Displaying 1 - 10 of 91
Shmita
Hebrew Spelling
שְׁמִטָּה
A year of “release,” described in the Torah (Ex 23:11; Lev 25:2,5-7; Deut 15:1-2) as occurring every seventh year, during which the land of Israel is not farmed, debts are remitted, and slaves granted freedom.
How Jews Transformed The Comic Book Industry, Part III: The Bronze Age (1979 - )
Ever since the late 1970s, comics have turned more introspective and artistically ambitious. As in the Golden and Silver Ages, Jewish comics creators have been at the cutting edge, producing works that probe Jewish history, showcase Jewish characters, and comment on spiritual and social issues. These artists have ushered in what may be termed "the Bronze Age" of comics--not because it's less esteemed than the Golden or Silver Ages, but because it is free of rose-colored gloss and glitter, and reflects the realities of the world in which we live.
How Jews Transformed The Comic Book Industry, Part II: The Silver Age (1956-1978)
By the mid-'50s, the comic book industry was in a sorry state. Allegations that the genre was promoting juvenile delinquency and illiteracy had "done in" the popular and groundbreaking horror and crime comics, and superheroes were now bland incarnations of their former selves. Batman, once a shadowy figure of the night, was recast as a high-camp boy scout battling rainbow-colored monsters.
How the Jews Created the Comic Book Industry Part I: The Golden Age (1933-1955)
1933. FDR was inaugurated, Hitler became chancellor of Germany, television was patented, and an unemployed Jewish novelty salesman named Max Gaines (née Max Ginzberg) was pondering how on earth he would be able to feed his wife Jessie and their two young children, who were living with him at his mother's house in the Bronx. To lift his spirits, he began reading some Sunday funnies stored in his mother's attic. Suddenly the idea hit him: if he enjoyed reading old comic strips like "Joe Palooka," "Mutt and Jeff," and "Hairbreadth Harry," maybe the rest of America would, too!
From the Shadows into the Light
We sat down with Qian Julie Wang, a New York Times bestselling author and a civil rights litigator, to talk about her acclaimed new memoir Beautiful Country and her Jewish journey.
A Doorway to Heroism
Imagine a German Jew who was a decorated German soldier in World War I, a resister in Cologne at the start of Hitler’s reign of terror, and a Silver Star decorated U.S. Army soldier. Three heroic actions, at three different times, in three different places. This is the story of Richard Stern, whose photograph of his protest hangs in multiple German museums, showing a rare Jewish protest in Nazi Germany. He was my Great Uncle.
Past JewV'Nation Cohorts
Learn About the Four Completed Cohorts of the JewV'Nation Fellowship
“Interfaith” and Beyond
When it comes to partnerships in which one person is Jewish and the other is not, there are lots of descriptors, and lots of terms you might hear used to refer to your family. We asked five couples to tell us how they describe themselves and their families' religious identity - and why.
RAC-NY launches Climate Covenant: A RAC-NY Campaign to Combat Climate Change
RAC-NY Launches a New Kind of Multi-year Campaign to Combat Climate Change RAC-NY is set to launch Climate Covenant: A RAC-NY Campaign to Combat Climate Change with Zoom gatherings on Tuesday, March 22, 7 -8:15 pm and Wednesday, March 23, 12 -1:15 pm.
Union for Reform Judaism Youth Protection Policies and Procedures
Protecting children and youth from abuse is a duty that all of us share. It takes a community to protect our youth, and Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) recognizes the importance of including the entire community in this important duty.