In recent years, rhetoric pertaining to the American economy has become increasingly contentious. Resolving the atrophying sector of American manufacturing, dealing with a stubbornly-high unemployment rate and striking an equilibrium between government and private markets mark a few of the…
Rabbi Froman in memoriam: an Israeli settler and his drive for peace
As the exuberance of yet another AIPAC Policy Conference fades, the grimness of reality sets in. This year’s AIPAC conference featured such speakers as Vice President Joe Biden and outgoing Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. But while this week’s headlines highlighted…
Departure of Israel’s economic wizard creates uncertainty
Of all the terms readily associated with the Middle East, “resilient” and “stable” are refrains mostly designated for other regions. However, largely to the credit of the governor of the Bank of Israel, Stanley Fischer, the Israeli economy has managed…
When Americans cannot compete, we all lose
Home to the second largest Jewish community, with some 5.2 million Jews, the United States’ political climate is undermining the ability of its citizens to trust their government. Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, opined in his blog Economics and…
Gay and Orthodox: a struggle for religious rights
Seeking to live an Orthodox lifestyle can be an isolating proposition. With constant vigilance for dietary restrictions, Sabbath laws, and various other religious standards, one can easily feel separated from mainstream society. Yet, the perceived isolation is even deeper in…
A tale of two communities: Jews and Thanksgiving
For those of us still recuperating from a turkey and pumpkin pie torpor and the ensuing blitz of shopping and sales, the holiday season often fails to elicit any meaningful discourse on appreciation and thanks. Instead, it seems the principles…
Election night: a look at a congressional legend
From 7 a.m. today until 8 p.m. tonight, millions of Americans will engage in their ultimate civic duty and vote for the president of the United States and various other local politicians and initiatives. While it would be foolhardy to…
Inked: a living Holocaust memorial
In Zakhor, the famous commentary on Jewish history and memory, historian Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi writes, “Only in Israel and nowhere else is the injunction to remember felt as a religious imperative to an entire people.” Confluent with that statement is…