Tikvah

American Judaism

Latest Mosaic Content for American Judaism

  1. Monthly Essay ·

    The Very Model of a New York Intellectual

    By Dr. Ruth Wisse

    Abraham Cahan was one of America's first great Jewish newspapermen, and set an example of independent thinking that the nation could sorely use today.

    The Very Model of a New York Intellectual
  2. Monthly Essay ·

    The Apocalyptic Visions of Jacob Taubes and Meir Kahane

    By Samuel Goldman

    As 1970s America unraveled, both radicals posed “uncomfortable questions for comfortable Jews.” What did they ask, and are conditions ripe for similar figures to emerge?

    The Apocalyptic Visions of Jacob Taubes and Meir Kahane
  3. Monthly Essay ·

    How Will Synagogues Survive?

    By Jack Wertheimer

    It's been a year since most American synagogues closed their doors. Will the practices they adopted to survive undermine their prospects when the pandemic ends?

    How Will Synagogues Survive?
  4. Response ·

    Liberal Judaism Is Dedicated to Identity Formation, Not a Religious Worldview

    By John Moscowitz

    Committed to developing and supporting the intellectual, religious, and political leaders of the Jewish people and the Jewish state.

    Liberal Judaism Is Dedicated to Identity Formation, Not a Religious Worldview
  5. Response ·

    The Problem of (Jewish) Positive Thinking

    By Tara Isabella Burton

    Committed to developing and supporting the intellectual, religious, and political leaders of the Jewish people and the Jewish state.

    The Problem of (Jewish) Positive Thinking
  6. Observation ·

    American Judaism’s Old Dinosaurs Roar Again

    By Jack Wertheimer

    After being written off for years as slow and outmoded, Jewish federations and other large institutions are proving themselves indispensable in their response to COVID-19.

    American Judaism’s Old Dinosaurs Roar Again
  7. Monthly Essay ·

    How America’s Idealism Drained Its Jews of Their Resilience

    By Daniel Gordis

    In Israel and in traditional communities, life and liturgy don't run away from hardship. Most American Jews prefer to think on the brighter side, but that comes at a high cost.

    How America’s Idealism Drained Its Jews of Their Resilience
  8. Observation ·

    Graveyard: A Story

    By Edward Grossman

    Two Israelis on a road trip venture to Arlington National Cemetery and encounter there the graves of brothers.

    Graveyard: A Story
  9. Observation ·

    What the Success of “Mikva the Musical” Says about Orthodox Judaism Today

    By Sarah Rindner

    By and for Orthodox women, Mikva, which has affinities with The Vagina Monologues , opens up a once-secretive ritual while staying firmly in line with tradition.

    What the Success of “Mikva the Musical” Says about Orthodox Judaism Today
  10. Response ·

    American Jews: Doomed to a Thin Culture with No Future?

    By Jack Wertheimer

    Committed to developing and supporting the intellectual, religious, and political leaders of the Jewish people and the Jewish state.

    American Jews: Doomed to a Thin Culture with No Future?
  11. Response ·

    Jack Wertheimer’s Critique of American Synagogues is On-Target—and Woefully Off

    By Elliot Cosgrove

    Committed to developing and supporting the intellectual, religious, and political leaders of the Jewish people and the Jewish state.

    Jack Wertheimer’s Critique of American Synagogues is On-Target—and Woefully Off
  12. Response ·

    What’s Wrong with Nostalgia for Judaism’s “Millennia-Long Tradition”

    By Lawrence A. Hoffman

    Committed to developing and supporting the intellectual, religious, and political leaders of the Jewish people and the Jewish state.

    What’s Wrong with Nostalgia for Judaism’s “Millennia-Long Tradition”
  13. Monthly Essay ·

    The New High Holy Days

    By Jack Wertheimer

    What happens when, once a year, the urge to accommodate every consumer fashion meets massive Jewish cultural illiteracy?

    The New High Holy Days
  14. Observation ·

    Turns out Everybody Likes to Talk about an Aliyah of the Soul

    By Philologos

    But not Philologos.

    Turns out Everybody Likes to Talk about an Aliyah of the Soul
  15. Observation ·

    What’s with the Talk about an Aliyah of the Soul?

    By Philologos

    A strange new case of linguistic evolution.

    What’s with the Talk about an Aliyah of the Soul?
  16. Observation ·

    The Other Other L. Strauss

    By Allan Arkush

    Meet Lewis (not Levi, and not Leo) Strauss, the now-forgotten American Jew who helped German Jews escape the Nazis, played a key role in developing nuclear weapons, and more.

    The Other Other L. Strauss
  17. Observation ·

    An Eye-Opening Introduction to the Jewish Influence on America’s Founding

    By Tevi Troy

    A new online course illuminates how Jewish teachings, combined with the age's best Enlightenment sensibilities, helped to create and to guide the young republic.

    An Eye-Opening Introduction to the Jewish Influence on America’s Founding
  18. Observation ·

    Why Are Jewish Children’s Books so Bad?

    By Michael Weingrad

    Year after year, most of what gets served up to young Jewish readers is poorly conceived, substantively shallow, and reeking of chicken-soup nostalgia.

    Why Are Jewish Children’s Books so Bad?