Monthly Archives: November 2017

Antisemitism Has Always Slipped Into Anti-Zionism (A Note from Damascus) (1929)

Posted on November 30, 2017 by zjb

Here’s an interesting bit from Norman Stillman’s anthology of documents, Jews of Arab Lands in Modern Times. It was written in 1929 by A. Silberstein, the director of the Alliance School for Boys in Damascus in the wake of the anti-Jewish riots … Continue reading →

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Scholarship, Activism, & Jews Who Tarry (Max Weber)

Posted on November 29, 2017 by zjb

After so many years, the conclusion of Max Weber’s “Science as a Vocation” still has the power to bring up short a Jewish reader. Writing against armchair prophets, the main thesis of the essay is to draw a bright red … Continue reading →

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Antisemitism Panel At New School Live Tweets

Posted on November 28, 2017 by zjb

For anyone interested, here’s my live tweets from the Antisemitism Panel at the New School. As best I know, the world did not end. The genuine (as opposed to bogus) hoopla leading up the event was that the panelists were … Continue reading →

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(Not Anti-Semitic) Anti-Zionism is Anti-Jewish (BDS)

Posted on November 28, 2017 by zjb

Sometimes or often enough, anti-Semitism, loosely defined as an antipathy to Jews and Judaism, inflects BDS and anti-Zionism writ large. Recent evidence for such is sustained by a story recently making the rounds, which you can read here, regarding the … Continue reading →

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The Cinema of Spiritual Life (Deleuze)

Posted on November 27, 2017 by zjb

A fascinating quote by Deleuze on cinema and thought the keyterms of which are “decision,” “obstinacy,” “choice,” “existence,” and “spiritual life.” “The reverse was also true, one went right from cinema to philosophy. Something bizarre about the cinema struck me: … Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving Sheni

Posted on November 25, 2017 by zjb

In the spirit of John Waters, I rushed off after Shabbat to the local Morton Williams to pick up an extra cheap supply of Thanksgiving fixings: cranberry sauce, stuffing, and margarine. The turkey was leftover from Marilyn’s, but the good … Continue reading →

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The Virtue of Meaningless Bourgeois Religion (Ancient Judaism) (Max Weber)

Posted on November 22, 2017 by zjb

“Meaning” can sometimes seem like it is all the rage around some corners of the contemporary Jewish discourse, particularly in relation to religion and ritual. “Have a meaningful fast.” “What is the meaning of life?” “The synagogue seems to so … Continue reading →

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UNDERSTANDING ANTISEMITISM: AN OFFERING TO OUR MOVEMENT (Jews For Racial & Economic Justice)

Posted on November 15, 2017 by zjb

An excellent resource on understanding anti-Semitism from a left, anti-racist perspective put together by Jews For Racial & Economic Justice. The text is agnostic about Zionism, an ideology it refuses to reject out of hand, even as it supports legitimate criticism … Continue reading →

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Spiritual Journeys of Allen Ginsberg (Yaakov Ariel) (Tel Aviv University)

Posted on November 14, 2017 by zjb
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American Jewish Millennial Jewish Identity (Ari Kelman, et.al.)

Posted on November 12, 2017 by zjb

What they reject in religion is “law” and “authority.” For anyone interested in these kinds of things, there’s a fascinating study of young American Jews and Jewish identity just out, which you can read here. The co-authors are Ari Y. Kelman, … Continue reading →

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