Meet Diane von Furstenberg [Celebrities]

By lkatz March 5, 2012

Legendary fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg’s mother was in Auschwitz 18 months before she was born. Born Diane Simone Michelle Halfin on December 31, 1946 in Belgium, her parents, Leon and Liliane Halfin, were both Jewish. Her mother’s greatest gift to her was the conviction that “fear is not an option,” Von Furstenberg said at an United…

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New Voices in The Forward’s Reporters’ Roundtable podcast

By David A.M. Wilensky March 5, 2012

I can’t figure out how to embed the podcast, though that would have been ideal: In this week’s podcast, host Josh Nathan-Kazis [a former editor of New Voices] talks with Forward Washington correspondent Nathan Guttman about the odd collection of groups that make up the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Then, with…

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Where’s the middle ground between belligerence and irrelevance? [Parsing]

By David A.M. Wilensky March 5, 2012

Two op-eds caught my eye over the weekend. They got me wondering where the middle ground is between belligerently attacking anti-Israel sentiments and ignoring them while spewing lovely factoids about Israel. In one op-ed, the founders of the David Project take issue with their organization’s new direction, arguing — as summed up in the headline…

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“Nothing happens when you die” and other fun billboard slogans [Atheism]

By John Propper March 5, 2012

Today’s Required Reading shared a story about a set of atheist billboards directed at two cities with heavy Muslim and Jewish populations. Each print the name of God in Arabic and Hebrew. The billboards are sponsored by a group called American Atheists. Using the name of God to describe religious narratives as “myths” is (surprise,…

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Kanazi: “This Poem Will Not End Apartheid” [Israeli Apartheid Week]

By Zach C. Cohen March 5, 2012

One-part comedy routine, one-part slam poetry and all Palestinian advocacy. This is the recipe for Remi Kanazi, a Palestinian activist and poet who spoke at American University Students for Justice in Palestine’s final event for Israel Apartheid Week on March 2. “I think I’m funny but I’m not, so bear with me,” Kanazi said. “The…

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Atheist billboard controversy; Jewish all along; and more. [Required Reading]

By John Propper March 5, 2012

Atheist organizations unveil controversial series of billboards [Jewish Press] “You know it’s a myth… and you have a choice” reads a new series of billboards by the organization American Atheists. These billboards, placed in Paterson, New Jersey, and Williamsburg, Brooklyn (where heavy Muslim and Jewish populations reside, respectively) evoke the name of God: in Arabic…

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Obama at AIPAC: “I Have Israel’s Back” [AIPAC 2012]

By Zach C. Cohen March 5, 2012

President Barack Obama continued to lobby for Jewish support as the November 2012 elections loom near, saying he has been a strong advocate for Israel. Obama cited his administration’s advocacy on behalf of Israel at the United Nations, during the flotilla incident, against BDS and during the Arab Spring. But Obama also warned against “loose…

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