Press release from the Department of Justice

Excerpt:

Pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order on Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism, the Justice Department announced today the formation of a multi-agency Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. The Task Force’s first priority will be to root out anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on college campuses.

(bold emphasis mine)

This should prove interesting.

In promoting his new book, "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza," Fareed Zakaria asked Peter Beinart what he thought about the events of Oct. 7, "...what do you make of the event that precipitated that suffering" in Gaza. Beinart responded by offering "context" and distinguishing that from "justification" --

...no decent person can deny the horror of what happened. But one has to understand the context in which it happens. One has to understand that understanding context is not justification, and you can't understand how to prevent future October 7th without understanding the conditions in which Palestinians live. That Human Rights Watch called this an open-air prison but the United Nations says it said it was unlivable for human beings. They were penned into a ghetto half the size of New York city. They could never leave. And if you want to deal with that -- with that violence, you have to deal with the structural oppression. Unfortunately, throughout human history, people who are brutally oppressed have responded in inhumane ways.

Isn't Beinart just playing with words? Can anyone explain the difference between offering "context" for a terrorist event vs. a "justification," and if not, then isn't he justifying what Hamas did on Oct. 7th?

To me this sounds like a justification. This is literally justifying the raping of women, murdering children, kidnapping elders and holding hostages in inhumane conditions. Is there ever a "context" for this other than "pure evil"?

Hello, my name is Felipe/Phillip, I'm from Brazil, I'm 31 years old, I'm married, I've been a Christian since I was a child, and recently I've been wondering about tithing and researching the subject from a Jewish perspective.

My family was helped by the church when I was a child, so I've always tithed as a way to help the church maintain its activities.

Today I earn much more than my parents did, but my wife doesn't work and we both have expensive health problems, as do my parents and her mother. (for the same reason I don't see myself having children)

The church and pastors always talk about the importance of tithing, but at the same time they don't seem to care about people's financial conditions. There's also the fact that most of the time the pastor has one of the highest incomes in the church, much higher than some elderly people, and I only see the money being used for renovations to the church building. In fact, one pastor once said that what he does with the money is nobody's business.

What is the Jewish view of tithing? How is it managed in synagogues? Is it clear where the money is used?

Have you ever paused to think about the incredible journey of the fruit you're about to eat? On Tu BiShvat, we're given a special opportunity to open our eyes to the wonders around us. From the impenetrable coconut to the delicate strawberry, each fruit carries not just nutrients, but a profound spiritual message.

In this powerful teaching, I share a transformative story from the Belzer Rebbetzin that changed my entire perspective on saying blessings. Discover how a tiny seed's journey to becoming fruit carries decades of prayers, and learn why rushing through our blessings might mean missing one of life's most meaningful moments.

Whether you're seeking a deeper spiritual connection or simply want to appreciate life's daily miracles, this message will transform the way you view every piece of fruit – and perhaps, every blessing you say.

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Hi,

For a course I am teaching we are compiling a list of inspirational people and works from the maker culture. Basically, people who make interesting, fun or weird technology and document it on social media.

The course responsible complained that the list we have had so far is very "white cisgender men". Do you know any visibly Jewish makers that I can add to the list?

Thank you!

I propose a new meaning for IHRD. I know that the non-Jewish world would like it to be "International Holocaust Remembrance Day," but given their performance this year I think we need something more appropriate. How about "Incessant Hubris & Repetitive Delusion Day", or "Ignorant Hubris Repeating Day"? Or, an excellent suggestion from Claude (yes, I used AI): "Institutionalized Historical Revisionist Deflection"?

TL;DR at the end :)

I grew up catholic and never really connected with the religion. It has been years where I have been considering to switch to Judaism.

I actually have Jewish blood in me, but not much, and it gives me more of a reason to want to go back to Jewish root. I have always felt more connected with Judaism than Catholicism despite having known almost nothing about it before I started doing research.

And since both sides of my family are catholic, my mom's side more so than my dad's, I am afraid I will be cast out during Christmas, but thought I could still buy gifts for people even if I am not celebrating Jesus' birth any more (we never celebrated it on my dad's side (it was only ever gifts and Christmas movies), just my mom's) and I'll just celebrate Chanukah on my own.

I am afraid of what my parents will think, especially my mom since she is a devout catholic and is super into Jesus and all that. But I really want to do this. I have wanted to do this for years and I have had plenty of time to think it over and I have never really had any doubts.

Is it okay to switch to Judaism? How should I start the journey? I saw online that I should talk to a local rabbi. How do I do that? Should I also learn Hebrew?

TL;DR I want to switch to Judaism, but I don't know where to start. Any suggestions?

Hello, everyone! I'm a 31 year old Ashkenazi Jew living in the United States in a major city. Before October 7, I had a diverse range of friends (both Jewish and not) from intramural sports, improv classes, and Jewish life. I never thought twice about talking about my Jewish heritage with these folks. However, now a year since October 7, I still find it challenging to be around non-Jews. My first instinct when meeting someone new is to wonder how they feel about Jews. This has impacted my professional and personal lives to varying degrees. Can anyone relate, and how have you coped with this?

Like many people, I witnessed a dramatic surge in antisemitism over the last year in my own city. I lost friends, I witnessed calls to violence against my city's Jewish community, I saw Jewish restaurants blocks from my apartment be vandalized and harassed by crowds in the hundreds, I saw local synagogues be vandalized--one even set on fire, I've seen swastikas on local Holocaust memorials, and I've seen people who I thought were my friends celebrate the murder and kidnapping of Israelis on social media.

In my personal life, I've distanced myself from friends who aren't Jewish. I feel like they just don't get it, nor will they be able to empathize with the Jewish experience right now. It's also been difficult bringing my non-Jewish friends around my Jewish friends at events -- they generally feel out of place.

I used to host such vibrant Shabbat dinners (very secular, with many non-Jewish friends in attendance). Since October 7, I don't feel comfortable inviting anyone who isn't Jewish because I worry they would say no and it would strain what remains of the relationship.

Post-October 7, whenever I meet someone new whose not Jewish, my gut instinct is to wonder whether or not they hate Jews. I feel awful admitting this, but with the number of friends I've lost, it's become true.

I also struggle in my professional life with this. Before October 7, I used to be very involved socially at work. Now, I find myself doing my work and just going home. I haven't felt comfortable going to happy hours, team lunches, etcetera. Whereas most of my colleagues can openly talk about the food, traditions and language of their culture, I feel like I need to hide mine. It's completely illogical because I haven't experienced any antisemitism at work, but I still feel like my background is a topic that isn't safe to bring up.

I recognize that I can't continue living like this, where I completely cut myself off from the non-Jewish world. Has anyone else struggled with this? What's worked for you?

I am looking to commission several pieces of art for an open license roleplaying supplement publishing in Spring or Summer 2025. The book is set in a historically based magical Europe, and focuses on characters, stories, and locations involving Jews. I can provide period art and research to capture the feel of the period. That said, I am not looking for period style art - I want art in a modern realistic or semi-realistic style - fantasy art in a traditional RPG sense. I have a small budget for this project and I’m excited to pay the right artist.

Because of the focus of the book I am specifically looking for Jewish artists. I define that broadly - you don't need to be Orthodox, observant, or matrilineally descended. But im looking for someone who has a connection to and understanding of the material.

I’m hoping that this community can point me at some awesome Jewish artists!

Menorah on the table across from a \"Say Grace\" sign

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/business/prison-conversion-housing.html?unlocked_article_code=1.t04.ieYh.qgTCqN3AnlKC&smid=url-share

Why is this being used as decoration in a clearly christian house? Just sitting on the dining room table like a candlabra

All I’ve come up with is a latka server.

I know some do, but I'm unsure whether MOST of them do. Also, this is the situation I'm in. I am a reform Jew, and I had a bar mitzvah and everything like that. Im just curious if I would be accepted into conservative Jewish synagogues.

update: I don't know why there is no link to the article. this https://jewishjournal.com/commentary/columnist/365220/the-inside-story-of-how-palestinians-took-over-the-world/

Note: maybe I am exhausted by the war and exaggerating. Honestly, I don't know anymore.

I am a bit late, but I only just saw this article, although it came out in 2023. Overall, it doesn't say anything new that we didn't know, but it hit me again on what's left of my liberal views. I just don't believe in being a liberal in the Middle East anymore. Popper's paradox at its finest. The desire for peace and the fear of violence are perceived as weakness. We try to play by the rules, take the other side and their interests into account, while against us there is a dirty game being played on all fronts without any restrictions. Every time I see Palestinians or other Arabs online who talk about peace - 90% of their audience are liberal Jews. And looking at these people, we tell ourselves stories about how there is someone to talk to on the other side, refusing to understand that we are simply in an echo chamber and mostly talking to ourselves. I am becoming more and more convinced that our problem and the problem of our allies is that we build concepts and solutions based on the desired reality that we have invented for ourselves, and then when we apply these solutions to reality on the ground, they, oh miracle, don’t work. I thought that the two-state solution was the only right solution, but now I understand that if it ever comes into force, the countdown to a huge war will begin. I am incredibly tired to see the infantilization of the Palestinians. All these “the Palestinians are the main victim of Hamas” is the same western saviorism, and the refusal to accept that yes, these people themselves chose this and continue to choose, because their worldview is different from ours. When we now see Palestinians online who say that October 7 was a mistake, we clap our hands and say that here they are, our partners for peace process. But the only reason they think it was a mistake is because the original plan failed and it brought them nothing but destruction, not because they suddenly started seeing us as human beings. At this point, I think the only right thing for us to do is to build a professional PR company for the West, and to demonstrate strength in the Middle East, basically to agree to play the same game as our enemies.

How many of you have lost friends over the years due to them being borderline anti semitic?

(Am not Jewish, just a curious Redditor.)

There’s been a lot of news lately about antisemitism in Sydney and the recent bomb discovery in the caravan.

I was wondering if Jewish Australians are experiencing more racism or violence recently and how these events are affecting you. I don’t have any close Jewish friends to ask, so I’d love to hear your perspective.

I really don’t know how to process this so I wonder what you all would do.

A coworker of mine happily told me that she (not Jewish) was having a baby naming ceremony. I was confused as she had never discussed being religious before but I know new parents tend to reevaluate so I clarified if she was having a baptism or other religious event for her to share about. She then said no that she wasn’t religious and didn’t want to fuss with finding a church to attend but did think she would want a ceremony. She said she was very inspired by my description of my child’s Brit Milah and was going to “do the same thing”.

This was very shocking to me and I clarified it would not be the “same thing” since the Brit milah is an ancient rite for Jews and not a sip and see or open practice for others but that there are different cultural practices that are specific to her backgrounds traditions that would be appropriate and perhaps she should find value in those.

I think I was mostly triggered by her saying she was going to do “the same thing” and feeling like her baby celebration, while valid and important to her and anyone that wants to show their love to her new family is somehow equal to the grave responsibility and honor it was to welcome our child into the covenant or that there were elements of the Brit milah that are “universal” to non religious people to welcome their child into their “tribe”. But am I overreacting?

I am unlikely to seek to discuss further since there is a time and a place for discussions around religion and I feel I’ve learned a lesson. But I think I am especially hurt because I was happy to share memories and my experience about such a special day that I agonized over and what I saw as real interest in discussing my culture. now I feel betrayed that my sharing has led to such appropriation. But am I overthinking, maybe there is an element of the baby naming ceremony that is common to all cultures and not necessarily following its order provides an authentic meaning for all people?

Recently finished reading this piece by Shaul Kelner, whose an associate professor of Jewish Studies and Sociology at Vanderbilt University. In it, he addresses how sociologists, specifically those who utilize critical theory. In the article Kelnler points how

Critical theory starts from the premise that systems of power do not simply disappear or dismantle themselves. They operate in and through societal institutions. Universities do not stand outside this dynamic. They are part of it. They are not immune from power relations. They are thoroughly implicated in them, by virtue of their own practices of knowledge production and the ideas that they create and spread.

He also comments how any efforts taken taken by Jews to rise above antisemitism have been deemed to illegitimate by Christian and Muslim hegemony. Further stating how Zionism operates under a critical studies lens by naming naming this power dynamic and rejecting it. I highly recommend it and urge people to not simply downvote this post because of the title.

I am looking for community views on Israeli newspapers available in English. How do people compare Haaretz and The Times of Israel, both in terms of quality of reporting and political leanings or bias? Any other sources recommended?

The people who were protesting for Palestine right know are the same people who are indignant and offended by what Elon Musk did, and now the identify with Anne Frank and the Holocaust.

Hi all, I'm looking for an easy to use system for tracking yahrzeits. I expected there to be a simple app with push notifications, but I didn't see any (the closest was Gedolim Yahrzeits but after downloading it has very poor UX).

Anyway, what do you do?

Stared noticing that a lot of new youtubers, especially cooking youtbers from middle east but are american, are massively antisemtic and anti zionism. The shawarma guy, golden gully and others. Seems like a new trend. They are all orbiting around this albert can cook guy. Curiously enough ive never seen him cooking israeli food. What a coincidence. What you guys think about this ?

For those of you looking to stay informed on Global Jewish News, I suggest you check out https://MOTSource.com. They do daily news updates on Jewish and Israeli news from around the world all translated to English. They also have a free daily newsletter. It’s a fantastic resource to keep abreast of what’s going on every day in the world for Jews. Am Yisrael Chai!

So i’m digging this memory out of my brain from 20 years ago so bear with me. I was about 5 years old at my first bat mitzvah (I haven’t been to one since) and during some point in the service I remember sitting in the pews, watching adults stand up one by one and say something that I couldn’t quite make out. When it got to me, of course my 5 year old self stood up and just said my full government name. People giggled and my parents were embarrassed. Some of them were crying when they stood up and said what they said. So, what was this practice at the bat mitzvah called?