Author: David Rutman

Rome is burning. The Titanic is sinking. And Jews, once again, are fiddling beside Nero while an orchestra goes down with the ship. For a preternaturally nervous people, Jews sometimes have great difficulty in taking a hint. A certain amount of Jewish nonchalance is understandable, I guess. The Jewish state seems to be out of […]

It’s a big mistake to compare Donald Trump to other presidents. A more apt reference point is Trump as the longtime star of “The Apprentice,” a highly successful reality show where Trump “played” the role of a business tycoon and learned the fine art of grabbing and holding people’s attention. If Trump is about anything, […]

History has shown us that there can be deadly and destabilizing consequences when acts of antisemitism are ignored or left addressed inadequately. That’s why it was so disturbing when demonstrators in our communities fanned the flames of hate in the wake of the October 7th attacks on Israel – starting the very next day. What […]

Real change in Iran cannot be imposed from the outside—it must come from within. In recent months, Iran has stood at the center of a crisis with consequences that extended far beyond its borders. Although the 12-day war has ended, its message is unmistakable: While precision airstrikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear program for a […]

Michelle Missaghieh, Temple Israel of Hollywood’s associate rabbi, is likely the busiest rabbi in Los Angeles. She teaches children and adults, learning, pastoral duties, in-person and online classes, involvement with numerous boards, every program — large and small — at TIOH. On top of all this, the slender Rabbi Missaghieh goes for a brisk 60-75 […]

    The story of Balaam and his talking donkey is a major problem for serious theologians and scholars of the Bible. If you are not familiar with this gem in this week’s Torah portion, take a look at Numbers 22:20-25, the story that contains the chattering mule. Some people poke fun at literalists who […]

When I was a college student, I began to understand a particular kind of antisemitism that has stayed with me throughout my life. This antisemitism is not loud or violent; it is quietly insidious. People would say, “The Jews sure know how to take care of their own,” as if Jewish institutions were somehow closed […]

Dynamic and engaging Jewish communal professionals are essential for strong Jewish communities. At a moment when synagogues, schools, camps, and nonprofits are facing a decline in participation, changing demographics, and a sense of uncertainty about the future, the talent gap is a grave challenge. A 2023 Leading Edge survey showed that a majority of Jewish […]

It all started with a music festival in southern Israel where peace-loving teenagers spent the night under the stars and awoke to barbarians wishing them their final good morning. What occurred on October 7, 2023 was unimaginable: the slaughter, beheading, and gangraping of kids—some even younger than the concertgoers, who lived in neighboring villages and […]

Since we’re in the Fourth of July spirit, it’s as good a time as any to reflect on the declining state of the Democratic Party and its views of America. As Shane Goldmacher wrote recently in The New York Times, the Democratic Party’s standing “has plunged to startling new lows — 27 percent approval in […]