Author: David Rutman

For as long as I can remember, I watch the Israel Prize ceremony, which comes at the end of Israel Independence Day. The ceremony is always inspiring; the style is usually strait-laced and serious. An anecdotal poll among my friends revealed that I was not the only one who sensed the atmosphere in the ceremony […]

There truly are the righteous, those who have a conscience, who think not of their personal safety, but about what is right and just, who are humane and compassionate. Even in these trying times, they are among us today. They always have been — so great that they did not even think that what they […]

So much keeps happening around the world daily—and the brainwashing spin cycle of social media is so distracting—it’s difficult to glean the significance of certain events, especially when they converge. And if you’re singularly obsessed with Donald Trump—whether as a die-hard America Firster, a brainless Bolshevik, or a gullible, needy Jew clinging to the cool […]

A rabbi whose mother is an athiest might sound like a pitch for a sit-com, but for Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, it was his reality. His mother, now a retired psychotherapist, does not believe in God. But there is a happy ending. The rabbi, who is set to become American Jewish University’s Mordechai Kaplan Distinguished […]

Rabbi Cheryl Peretz has accepted the position of interim dean of American Jewish University’s Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, effective July 1. A longtime leader at Ziegler, Peretz has served the Ziegler School for 25 years, most recently as vice dean, where she has played a central role in academic leadership, student formation and faculty […]

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/2cefb702-14b7-46d3-a730-0403ece8e3ac/S5_E6_Brian_Spivak.mp3 This week on Schmuckboys, Libby and Marla give you their post-Passover recaps they then welcome their guest, Brian Spivak, who founded Barzel Media, a company focused on helping Jewish content creators partner with businesses for brand deals. We get into Brian’s unexpectedly thriving Miami dating era, his Modern Orthodox New Jersey upbringing, and how […]

Thinking about the Torah portion Shemini earlier this month, I was struck by a single sentence commenting on Aaron’s behavior after his two sons were killed: “And Aaron remained silent.” This led me to Elie Wiesel’s famous statement: “Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented,” which motivated me to use my voice here, to speak […]

In 2024, influencer Dan Bilzerian told Piers Morgan that Jewish supremacy is the “greatest threat to the world today.” He has called Oct. 7, 2023 mastermind Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar a “hero,” claimed that Hamas is not a terrorist organization but Israel is a “terrorist state” and spread numerous antisemitic conspiracy theories. Known for living […]