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An Inter-Everything Conversation About the Pew Survey

By Derek M. Kwait October 28, 2013

Part 1 in a 3 part series.   We might just be the last Jewish organization to respond to the big bad Pew Survey and we’re fine with that. It seems like every response so far is other people telling us what how we need to feel about it, whether we should be scared,  take…

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Bagel-Chasers: On the Problem of Jewish Fetish

By Jonathan Katz October 9, 2013

I don’t generally date non-Jews. I’m not snotty about genealogy, I think the treatment of those who intermarry is barbaric and exclusionary, and I would not be upset if I ended up marrying a non-Jewish man. That said, I do usually end up falling head over heels for young Jewish men who can understand things…

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Self-Loathing “Jewtopia”

By Derek M. Kwait September 30, 2013

Jewtopia features Tom Arnold as a gynecologist. That could be the review right there; any further commentary seems superfluous. Yet I will go on because in truth, I have a lot more to say, or at least vent, about this movie. Its central plot concerns the unlikely friendship between Christian O’Connell (Ivan Sergei) and Adam…

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Is Intermarriage So Terrible?

By Ari Margolies December 17, 2012

Like many other particularly un-athletic Jewish youth, I spent many Sundays playing Little League baseball at my local JCC. There, we were tricked by our parents into thinking that Jews were good at sports, and coerced into getting hit by diamond hard fly balls, tripping over bases, and generally making fools of ourselves for their…

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The Beauty of Intermarriage

By John Propper October 17, 2012

Recently, I attended a wedding. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The ceremony opened with the grooms reciting their intentions to one another. This was followed by scripture readings: first, from the Tanakh; then, from the Christian Bible. After a mutual ring exchange, the Sheva Brachot were recited. Only, instead of recitations from honored…

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“I’ll Have My Jews on You So Fast You’ll Think You’re an Asian Girl”

By David A.M. Wilensky October 12, 2012

There was an important moment in television last night. Obviously, I’m not talking about the Vice Presidential Debate. Take a moment. Think about it. It’ll come to you. Yes, of course, I’m referring to the latest episode of “30 Rock.” (Still my favorite comedy. Yes, I know I’m alone on that.) And yes, I’m saying it…

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Bernard Avishai on Israel & diaspora Jewish identity

By Harpo Jaeger April 2, 2011

Bernard Avishai has a really excellent essay (PDF) based on survey data (summarized by Haaretz here) from the Macro Center for Political Economic Research.  It’s a long read, but worth every bit of it.  A highlight: Approximately 40% of young Israeli Jews believe (about a third, strongly) that the state should not offer civil marriage….

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The Reading List: Another A-List Intermarriage

By Ben Sales December 23, 2010

This time it’s between Lauren Bush, Dubya’s niece, and MOT David Lauren, son of designer Ralph. Lauren Lauren anyone? [From Under the Fig Tree] Breaking story from Fox News: Elie Wiesel won the Holocaust! [Mediaite] It turns out American Jews aren’t an endangered species. [Forward] Stuck for plans on Christmas Eve? Here’s what the rabbis suggest….

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The Reading List: Do Jews Like to Date Jews?

By Ben Sales December 10, 2010

So says the Maryland Mitzpeh, which put out some strong new content this week. According to a poll of almost 100 students, a majority would not date outside the fold, which is surprising given soaring intermarriage rates. [Mitzpeh] Marriage in college? Check it out. [Mitzpeh] Here’s some bad romance: A Columbia professor — who I…

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What Can You Infer From a Name?

By kseeger February 2, 2010

J.D. Salinger, the renowned American author, passed away January 27, 2010. Like many other individuals, I am a big fan of A Catcher in the Rye, his most famous work. Salinger is a literary figure recognized for the sense of timelessness in his writing. Since I admire him so much as an author, upon seeing…

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JFS in Britain Questions Jewishness

By kseeger November 11, 2009

I am sure you are all aware of the case being considered by Britain’s Supreme Court over the issue of rejecting a student because the mother converted to Progressive Judaism, and not Orthodox at JFS (Jews’ Free School). If not, or if you want to read more details, I have provided several links throughout this…

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