When I attended Michigan State University from 1994-98, I certainly would not have believed that the university would soon hire an Israel Studies chair and a Jewish Studies professor who specialized in Jewish studies. In addition to concentrating in International Relations at James Madison College, a liberal arts residential college at MSU, I also specialized…
I just read an interesting article about whether Matisyahu, the Chasidic reggae superstar, is violating Jewish law according to his Chabad Lubavitch community by performing in clubs and bars where activities occur that run contra to the code of morality held firmly by the ultra-Orthodox establishment. Here’s a clip of the article: Matisyahu: Rabbi or…
Jewish minor leaguer Adam Stern hit a home-run in addition to four RBIs to help Canada defeat the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic. While I hate to see the U.S. lose in our own national pastime, I must say it’s nice to see this Jewish player make headlines. From the Associated Press Stern leads…
Below is the “Breaking news” from JTA.org that no vote was made on any of the teshuvot (responsa) presented. This was no surprise for me having sat in on several Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) meetings while a student at The Jewish Theological Seminary. Teshuvot are presented, studied, debated, and then re-written or…
“Mr. and Mrs. Bernanke, Your son Ben Shalom has just been nominated as the new Chairman of the United States of America’s Federal Reserve, a position some call the most powerful in the world. Where are you going?” “Um, we thought we’d just go the shul for our adult ed class.” That’s right, not to…
A couple weeks ago, my friend Stuart Rabner was tapped by New Jersey Governor-elect Jon Corzine (that’s him with me in the photo on the right) to serve as his chief counsel. I didn’t realize what this meant until I read in the New Jersey Star Ledger article that “One source close to the governor-elect’s…
This is the bat mitzvah spectacular put on by Long Island defense contractor David H. Brooks for his daughter’s entry into Jewish responsibility. Here’s a link to the original NY Daily News article. At the simcha, performances were by everyone from 50 Cent to Don Henley to Stevie Nicks to Aerosmith. As Blogger Tabloid Baby…
A Manifesto for the Future Drop ‘Conservative’ Label to Tap True Meaning and Reach the Faithfulby Rabbi David Wolpe In early November, I spoke at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. The topic was “The Future of Conservative Judaism.” I prepared for the talk by asking colleagues, friends and congregants to define Conservative Judaism…
From the Michigan DailyBy Whitney Dibo The speaker’s voice resonates with a natural blend of familiarity and animosity typical of this casual observation. Her friends peer down State Street at the girl’s sorority sweat pants, UGG boots and straight brown hair. They all nod in agreement. “There are so many JAPs on this campus,” one…
From the American Joint Distribution Committee‘s website Young Adults in Ukraine Inspire College Students from Michigan From August 22-31, 2005, 15 students from University of Michigan Hillel traveled to Kiev, Kharkov, Sumy, and Konotop, Ukraine, where they joined their peers from Kharkov Hillel and the Jewish Youth Association to paint apartments of elderly Jews in…