News and Politics

The New Normal: Why J Street Should be Happy About Being Rejected by the Conference of Presidents

In a not entirely surprising vote, J Street was rejected from membership in the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. Despite the hand-wringing among J Street members and supporters, I think this is a blessing in disguise and says much more about the Conference of Presidents than J Street.

Arts and Culture

Felix Nussbaum in Paris

By Eunice Lipton

Though murdered at Auschwitz, Felix Nussbaum painted his life, not his death. This article is from the ZEEK archive. It originally ran on December 14, 2010.

News and Politics

Morning Jew: Bubbe Clinton?, KKK “wizardry” on LinkedIn, & Pastures of Plenty at the Seder

By Heather Gold and Katie Halper

Comedians Katie Halper and Heather Gold take down the news. Nu, is it good for the Jews? This week’s episode: Will Hillary reverse-inherit her grandchild’s Jewishness? What does a Klan wizard look like on LinkedIn? Can you guess who studied Talmud before becoming a famous fashion icon? And more. WATCH NOW

News and Politics

A Far Cry from Justice: The Williamsburg Shomrim 5, Taj Patterson & Our Call to Speak Out Against Racism, Homophobia and Hate

By Marjorie Dove Kent and Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz

On Wednesday, five members of the Orthodox security patrol (the Williamsburg Shomrim) were charged with gang assault for the brutal beating of Taj Patterson, a 22-year-old black gay student. This is potentially a step forward, toward accountability. However, it is a far cry from real justice. As leaders of different Jewish social justice organizations, we represent a broad range of Jews, from secular to Orthodox and everyone in between, united in our commitment to social, racial and economic justice — and in our commitment to justice for Taj in this case.

Arts and Culture

Artist Q, Artist A: Yona Verwer talks to Ken Goldman About his work, life, and new exhibit, Off Label

By Yona Verwer

Artist Ken Goldman’s probing, sometimes seemingly irreverent art is a catalyst for provoking people into re-evaluating their preconceptions. By pushing boundaries, writes Yona Verwer, he searches for new opportunities to make Judaism more relevant to today’s life. Artist Q, Artist A is Zeek’s new series of artist-artist conversations.

Faith and Practice

A Seventeen-Year-Old Jewish Feminist’s 10 Plagues: "If They Listened, They Would Hear Us Planning Our Way..."

By Avigayil Halpern

Locusts: They descend on us, pick us bare, for the future of the Jewish people. We don’t align with denominations. We don’t look good in demographic surveys. We don’t care about continuity. We care about meaning, and that scares them. We do not exist to feed the future. We are not here to raise Jewish children. We are here to be Jews in our own right.

Faith and Practice

A Rabbi’s Re-Imagining of the 10 Plagues: Blood Money, Self-Judgment, Consumption, Time, Extremists, Gun Violence, and More

By Rabbi Elianna Yolkut

Frogs, writes Rabbi Elianna Yolkut, are cold-blooded amphibious creatures that hatch in cold environments, so the rabbis teach that the plague of frogs was meant to remind the Egyptian of the emotional distance and lack of intimacy that is a necessary prerequisite to enslave someone. Today technology is the cold-blooded creature that jumps into every moment of our lives, taking away our very ability to connect with others, to create space for intimacy with our children, our significant others and our friends.

Faith and Practice

Ten Feminist Plagues: Right-Wing Governors, Media Double-Standards, Flawed Criminal Justice System By Sarah Seltzer

By Sarah Marian Seltzer

Blood. The blood that is spilled, metaphorically speaking and literally, by governors who are refusing to expand Medicaid under Obamacare and give healthcare to the most vulnerable among us. People with treatable conditions are already dying because they fall in the gap between Medicaid and being able to afford regular insurance. It’s really a travesty.

Media and Tech

Morning Jew: Jewish Porn Star, Kansas City JCC Shooter & Spain Doubles Down

By Heather Gold and Katie Halper

Comedians Katie Halper and Heather Gold unpack this week’s news. And oy, what a week it’s been. Happy Passover. Watch Morning Jew now!