Members of the Scribe
Is There a Jewish Literary Renaissance?
I hear repeatedly that Jewish literature is undergoing a renaissance. The statement puzzles me.I can’t think of a period over ...
A Jewish Thanksgiving in Avalon
Every Thanksgiving I think of the Thanksgiving scene in the 1990 film Avalon, one of Barry Levinson’s semi-autobiographical Baltimore films. Avalon tells a ...
No Middle Range
“Jews don’t have a middle range,” I said to my friend and colleague. He was telling me about his experience ...
Speaking Backwards
I’ve been told that students in my college courses sometimes have trouble following what I’m saying because I speak backwards. ...
A Couple of Sayings With Which I Disagree
“It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” I first realized I didn’t agree with this saying ...
Passport to Citizenship
I always have a valid passport. I keep it within easy access and I know just where it is, and ...
What is That Song Playing in My Ear?
Jews have played a crucial role in popularizing Christmas. They have enhanced the national observance of Christmas by composing many ...
What Is Fair Taxation?
If one listened only to the avalanche of political ads during the recent election campaign, one might believe that Americans were ...
It’s Hanukkah Time! Where’s the Party?
Every December, I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of Jewish celebrations taking place across the United States. This is a ...
Hurricane Sandy, FEMA, and the Need for Big Government
The Rabbis teach (Ta’anit 11a) that “at a time when the community is suffering, no one should say, ‘I will ...