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N.Y.'s failed attempt at a 'Super Jewish' district, Great Resignation leads to rabbinic shortage, the most popular bar mitzvah song is not what you think, and partaking in 'Shtisel tourism.'
FROM THE FORWARD That's me with Barry Wendell, Congressional candidate – and my West Virginia neighbor. This West Virginia rabbi’s husband is running for Congress: Barry Wendell has tried on many careers in his 72 years: Cantor, soap opera actor, substitute teacher and claims agent for the Social Security Administration. But it’s the next gig that is the most quixotic: he hopes to be elected to Congress from one of the reddest states in the nation – as a liberal, gay, Jewish Democrat. Redistricting may give him the tiniest sliver of a chance. I took a walk with Wendell along the banks of the Monongahela River in our shared hometown, Morgantown, to find out what in the world he’s thinking. Read the story ➤
And speaking of redistricting… Signs point to an increased Orthodox influence in New York’s state Capitol:Our senior political reporter, Jacob Kornbluh, gives a behind-the-scenes look at the (failed) efforts to create what some were calling a “Super Jewish” district in Rockland County that would give a Hasidic Jew a shot at a seat in the state legislature. Read the story ➤
Opinion | My family’s worst moment is captured in ‘Maus.’ Its ban gravely disappoints me: Art Spiegelman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust holds special meaning for Edo Steinberg. A character that appears on page 76 was based on his distant cousin, Hela. So when a school board in Tennessee voted to ban the book, Steinberg felt compelled to respond. The students in that district “should be exposed to Jewish stories,” he writes. “And Black stories. And Native American stories. And Asian stories.” The goal, he argues, “is not to generate white Christian guilt but empathy, to humanize those whose religion, race and ethnicity are different from their own.” Read his essay ➤
A Jewish family confronts antisemitism in new off-Broadway play: The characters in “Prayer for the French Republic,” which opened on Tuesday, confront a choice of leaving France or staying put as far-right factions and anti-Jewish assaults begin to dominate the headlines. Playwright Joshua Harmon shifts the story back and forth between the 2010s and the 1940s, urging the audience to consider the history of French antisemitism that underpins the family’s difficult decision. Harmon “doesn’t offer easy answers,” writes PJ Grisar, “but he never fails to explain why epigenetic alarm bells are ringing for so many.” Read the story ➤
How one cheesy 2009 pop song became the biggest bar mitzvah hit of all time:How did a song written by a West Coast hip-hop group, a Catholic pop star and a French DJ become a Jewish anthem from Tenafly to Tel Aviv? “If you’ve seen this song played in its natural habitat – a Long Island bar mitzvah, immediately following the hora, before being seated for the motzi,” Hesta Prynn writes in an appreciation, “then you’ve experienced the ecstasy of Jews young and old screaming ‘Mazel tov!’ along with the song.” Click here to find out which song ➤
WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY 🕍 The Great Resignation is causing a rabbinic hiring crisis that could leave synagogues without leaders. Pandemic fatigue, an increase in retirements and seminaries ordaining fewer clergy are all contributing factors. Case in point: At least 80 Conservative synagogues have vacancies this year, but only 50 to 60 Conservative rabbis are looking for pulpit jobs. (JTA)
⚖️ Aaron Mostofsky, an Orthodox Jew seen wearing a fur pelt inside the Capitol during the insurrection, has pleaded guilty to riot charges. He faces 12 to 18 months in prison. Mostofsky’s brother, Nachman, leads an Orthodox Republican advocacy organization called Chovevei Zion in Brooklyn. Their father, Steven, is a New York judge and the former president of the National Council of Young Israel. (AP)
🇾🇪 There is “systemic persecution” of Yemeni Jews by the Houthi rebel forces, the United Nations says in a new report. The document also highlighted the imprisonment of Levi Marhabi, a Jewish man who has been held captive since 2016 for his alleged role in helping smuggle an 800-year-old Torah out of the country. (Jewish Insider)
🏥 Neo-Nazis protested outside a Boston hospital because two doctors have been working to establish greater equity in health care for people of color. The protesters held signs and passed out flyers that said the hospital “kills whites” and “promotes anti-white genocidal policy.” (WGBH)
📚 Jewish groups are calling on HarperCollins to stop printing copies of a new book that points blame at a Jewish notary who betrayed Anne Frank by revealing details about her family’s hiding place. Many Holocaust experts have questioned the author’s claim. The publisher of the Dutch-language edition of the book has already suspended printing and apologized. (Algemeiner)
🍽️ Call it “Shtisel Tourism.” Jerusalem tour guides are offering glimpses of the ultra-Orthodox world, with families opening their homes – and tables of kugel, cholent and other traditional Shabbat foods – to visitors. (Times of Israel)
Shiva call ➤ Avram Goldberg, who went from part-time worker to chairman of Stop & Shop, died at 92. His tenure at the top of the company was only four years – he was forced out in a hostile takeover. He invested his fortune with Bernie Madoff, but continued to be a philanthropic force in the Boston Jewish community despite losing money in the Ponzi scheme. (JTA)
What else we’re reading ➤ Israeli defense minister kicks off historic visit to Bahrain … Pope Francis called pet owners selfish; an animal chaplain says he sells love short … Why the author of ‘People Love Dead Jews’ is sorry her book is a huge hit. FROM OUR ARCHIVES National Bagels and Lox Day is less than a week away! (Yes, it’s a real thing.) Are you prepared? Chana Pollack, the Forward’s archivist, dug up this ad from January, 1968. She translated the Yiddish, which included quite the pun:
What’s luxurious? Diamonds for your anniversary or dancing at the Ritz Plaza? NO! Is it a Sunday bagel, lox and Philadelphia cream cheese? YES! LOXuriousness begins with the finest, freshest, tastiest cream cheese in the country... Philadelphia brand!
But wait, there’s more: We’ve created an e-book showcasing the work of Len Berk, our lox columnist, who is in his 90s and, among many fascinating life chapters, works as a lox slicer at Zabar’s. It’s free with a new subscription to the Forward. As if that weren’t enough, for a limited time, we’re offering half-off the annual rate. Click here for details ➤
ON THE CALENDAR On this day in history: Shlomo Goren, who grew up to be the first head of Israel’s military rabbinate, was born on Feb. 3, 1917. Rabbi Goren served in three wars; an iconic 1967 photo shows him blowing the shofar at the Western Wall, surrounded by Israeli soldiers. When he left the military, he became the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel and was considered a foremost Talmudic scholar and authority on Jewish law.
In honor of Norman Rockwell’s birthday, read about the secret Jewish history of Rosie the Riveter.
In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, check out this profile of Hailey Kops. This Modern Orthodox ice skater was studying in Jerusalem last year. Now she’s heading to the Winter Olympics.
It’s also National Carrot Cake Day. Did you know that Jews are responsible for the first written carrot cake recipe in America? It appeared in “The Neighborhood Cookbook,” published in 1912, in Portland, by the Council of Jewish Women.
The 70th National Prayer Breakfast starts at 8 this morning in the U.S. Capitol.
Last year on this day, we reported on Ali Marpet, a Jewish player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who was headed to the Super Bowl.
PHOTO OF THE DAY Hillary Clinton and Shimon Peres in Israel, 2002. (Photo by Robert A. Cumins) In case you missed it: Meet Bob Cumins, a Zelig-like documentary photographer (or Forrest Gump, choose your metaphor). Pick a major event from the past 50 years and Bob was likely there, standing just off to the side. He’s photographed presidents and prime ministers, archbishops and NFL quarterbacks. Think this week’s Jerusalem snowstorm was bad? You should’ve seen the one Bob shot in 1980.
And for the last six months, he’s been making stealth appearances in this newsletter. When Isaac Bashevis Singer’s yahrtzeit was approaching, Bob sent over some rare photos of the Nobel Prize winner that he took when the two visited Ellis Island.
On the anniversary of the signing of the Oslo Accords, Bob texted me several shots he took of Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton and Yasser Arafat at the White House. When a famous person dies, Bob always seems to have something special in his archives.
––– Thanks to PJ Grisar, Jacob Kornbluh and Chana Pollack for contributing to today’s newsletter. You can reach the “Forwarding” team at [email protected].
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