Jewish History

The Jewish Women Who Influenced Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first Jewish woman on the Supreme Court, became the 21st inductee into The National Museum of American Jewish History's Hall of Fame.
The History of Hanukkah Gifts: Is This Custom Really a Jewish One?
The contemporary custom of wrapping presents gifts arose in conjunction with Christmas, but many aspects of gift-giving have distinctly Jewish roots, each of which has helped set the stage for the development of the ritual into what it is today.
Honoring Legendary Theater Impresario Joseph Papp on the Centennial Year of His Birth
We sat down with Avi Hoffman, who was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Death of a Salesman, about the revival of the Joseph Papp Yiddish Theatre project and the inaugural YI ❤ NY YiddishFest, which will include a tribute to Joseph Papp.
Like the Maccabee Brothers, We Can All Be Leaders
Our tradition tells of the great leader, Judah Maccabee. But what of his brothers? What do we know about them – the quiet leaders who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him?
Closing the Generation Gap in the Longevity Revolution
“For the first time in American history, we have more people over 60 than under 18,” says Marc Freedman, an expert in the social implications of our aging population.