Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of social media platforms and their role in Jewish life.
Social Media
The Latest
-
The Schmooze Israeli Politician Posts Sexy Selfie
When one is a politician, one can usually count on losing sleep in favor of debating important public issues. But one such public servant, Yesh Atid first-time MK Boaz Toporovsky, took this to a whole new level. On Monday night (Israeli time), during a heated debate about women’s right to a say in the appointment…
-
Opinion Shavuot Is Tough Sell in Age of 140 Characters
The festival of Shavuot marks God’s announcement of his commandments on Mount Sinai. Occurring seven weeks after Passover, the holiday involves no prescribed rituals and can pass virtuously with little ceremony. Those who observe Shavuot often honor the occasion with all-night Torah classes. Because of its boundless significance, the Sinaitic revelation is commemorated by engaging…
-
Breaking News 100-Year-Olds Live Healthy and Get Active on Social Media
America’s centenarians are generally content and believe staying active is key to longevity, and some are even using social media and email to stay in touch with family and friends, a survey released on Thursday showed.’ The poll that compared the attitudes and lifestyle of baby boomers to centenarians showed the country’s oldest citizens were…
-
Opinion Anti-Semitism and Anonymity on Twitter
“Anonymous” is a pretty apt name for the motley crew of anarchist hackers who like to disable and deface the websites of groups or people “they” don’t like. We can’t interrogate their motives. Only their work offers clues, sometimes quite unambiguous ones. When Anonymous recently tried to take down the website for Yad Vashem —…
-
The Schmooze #ObamaInIsrael Has Its Own Pinterest Page
Social media loves a good diplomatic visit. Pictures abound, attempts at speaking other languages often fail, and the agonizing possibility that something will go horribly wrong — like a car breaking down, perhaps? — makes for great third party commentary. All of you avidly following President Obama’s trip to Israel this week will be happy…
-
Life Even Frum Girls Get GIFs
The thing about youth web culture is that kids of every background will appropriate trends to fit their own lifestyles. It’s not so easy for fashion, music or even food. But a social media meme? It’ll tear across the Internet, equally amusing to young netizens regardless of gender, race or class. And if Internet access…
-
Life I’m A Facebook Mom — But Not Why You Think
This essay is in response to Elissa Strauss’ “Why I Don’t Post Photos of My Baby on Facebook.” I used to get a kick out of the stereotypically prideful mother, the one who shows wallet-sized photos of her children to anyone within eyeshot. It seemed she was desperately seeking praise for perfectly coordinated outfits and…
-
Life Is Etsy the Only Online Community Without Jew-Baiting?
Last weekend, two seemingly unconnected things happened. First, my glasses case destroyed itself, and second, a lot of people wrote a lot of things speculating about Chuck Hagel’s possible nomination for Defense Secretary. Consequently I a) searched Etsy for glasses cases (and iPhone covers, necklaces and wristlets) and b) read a lot of articles about…
Most Popular
- 1
News Scoop: Heritage Foundation plans to ‘identify and target’ Wikipedia editors
- 2
Music For Bob Dylan’s biographer, ‘A Complete Unknown’ is a dream come true — even if it’s mostly fiction
- 3
Culture In Peter Yarrow’s legacy, an uneasy blend of Jewish values and personal transgressions
- 4
News ‘Do you have the Torahs?’ Synagogue races LA wildfire to rescue its past and future
In Case You Missed It
-
Opinion What a remarkable Torah rescued from Iran — then LA’s fire — can teach about community amid devastation
-
Fast Forward Israel’s judicial overhaul is back. So are the protests.
-
Opinion After 15 months of war, Israelis are all scaffolding, helping hold each other up
-
Fast Forward Their Pacific Palisades synagogue is standing, but all three rabbis lost their homes
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism