It’s easy to dismiss the supporters of a November ballot initiative in San Francisco to make it “unlawful to circumcise, excise, cut, or mutilate the whole or any part of the foreskin, testicles, or penis of another person who has not attained the age of 18 years.” Like all true believers, these “intactivists” engage in junk science and exaggerated...

This item is big news for some. I wrote a short response, because I think the problem has always been with a misunderstanding of the context of early Christianity. Forgiving the Jews Did the Jews kill Jesus, or did the Romans kill Jesus? It doesn’t really matter. The sources on the crucifixion are fragmentary and contradictory. But even if an archeological...

I got a sick feeling in my stomach when I read that Jason Alexander, (who played George Costanza on the hit T.V. show Seinfeld), was going to headline fundraising events for the Federation’s annual campaigns in Montreal and Toronto. Of course, events like these are not unusual; similar occasions elsewhere regularly feature all sorts of celebrities, including...

Charity comes straight from the heart. Everybody can feel the pain of those in need, which is why compassionate people want to give the hungry food. When it comes to charity, the Jewish community can certainly take pride in the remarkable sums that we raise each year to take care of the poor. This philanthropic excellence highlights what is called “the Jewish...

(The news story can be found here.) The first time I can remember encountering anti-Semitism was as a child of seven. An older child had spotted my kippah and started to make exaggerated faux “sneezing” sounds, saying “ah-Jew”, with a sharp emphasis on the J. She repeated it several times, to make it amply clear what her true intent...

Tears are running down my face; I have just heard the news that a deal has been reached to bring Gilad Shalit home in a few days.I read articles about the deal, and I cry. No, I have never met Gilad Shalit; yet I cry about his return anyway. I don’t know his family, yet I have spoken about Gilad every Shabbat for the last five years.In that time, I’ve...