Iranian Jew an oxymoron? Not quite

By Simi Lichtman March 7, 2012

For many American Persian Jews, self-identification can be complicated. Whether they were born in Iran or they are first-generation Americans, the culture and patriotism of their parents’ homeland can clash with their lives in America. This inner conflict has been exacerbated by the ongoing political tensions between Iran and the United States. Mix in some public musings on the possibility of war with Iran from Israel, and Persian American Jews (or are they Jewish Persian Americans? American Persian Jews?) are effectively being pulled in three directions.

The Persian Jewish community in American remains quite insular, concentrated in a few close-knit enclaves, including one on Long Island. And while the western label Orthodox doesn’t quite apply, Persian Jewish religious practice certainly has more in common with contemporary Orthodox Judaism than it does with any of the liberal streams. Because of all of these factors, Yeshiva University, the Modern Orthodox university with its various schools scattered around the city of New York, has a particularly high concentration of Persian Jews.

“I feel an internal conflict,” admitted Sarit Bassal, a student at Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University.

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Editorial: What’s in a name?

By New Voices Editorial Board March 7, 2012

Too often, Israeli Apartheid Week degenerates into an argument over its own name.

It’s all rhetoric. If you believe that the situation in Israel and the Occupied Territories today is analogous to apartheid, so be it. And if you believe that it’s a poor analogy, that’s fine too. Either way, it’s all rhetoric. And either way, choosing your place within the intense campus debate (by which we mean shouting match) about Israel-Palestine based solely upon your beliefs about the use of a single word is irresponsible, simplistic and narrow-minded. No real debate can come from wordplay.

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Esther’s gender; inter-faith Purim; queering the Megillah; and more. [Required Reading: Purim Edition]

By John Propper March 7, 2012

How do you tell the Purim story to kids? [Forward] Jewish tales often feature a lot of (ahem) adult content. The Torah/Tanakh is ripe with plenty of sex, violence, prejudice, and more. Sometimes the Torah warns us about the dangers of these things. Other times, like in the story of the Megillah, violence in particular…

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Jewish Student Interrupts AIPAC Session [AIPAC 2012]

By Zach C. Cohen March 7, 2012

Yeah, remember when I said Occupy AIPAC was going to be across the street from AIPAC Policy Conference? Well…they crossed the street. Liza Behrendt, a recent graduate of Brandeis University and a current member of the Avodah service corps in New York, interrupted a session with the help of CODEPINK organizer Alli McCracken, shouting that she…

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How Higher Education is like Kanye West

By pkessler March 6, 2012

The first reaction I had upon reading that students were repaying their loans late at higher rates than ever  was cynical, and entirely justified. To all the banks losing money because college students haven’t paid their loans back: are you really surprised? Most top colleges in this country cost upwards of $50,000. That’s more than a good…

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Suspended by skin color?; Student debt becomes overwhelming; Modern Purim lessons, and more [Required Reading]

By pkessler March 6, 2012

Suspended by Skin Color? [NY Times] New data from the Department of Education has shown that although African Americans comprise less than a fourth of the nation’s public school systems, their share of suspensions and other disciplinary action is disproportionately high, suggesting that they may face harsher disciplinary action in school. “Education is the civil…

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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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AIPAC vs. Occupy AIPAC [AIPAC 2012]

By Zach C. Cohen March 4, 2012

This weekend, thousands of people will descend on that nation’s capital, and later, the Capitol to attend AIPAC’s annual Policy Conference. AIPAC, the American Israel Public Action Committee, will hold its biggest convention ever this weekend in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, playing host to the likes of: President Barack Obama Prime Minister Bibi…

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Le Dor Va Dor: Remembering the Past, Creating the Future

By Gabriel T. Erbs March 4, 2012

Russian writer Judith Pearly interviews Moti Sverdlov, the man responsible for cataloging the thousands of “lost” Jewish graves in the former Soviet Union: What does the phrase “Jewish heritage” say to you? Is it the traditions we keep? The religion to which we affiliate? Or the memory of our ancestors? […] One day, when my…

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