The Jazz Kibbutz: A Brief History of Israel’s Jazz Scene
Israel’s jazz scene has been around since British mandate times, but really came into its own in the 90s. Thanks to trailblazers like Avishai Cohen, Omer Avital, and Avi Lebovich, Israel’s jazz music is now celebrated internationally for its quality as well as its diversity - Israeli jazz is nearly as big a jumble of cultures as Israel itself. “It’s very ‘exotic’ to the American or European ear,” says Barak Weiss, “but it’s still accessible because it’s based on American music.”
Q&A: Aaron Posner Brings ‘Broken Glass’ to DC
"It’s a play that will speak very differently to different people depending on where they are in their lives."
What ‘Genius’ Gets Right—and Wrong—About the Jewish Einstein
In the popular imagination, Albert Einstein is a benign, whimsical and endearing old man. Yet of course, the real Einstein was more complex—though he was brilliant and had his fanciful quirks, in many ways he was also self-absorbed and careless, obsessive and absent-minded to the point of callousness.
The Thermometer Interview: Anton Pelinka
Welcome to The Thermometer Interview, a new series of conversations that will test the temperature of Europe.
With America on the retreat, what happens in Europe...
A Historic Synagogue Welcomes the Future at National Pride Shabbat
It’s standing room only for National Pride Young Professionals Shabbat Dinner, located in the non-denominational, non-traditional congregation’s social hall.
Free eBook: Defining Moments in Israeli History: 1967–2017
Moment reached out to an eclectic group to ask: which event most defined the last half-century of the Israeli experience?
Twice As Many Jews Quit As Convert
Judaism is the fourth fastest growing religion.
Is Brooke Davies the American Jewish Establishment’s Worst Nightmare?
Brooke Davies spent ten summers at Camp Ramah, confronted anti-Semitism routinely as a child in the South, and fell in love with Israel as a teenager. She also had a close call with terrorism, less than two years ago, when a young boy attempted to stab her in Jaffa. But when became a national leader in J Street U, she faced opposition from the Jewish community and even from those in her family. Now she is reconsidering her relationship with the Jewish community altogether.
U.S. Pullout From Paris Climate Agreement Could Have High Stakes for Israel
“The Paris accords were a rare occurrence in which the world united—save for Syria and Nicaragua—to care for the welfare and health of future generations,” Israel Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz posted on Facebook. “Even if there’s a 50 percent likelihood that climate change and global warming are caused by human activity, it is our duty to act to minimize risks.”
What Does Jewish Humor Mean Today?
Michael Krasny wants to tell jokes—but he also wants to explain them. “It's important to be analytical about humor,” he says.
Memories of the Six-Day War—Fifty Years Later
I sat in front of our black-and-white 19-inch TV watching the progress of the war, my heart in my mouth the whole time.
Searching for Shanghai’s Jewish Food Scene
One of the less-celebrated benefits of globalization is that you can walk into a bakery in almost any city in the world on Friday and buy a challah. But not in Shanghai. At least not until this past March.