am grateful to MyJewishLearning.com for this opportunity to teach a little more Torah. Enjoy Shevu'ot 16a-b today!
If you were learning Hebrew (from the start or all over again) from a textbook, what would would be on your wishlist?
To be holy is to be part of the world.
hebrewseminary.org/holiness-is-...
