Shapiro repeated a saying from Pirke Avot, a Jewish text, which he has used on the campaign trail before: “I’m not here to preach at y’all. But I want to tell you what my faith teaches,” he said. “My faith teaches me that no one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it. That means that each of us has a responsibility to get off the sidelines, to get in the game and to do our part.”

During the Holocaust and its aftermath, the Forward’s Seeking Relatives helped thousands when no one else could

Nearly 180 gravestones at two Jewish cemeteries in Cincinnati have been vandalized, according to the Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.

Many of the gravestones – some dating back to the late 1800s – have been knocked face-down, with some cracked in half, at the Tifereth Israel and the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol cemeteries in the Covedale Cemetery complex.

On August 21, 1790, President George Washington composed a letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, and to its leader, Moses Seixas. Washington incorporated Seixas' own phrasing, which describes the vision of the young nation as one which "gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance."

The close relationship between Washington and the Jewish community already in the United States helped to enshrine the principles of separation between Religion and State, as well as the freedom of religion that would soon become part of the First Amendment to the Constitution.

As we celebrate this anniversary of our nation's independence, one hopes that we might continue to hold hope for this cherished vision. Let all good patriots recall the aspirations of our country's founders and work to fight against the evils that conspire to compromise and undermine them. In an age of rising intolerance and renewed Christian nationalism, may we be the beacons of light illuminating and eliminating the darkness creeping from the corners. Then every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. 🇺🇲

David Baddiel is a British comedian and the author of the book Jews Don't Count. He, much like the interviewer here (Andrew Gold) convinced me to stop being ashamed of the fact that I'm Jewish and hiding it.

News that the South had lost the Civil War and that the Emancipation Proclamation had freed all enslaved people came late to Texas — June 19, 1865. Since then, Black communities in the South have celebrated what came to be called Juneteenth on the anniversary of the day. “America’s second Independence Day” was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

For many Jews, Juneteenth is an opportunity to celebrate and commemorate both Black and Jewish history and culture — and the places where they intersect. Here is a sampling of Jewish Juneteenth events this season.

Sheinbaum’s family background is one of culturally Jewish but atheist progressive activists. A similar background has defined the past century of Jewish communities in Mexico, many of which were built by European Jews who, fleeing pogroms and the Nazis, brought with them socialist values that they would seek to foster in their lives in Mexico.But such connections between Jewish values and political action in countries of refuge are often downplayed or even contested. Sheinbaum herself has not made much of her Jewish identity in her political life. She has often described the family in which she was raised as not particularly observant. Yet Sheinbaum is also only the second Jewish head of state throughout all of Latin America. So, no matter what kind of Jewish political leader she is, the fact that she identifies as Jewish is material to her public profile.

In fact, and strikingly, our Jewish legal tradition identifies no fewer than six distinct “genders”, certainly assuming as normative the male and female, but including as well designations which we now refer to as “intersex” identities.

Pride feels different this year. As Jews, many of us are concerned about rising antisemitism. Some of us worry about antisemitism during Pride.

As LGBTQ+ people, our lives, communities, and families continue to be attacked. Over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been proposed or passed in the United States. Our humanity is being debated in the public sphere.

As queer and trans Jews, we are vulnerable on multiple fronts. And yet, Pride is a time to celebrate our resistance and resilience. We stand on the shoulders of our LGBTQ+ Jewish ancestors who survived so that we could thrive. And one of the ways to not give in to harmful rhetoric is to show those who don’t believe we should exist that we are here, proudly and joyously. We aren’t going anywhere. Our communities are beautiful, exuberant, generative spaces of love and belonging.

The news is overwhelming and unending. But we know the truth: queer people and queer Jews have always been here and will always be here. We are your friends, family, and neighbors. We need your support.

Today is 23 days, which is 3 weeks and 2 days of the Omer. It's a little early, but Shabbat Shalom everyone!

Today is 14 days, which is 2 weeks of the Omer.

It is also National Teacher Day. Rambam, the 12th Century philosopher, physician, and legalist, wrote the following about the moral obligation to employ teachers:

מוֹשִׁיבִין מְלַמְּדֵי תִּינוֹקוֹת בְּכָל מְדִינָה וּמְדִינָה וּבְכָל פֶּלֶךְ וּפֶלֶךְ וּבְכָל עִיר וָעִיר. וְכָל עִיר שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ תִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן מַחְרִימִין אֶת אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר עַד שֶׁמּוֹשִׁיבִין מְלַמְּדֵי תִּינוֹקוֹת. וְאִם לֹא הוֹשִׁיבוּ מַחְרִימִין אֶת הָעִיר. שֶׁאֵין הָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּם אֶלָּא בְּהֶבֶל פִּיהֶם שֶׁל תִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן:

Teachers of young children are to be appointed in each province, district and town. If a city has made no provision for the education of the young, its inhabitants are placed under a ban, till such teachers have been engaged. And if they persistently neglect this duty, the city is excommunicated, for the world is only sustained by the breath of school children.

Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Torah Study 2-1

Today is 13 days, which is 1 week and 6 days of the Omer.

It is also Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

During World War II, Jews of Lublin were rounded up by soldiers and taken to a field. "Dance. Sing and dance for us," they were instructed. No one sang, until one person began: "Lomir zikh iberbetn...." Let's all get along. No one followed. Another voice offered the same tune with different words: "Mir veln zey iberlebn." We will outlive them.

Our resistance song comes from that night. It's not uncomplicated. So many of us did not, have not, outlived. But this is a slogan of determination. It's a love note to every person working to make the 'we' who will outlive them bigger and fuller and stronger.

Today is the seventh Day of the Omer. It's also the last day of Passover. This has been my favorite Passover movie since it came out. The first time I heard the words of Mi Chamocha (Ashira L'Adonai) coming out of a big screen movie, I knew it was something special.

You don't have to believe in God to be moved by this incredible story of Hope and Redemption. The power of bringing words written thousands of years ago into a modern children's musical is just incredible. You also don't have to be a child to appreciate this song! I still love it.

There is a custom to recite the mystical prayer Ana Bekoach following each day's counting, which alludes to the 42-letter name of God.

Still looks better than the flavorless lumps I had at the first night Seder.

Its also the reading of one of the most famous passages of the Talmud, in which God makes clear that the community is more sacred than being "technically correct."

Tiferet of Chesed - Beauty within Lovingkindness

Gevurah of Chesed (Might within Lovingkindness)

Olam Chesed Yibaneh - We shall build a World of love.

Composed by Rabbi Menachem Creditor

Performed by the Jerusalem Youth Chior