Related Blog Posts on Arts and Culture, Jewish Values, and Torah Study

The Importance of Storytelling

Rabbi Maya Y. Glasser
March 14, 2023
The Jewish people love to share stories, as memory is a central Jewish value. We cannot forget what has happened to us because we must share it with future generations. The past is one of our best learning tools.

The Power of Words: Cory Silverberg Writes a Better World into Existence

Crystal Hill
Rachel Hall
March 9, 2023
Cory Silverberg (they/them) is a sex educator, author, and social justice advocate who writes books for young people that center queer, trans, and nonbinary experiences and narratives in collaboration with the artist Fiona Smyth. Together they have published more than 12 books.

Siman Tov U’Mazal Tov: Astrology and Judaism

Crystal Hill
March 9, 2023
Judaism's relationship with astrology is one that has many twists and turns. Jewish interest in the zodiac can be traced back to the time of the Babylonian exile, which is evidenced by the fact that many of the Hebrew names of the constellations are actually Hebraicized versions of the original Assyrian names.

He’Brews, He’Leads

Ellie Rudee
February 23, 2023
Third-year Hebrew Union College-NYC student Jesse Epstein hopes to make Judaism more accessible, meaningful, and relevant for today’s Jewish community – through beer. He recently became the owner of Shmaltz Brewing Company, a beer-brewing brand aimed at providing community members with a mode and environment for consumption steeped in Jewish ethics, text, and tradition.

Thinking Outside the (Tzedek) Boxes

Andrew Kaplan Mandel
January 26, 2023
A camel carrying a load. A golden pair of balanced scales. An open heart and an open mind. These are three of more than two dozen artists' visions of justice and righteousness featured in the invitational exhibition, "Tzedek Boxes: Justice Shall You Pursue."

Envisioning Home

Cantorial Soloist Marjorie Hochberg
January 19, 2023
Some of the best stories from our tradition involve a question presented on one level that is answered on a completely different and surprising level.

The Best Jewish Film and TV of the Past Year

Wes Hopper
December 28, 2022

 

As 2022 draws to a close, it’s time to highlight some of the best Jewish content of the past year. Art, marriage, coming of age, healing, history, and antisemitism are all on display in a year that has had its fair share of public tumult.

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Jewish Man

Wes Hopper
November 29, 2022
Two films from acclaimed Jewish filmmakers have debuted during award season this year, each taking semi-autobiographical looks at troubled childhoods. Each picture delivers award-worthy performances from many well-known actors, including Anthony Hopkins and Michelle Williams as sure bets to score Oscar nominations.

4 Spooky Mystical Jewish Figures

Crystal Hill
October 24, 2022
Even though Halloween began as a pagan holiday, it now brings spooky fun to children and adults of all backgrounds, including many Jews who view it more as a traditional holiday than a religious holiday.