Author: David Rutman

Everyone has events in their lives that become signposts — moments where one’s destiny or life’s work becomes clear. In the second part of his profile, Rabbi Joel Simonds, the founder of the Jewish Center for Justice and a member of Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s clergy, tells The Journal the moments that have impacted his life.  […]

We worked on an interesting report dealing with Israeli society. What is the report about? There is an official version and a subversive version. The official version is the report itself, as presented on the website of JPPI: “Trends of Traditionalism Among Nonreligious Youth in Israel.” That is indeed the subject of the research, and […]

There are some people who will just never die. They can’t. It’s unimaginable to consider the world without them. They are such a constant; always at the meeting, showing up to the shiva, shushing the other ladies in the cardroom or ruling the boardroom. They are always there. That is Annette Shapiro. I say “is” […]

Mark Ruffalo is entitled to oppose the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. He is entitled to dislike Larry Ellison, David Ellison, Oracle, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, or any corporate or political policy he chooses. What he is not entitled to is immunity from criticism when his arguments against a massive American media transaction somehow metastasize into yet […]

The city of Montreal is so broke that the mayor quipped recently that the “city’s credit card is maxxed out.” Meanwhile, the crises are proliferating, from a rise in poverty, crime and homelessness to decaying infrastructure, a lack of affordable housing and interminable waits for medical care. So, naturally, on Monday the city council will […]

Mark Ruffalo escalated his campaign against Paramount Skydance’s proposed $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery on Friday, accusing the Ellison family and Oracle of complicity in what he called a “genocide” in Gaza—and warning that the company’s technology could eventually be “used on you.” The actor shared a video of Oracle Executive Vice Chair […]

A confession: I often fall asleep in Shabbat services. I try not to, but the rhythmic cadence of the cantor’s voice, the warm light, and the exhaustion of a long week usually win. But at synagogue recently, I sat wide awake, unable to shake a strange idea out of my mind. Because it was a […]