Hannah Lebovits is a contributing columnist for the Forward and an assistant professor of public affairs at the University of Texas-Arlington. Her research and teaching focuses on topics related to urban policy, public administration, social justice and sustainability. She is also a freelance writer and has written for local and national publications. Hannah lives in Dallas with her husband and three children.
On Shabbat afternoon, March 25, 1911, the top floors of the Jewish-owned Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in Lower Manhattan went up in flames. Due to the building’s structural flaws, the number of people working at the time, and the lack of responsive emergency personnel, 146 lives were lost in just 18 minutes. As labor attorney Jonathan…
It’s incredibly difficult to fully explain what it feels like to be in Texas right now. For one, I’m not sure which hat I’m wearing. I’m a homeowner, wife, and mother, so obviously I’m concerned about my family and the place I live. But I’m also a local resident who cares about community. So I’m…
It was late on a Sunday evening and I was scrolling through Buzzfeed, as one does. The month of Ramadan had just started and Buzzfeed writers and community members were sharing tweets and TikTok videos from people observing the 30 days of fasting. Reading and watching the posts, I kept thinking: While the words are…
I think my neighbor put it best. “Look,” he texted my husband earlier this week, “I’m at the point where, if my son takes out his tablet on Shabbos afternoon and starts watching a Christmas show, I’m just going to go with it. I need a break.” When my husband shared the thought with me,…
Five months ago, I visited New York City’s Lander College for Women, an Orthodox women’s college, eager to discuss my research with the next generation of undergraduate political science majors. My alma mater greeted me with open arms and we gathered in a classroom for a discussion on how cities can produce successful social outcomes….
On Wednesday, June 13th, members from the Orthodox Union’s policy and advocacy team met with several legislators and key federal administrators in Washington D.C. One of those administrators was US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a man who is singularly responsible for the horrible treatment of undocumented immigrants and asylum-seekers. I am shocked and upset by…
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