John Propper

Kicked out of India; Americans and a strike on Iran; and more. [Required Reading]

By John Propper March 14, 2012

Holocaust survivor, female rabbi remembered with Anne Frank anecdote [Tablet] Following the passing last week of Rabbi Helga Newmark, famed for being the first female survivor of the Shoah to be ordained, Tablet Magazine shares this anecdote about Newmark’s experience with Anne Frank (who she knew growing up). Newmark leaves behind a legacy of Jewish…

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Women can be ordained… now what? [Progressive Faith]

By John Propper March 12, 2012

Today’s Required Reading featured a recent story about the Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative Judaism), with controversy brewing over whether or not the RA was sponsoring a fair and equal number of female voices in an upcoming annual conference. While Conservative Judaism is by definition non-Orthodox, and seen as generally more open to the leadership of women…

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Women & the RA; five days with controversial Chasids; a welcoming table; and more. [Required Reading]

By John Propper March 12, 2012

Rabbinical Assembly’s May conference sparks discussion about female speakers [Forward] After information regarding an upcoming conference hosted by the Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative Judaism) was released, debate has been sparked as to whether or not enough women speakers will be present at the event. Since the initial report, the RA has released a statement stating that…

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Sharia law and halakhah; HuffPo on your spring break; Jews coming to Japan’s aid [Required Reading]

By John Propper March 9, 2012

Florida law might threaten authority of Orthodox batei din [Forward] It began as a state bill to oppose Islamic sharia law, but it may end in compromising the authority of Orthodox courts. The Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases bill, which is one of many such bills nation-wide based on model legislation (ironically by…

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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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“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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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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Israel cinema comes out; Chasidic no more; and more. [Required Reading]

By John Propper March 2, 2012

Israeli films opening to portrayals of gay characters [Haaretz] In recent years, it seems Israeli cinema is offering a more diverse selection of screen portrayals, including gay characters in leading roles. In a new book, “Soldiers, Rebels, and Drifters,” Nir Cohen explores this artistic shift, how it has happened, and what it might mean. “Guttman,…

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Don’t lick the Lubavitcher Rebbe; artsy synagogues; and more. [Required Reading]

By John Propper February 29, 2012

Up close and personal in the Gaza Strip [Vice News] After a failed attempt in 2007 to make it into Gaza, during a violent conflict there, Vice News finally makes it in, sharing their insights and experiences on one of the most hotly debated geographic regions on Earth. Licking the Lubavitcher Rebbe…? [Jerusalem Post] A…

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Anti-Muslim prejudice rejects history, common sense [Politics]

By John Propper February 27, 2012

It doesn’t look like the controversy over news that the New York Police Department monitored the activities of Muslim students will be dying down anytime soon. Here at New Voices, we tracked the responses of various student presses to this disturbing report, and there have been many takes on the exact kind of prejudice this…

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Torah and modern activism; don’t pray the gay away; and more. [Required Reading]

By John Propper February 27, 2012

Israel has more non-orthodox Jews than Haredim, study finds [Jewish Journal] A recent study demonstrates that Israel’s Conservative and Reform populations appear greater in number than that of its Haredim (ultra-orthodox), though not by much. Could this knowledge spell a shift in representation for an Israeli population that doesn’t seem to make as much political…

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Mr. Shmuley goes to Washington; Heeb turns 10; and more. [Required Reading]

By John Propper February 24, 2012

Joseph Goebbels takes on Heeb Magazine [Heeb] As Heeb Magazine celebrated its 10th anniversary of… well, being Heeb Magazine… with a crazy party, it seems the Jews aren’t the only ones paying attention. This little gem cropped up online yesterday, and we’re not sure, but we think it means Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels was…

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NYPD surveillance; Anne Frank baptized (again); Shabbat buses; and more. [Required Reading]

By John Propper February 22, 2012

NYPD tracked Muslim students, organizations [Columbia] Recent news that the New York Police Department willfully performed surveillance on Muslim student organizations in the name of anti-terrorism measures has been met with harsh criticism by many. In light of the fears this news may provoke, the Spectator, newspaper for Columbia College, unpacks the threat to free…

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Boycotts and big people pants [Palestine]

By John Propper February 20, 2012

Last week, New Voices pointed out a report by +972 Magazine on Norman Finkelstein, Palestinian rights activist and controversial thinker. In a move that has surprised many, Finkelstein came out in opposition to the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions), which seeks to protest the conflict between Israel and Palestine through a variety of boycotts…

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Occupy Passover; ultra-Orthodox military draft; and more. [Required Reading]

By John Propper February 20, 2012

The responsibility of Jewish federations [Forward] With the economic recession hitting many organizations, religious or otherwise, with hard times, leaders must make choices to ensure survival. But are some federations unfairly compromising the well-being of their employees in the process? The Jewish Daily Forward takes a look: “In this flip exchange lies a serious issue….

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