Jack Wertheimer
By Jack Wertheimer
-
Opinion How Should U.S. Teachers Talk to Kids About War in Gaza?
Getty Images (JTA) — With the new school year nearly upon us, Jewish educational leaders are scrambling to prepare their teachers to discuss this summer’s Gaza War. The most pressing challenge is to design age-appropriate conversations: At which grade level might classroom discussions include potentially frightening topics, such as the wounding of non-combatants, kidnapping of young…
-
Opinion Day School Numbers Not So Bad
The Avi Chai Foundation’s newly released data on current day school enrollments has drawn attention from many, including J.J. Goldberg in a column on these pages. Like Goldberg’s, these assessments have been mostly pessimistic, a reflection of findings that show a decrease in attendance in all but the Orthodox day schools. What is missing, however,…
-
Opinion Straight-Talk About Assimilation: An Exchange
In an October 2 opinion article, “Time for Straight-Talk About Assimilation,” Jewish Theological Seminary historian Jack Wertheimer weighed in on the controversy over an Israeli television commercial that warned of high rates of assimilation among young Diaspora Jews. The ad, produced for the Jewish Agency’s Masa program, which brings young Jews to Israel for educational…
-
Opinion Time for Straight-Talk About Assimilation
From now on, Jewish groups will likely think twice before using any variation on the word “assimilation.” That’s one lesson learned from the recent brouhaha over a 34-second commercial on Israeli television promoting the Jewish Agency’s Masa program, which brings young Jews to Israel for sustained periods of work, study and volunteering. The advertisement, which…
-
Opinion Real Realism on Intermarriage
Building on a new study of Jewish identity among the children of intermarriage, the Forward editorialized about the alleged failings of the organized Jewish community. In its July 8 editorial, “Welcoming the New Jews” — i.e. the offspring of mixed marriages — the Forward declared: “The Jewish community needs to come to terms with the…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Fast Forward ‘Rabbi rebellion’: 33 Orthodox rabbis endorse Harris
- 2
Opinion I was a Bernie supporter. This year, I’m voting Trump. Here’s why liberal Jews like me made the switch
- 3
Opinion Here’s why Orthodox Jews are loyal to Trump — even if they don’t love him
- 4
Opinion Almost all voting groups shifted toward Trump, except American Jews. Why?
In Case You Missed It
-
News Majority of Jewish voters open to partial arms embargo on Israel
-
Fast Forward Man carrying weapons and protest manifesto against Gaza war tried to enter U.S. Capitol on Election Day
-
News Who is Howard Lutnick? Trump transition team leader is a billionaire supporter of Jewish causes and Israel
-
Yiddish World Violinist Deborah Strauss wins 2024 ‘Dreaming in Yiddish Award’
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
