The Jews of Lebanon: Another Perspective

On November 11 Jewcy published a piece by Isaac Binkovitz applauding a project to renovate the Maghen Avraham synagogue in Beirut. "Although it would be a miracle if the community were ever to regain even a mere half of its numbers from ... [Read more]

Hanukkah Gone Metal

I guess Jewish Metal is something that has always been a part of me.  The first album I ever bought was Twisted Sister's Stay Hungry, a schmaltzy collection of hard rock from one of Long Island's many amazing (and partially-Jewish) bands.  From ... [Read more]

Baruch Busted For Blow

Gawker reports that English rabbi Baruch Chalomish is on trial for allegedly selling drugs, having been charged with running a "commercial cocaine-supply operation" alongside his partner, Nasir Abbas. The original story in the London ... [Read more]

Battle of the Milk Alternatives

t's sort of funny when two worlds collide unexpectedly, especially when one comes to the aid of the other. Take for example my recent search for the perfect milk alternative. I don't dislike good ol' cow's milk, nor am I allergic to it. But as ... [Read more]

Miley Cyrus Thinks "Twilight" Is a Cult

Ask the average American teenager (well, the female ones at least) what their favorite book is, and odds are good that he or she will say Twilight. The series, a supernatural love story between a high school girl and a vampire who abstain from sex ... [Read more]

Real Talk Parsha: Toldot

And this week we have the parsha on the forefather with the worst PR agent in the history of the Bible. Not only does Isaac only squeeze out just one section, but his spotlight gets stolen halfway through by Jacob and Esau. I mean think about it. ... [Read more]

D.C. Catholics Use Poor Kids as Pawns in Power Play

"The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said Wednesday that it will be unable to continue the social service programs it runs for the District if the city doesn't change a proposed same-sex marriage law, a threat that could affect tens ... [Read more]

Shlubby Is Sexy: 'Nice Jewish Guys' Calendar Creator Adam Cohen

Last year, Los Angeleno Adam Cohen created the Nice Jewish Guys calendar. Now that the 2010 calendar is available, he found time to speak to Jewcy about Jewish stereotypes, international fanmail, and why you shouldn't discount the nice ... [Read more]

How Do You "Love Israel"?

What does it mean to be ‘pro-Israel' within the context of liberal Jewish thought?  This is one of the most complex and frustrating questions that has dogged me since my return from the recent J Street conference.  When this topic was the ... [Read more]

The Jews of Tijuana (Part Two)

On the following Shabbat morning, our tale resumes at the Congregacion Hebrea de Baja California, the shul of Rabbi Carlos Salas. I was ferried across town by Benjamin Camacho-Mora, and his son Abraham, a member of Rabbi Salas' congregation. On ... [Read more]

Once, Twice, Three Times a Jewcy

Dear The Internets, It's me, Craig. ...If you'd told me a year ago that I'd be here now, writing this, a post to honor Jewcy on its 3rd birthday -- well... I guess that would've made sense. But if you'd told me 9 months ago, just a few ... [Read more]

The Jewish Bridezilla

Bridezillas, the cable reality show that could alternately be titled Crazy Bitches Getting Married and Treating Everyone Around them Like Shit, leaves no stereotypical stone unturned. For African-American brides, the show plays bad hip-hop ... [Read more]

Charter for Compassion: Interfaith Beyond Kumbaya

As an interfaith child, I tend to avoid "interfaith" conferences. Religious leaders inevitably describe the ideal interfaith encounter as one in which we must gird our religious loins in order to cross a bridge and embrace the ... [Read more]

The Hebrew Word for "Holy"

Last night, as I was reading comments to yesterday's post, Multiple Spirituality Disorder, it finally occurred to me that I may be witnessing a generational shift in attitudes and perspectives toward interfaith dialogue and identity. (Does that ... [Read more]

Will the Tel Aviv Smoking Ban Affect My Sex Life?

I staggered home this morning from my local pub on Bograshov Street red eyed, wheezing and smelling like my seventy year-old chain smoking travel agent, Shoshana. The thing is, I don't even smoke. I am getting tired of ... [Read more]

Real Talk Parsha: Chayei Sarah

Well, after last week's virtual cornucopia of cannon fodder, we're left with fairly slim pickings this week, what with Sarah dying and Abraham buying the Cave Machpelah .  But, for all those people who hate reality TV and/or Disney fairytale ... [Read more]

Confessions of a Former Evangelical

Confession: I've never actually met a Jew. Well, maybe I did. Growing up in the Bible Belt, the "Jesus" I practically had tattooed across my forehead may have scared them away. So I haven't knowingly met anyone Jewish, anyways. My ... [Read more]

My Own Private Exodus

People think I'm kidding when I say it has taken decades of therapy to forgive my Brooklyn-born parents from moving toddler me from Manhattan to New Jersey. I am not kidding. The moment I could get myself across the George Washington Bridge ... [Read more]

Holy Land or Professional Purgatory?

Today at work, someone peed their pants. No, I am not being idiomatic - nor am I am being funny. I work somewhere where someone literally peed their pants. This would have been quite a tale to tell had it been at my last job, a large non-profit in ... [Read more]

Predatory Bank Barons are God's Humble Warriors

Lloyd Blankfein is the chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. In 1869, a German-Jewish immigrant named Marcus Goldman founded the company. Thirteen years later, the little commercial paper dealer celebrated its bar mitzvah by bringing on Goldman’s ... [Read more]