MOMENT’S 50TH

A MUST READ, MUST THINK 

I commend Nadine Epstein for the extraordinary effort and overarching vision that has revitalized Moment, maintained its independence, enhanced its influence and—despite extraordinary outside influences—ensured the entrances to its tent remain open on all sides. It is a “must read” and “must think” for this Jewish media publisher emeritus.
Arthur M. Horwitz
West Bloomfield, MI

A GREAT MAGAZINE

I have been reading Moment for years because it is a great magazine. I receive a lot of information and it isn’t one-sided. It gives me a lot to think about. Please keep it going.
Eric Gordon
Roselle, IL

JEWS WHO SUPPORTED HITLER

A BIG MISTAKE

I learned much from Dan Freedman’s “Jews Who Supported Hitler” (Spring 2025). When Hitler came to power in 1933, there were already signs of his antisemitism, but Freedman tells of Jewish individuals who felt that this was a minor issue, a “not very important side effect.” (Though the majority of German Jews saw Hitler as bad.) More important to them was that Hitler promised to restore Germany’s greatness. It did not end well for these “patriotic” Germans.
Lucille Weener
McLean, VA

A LESSON IN HATE

This is the best reminder for Jews who think they’re exempt from racism or extremism or who tolerate or foment internal conflict and hatred of difference, rather than fighting to gain strength in diversity, mutual respect and unity. Hitler’s lesson: We’re all Jews, no matter our educational degrees, geography, background, money, connections, occupation or societal contributions.
Gabriela Sadote
Monroe Township, NJ

PRO-ISRAEL IN 2025?

AN UNFINISHED NATION 

I was six years old when I sat at my grandmother’s feet listening on the radio to the United Nations vote for partition, keeping score. I marvel at the outcome, imperfect as it was and is. Israel has always been a work in progress; the country may never be finished, finalized, mature, grown-up—just look at the United States. Israelis must now decide how to proceed.

As Morton Klein said in his response to your “Big Question” (“What Does It Mean to Be Pro-Israel in 2025?” Spring 2025), we can’t afford to give land away only for it to become “an Arab terrorist enclave.” As Fania Oz-Salzberger said in hers, Israel has to fulfill its own dreams “with one hand on the gun and the other stretched out for peace.”
Marcia Belman
Media, PA

HONEST AND PROFOUND

The Spring 2025 issue was particularly engaging. I’m so glad you’re dealing with Zionism in such an honest, complex and profound way.
Marcia Falk
Berkeley, CA

WHY INCLUDE JVP?

Why would Moment give space to a Jewish Voices for Peace advocate? That group’s position is that Israel should not exist. Not much “pro-Israel” from that point of view. Secondly, the vast majority of the responses in the symposium entirely ignore the sad but true fact that, at present—and true since well before 1948—there is no Palestinian “leadership” that is not wholly committed to the complete destruction of Israel and all Jews. They ignore that problem and pretend there is a group that can/will engage in a bona fide discussion with Israel about how to live in peace.
Bill Dahlin
Prescott, AZ

LET’S HEAR IT FROM THE GIRLS

CHUTZPAH ACTIVATED

Letty Cottin Pogrebin’s column on talking back as a potent form of political resistance (“What Did You Just Say to Me?” Spring 2025) reminded me of a story from my college years. I was in a history seminar with a dozen students, three-quarters of whom were male. They were not shy to speak up and said the dumbest things. I always wanted to speak up but was too unsure of myself. Of course the male professor didn’t notice the three girls who never spoke in his class. That stays with me to this day, 50 years later. I wish I’d had more chutzpah then. What ended up happening was I helped launch a committee to hire a female professor in that department, and it actually happened: She came, she taught and I moved on.
Audrey Shachnow
New York, NY

ANTISEMITISM AWARENESS ACT

DANGEROUS FOR JEWS

This is truly one of the worst bills that will ever come through Congress (“The Antisemitism Awareness Act Is Back” by Rachel Rosenfield, momentmag.com, April 21, 2025). Defining antisemitism in part as applying double standards to Israel is so vague and broad that it can be seen as nothing short of a full assault on the freedom of speech. OK, find me another democratic country that has killed between 50,000 and 200,000 people in the last 18 months, and I will criticize them as well. Instead Israel keeps company with the likes of Russia, North Korea, Sudan and a bunch of other rogue nations that don’t think they have to follow international law. By adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism, the AAA attacks the many Jewish students who are protesting against Israel. This is not a pro-Jewish bill but a pro-Israel bill, a pro-Zionist bill and a pro-Netanyahu bill. The definition is especially dangerous to Jews because it confuses what actual antisemitism is, and when someone is faced with real threats, others are less likely to support them because they’re going to just think that somebody’s crying wolf.
Commenter R davidy

IMPERFECT BUT NEEDED

This is an important bill. While the IHRA definition of antisemitism is imperfect (as all are), the left has demonstrated a total disregard for Jewish rights. Rights imply responsibilities, and the failure of the left to rise to those responsibilities when dealing with these sensitive issues has made government action necessary.
Commenter Julius Mopper

THE VALUE OF IHRA

Why only quotes from scholars who object to IHRA? This article gives the false impression that the experts all think IHRA is flawed. In fact, most respected scholars of antisemitism, such as Deborah Lipstadt and Monika Schwarz-Friesel, understand the value of IHRA to talk about contemporary antisemitism.
Commenter Just Saying

IT’S ABOUT TIME

Sounds like a good step toward protecting Jewish students. Hopefully, this bill will actually make a difference and create a safer environment on college campuses. It’s about time something like this was brought up again!
Commenter Yes or no

MOMENT DEBATE

WELCOME ALL STRANGERS

The last “Moment Debate” (“Do Jews have a special obligation to hide migrants or refugees who are in danger of deportation?” Spring 2025) is not really a debate. Shmuly Yankowitz (“Yes”) and William A. Galston (“No”) both acknowledge in their statements that our religious tradition repeatedly commands us to welcome, care for, clothe, feed and shelter the poor and vulnerable, and that it places special emphasis on doing so for “the strangers” among us.

Interestingly, it places no qualifications on “the strangers.” Thus, Mr. Galston’s attempt to read into the tradition some kind of “litmus test” does not persuade me. The Torah does not say welcome only “the poor stranger,” or the “persecuted stranger,” or the “highly skilled stranger.” Just being an outsider—a zar in Hebrew—is seen as meriting the utmost hospitality, support and protection. Further, his consideration of what constitutes a “threat” to an illegal immigrant is cursory, at best. In addition to the dangers of persecution, bodily harm and death are numerous other harms that would result from deporting a person whose only crime was to enter our country the “wrong” way. I think if that list were fully fleshed out, it would be harder for Galston to dismiss.
David Wasser
Cranston, RI

MERCY & COMPASSION

Thank you, Rav Shmuly, for taking the moral Jewish way. It shows chesed and rachamim.
Lauren Blatt
Toronto, Canada

THE RABBI GETS IT

The rabbi fully understands the complexity of moral law. Mr. Galston lives in a world where it’s apparently okay to turn away from those who are suffering.
Steven Nichols
Hobe Sound, FL

COVERING A TRAGEDY

On May 21, Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, a young couple leaving an AJC Young Diplomat’s event in Washington, DC, were gunned down and killed because they were perceived as being Jews. One was, the other wasn’t, but both worked at the Israeli Embassy. Moment leapt into action after news of the tragic attack broke, obtaining and being the first to post video of the suspect inside the Capital Jewish Museum, where the evening event had taken place. Opinion & Books Editor Amy E. Schwartz interviewed an event organizer at 3:30 a.m., and within hours we published “Eyewitness JoJo Drake Kalin on Shooting at Capital Jewish Museum” at momentmag.com. Later that day, our Moment Minute newsletter went out with the subject line “I Looked Evil Right in the Eye” and included the video and interview, as well as a statement by Moment Editor-in-Chief & CEO Nadine Epstein. We received many responses; here are just a few:

WORTHY OF A PULITZER

Yishar kochacha, Amy E. Schwartz. Your coverage of the DC tragedy far exceeded all of the major media and is worthy of a Pulitzer. Yishar kochacha, Nadine Epstein. The major media outlets’ have budgets 100 times greater than Moment’s. You should be very proud of Moment’s staff and contributors. You have an excellent ability to attract, develop and retain uber talent.
Robert Grant
Green Brook, NJ

BRAVURA JOURNALISM

[The interview] is an extraordinary piece that keeps getting more compelling as it presses its focus on the evening’s ostensible theme—interfaith bridge-building. This is a bravura piece of immediate journalism; an interview conducted at 3:30 a.m. the night of the shooting. Thank you, Moment.
Ari Roth via social media

CRUCIAL CONTEXT 

Thank you for providing important context about this tragedy. I hope your interviewee is right and that these horrific murders do not destroy the much-needed activist and peace-building spirit the event was promoting.
Larry Garber via social media

INVALUABLE PERCEPTIONS

I am so impressed and moved by your ability to capture the reactions to that horrific act. You made it clear through Jojo Drake Kalin’s responses that the tragedy goes way beyond the killing. Her perceptions, as chronicled by Amy E. Schwartz, are invaluable. Thank you.
Alice Belgray via social media

WE NEED TO STAY STRONG 

Nadine Epstein’s statement on the shooting brought me to tears. It is so tragic. I am just so saddened and sickened by the antisemitism in the world. We have to find a way to combat this hatred as we move forward. There are no simple solutions, but we must continue to be strong, to fight and to preserve our Judaism and our Jewish values for generations to come.
Susan P. Cohen
Memphis, TN

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? 

I’m a 94-year-old woman. I can barely read stories like these without tearing up, but helplessness pervades me. Years ago I would have given money, been out on the streets protesting…can’t do any of that anymore. What on earth is it that has caused centuries of antisemitism—even here in America, where none of the stories of bygone days of moneylending, etc. apply? Will we ever see the end of it? It sure doesn’t seem so.
Bindy Bitterman
Chicago, IL

I FEEL HUNTED 

[T]he groups that are evil and supported this are saying that it took a lot of courage to kill two killers on the street. As a Jewish American citizen, I now feel like I am being hunted down. I also walk in and out of Jewish venues often.
F. Scott Gray
Ridgefield, CT