Author Archives: zjb

About zjb

Zachary Braiterman is Professor of Religion in the Department of Religion at Syracuse University. His specialization is modern Jewish thought and philosophical aesthetics. http://religion.syr.edu

Iranians (Qajar)

Posted on February 10, 2026 by zjb

Female Tumblers, Oil Painting (1800-1830) Victoria and Albert Museum, London  Ladies around a Samovar (c. 1860–75), Isma‘il Jalayir. Victoria and Albert Museum, London Portrait of Fath ‘Ali Shah, Oil Painting, (1797-1834), Victoria and Albert Museum, London  

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(the jewish left) Iran + Israel (democracy)

Posted on February 6, 2026 by zjb

Now there is a reflex on the left that writes off the struggle for democracy in Iran because of “anti-imperialism” or because Israel and the Jewish right in Israel back the fall of the IRI or because of Trump. For … Continue reading →

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BA In Modern Jewish Studies Gets the Axe at Syracuse

Posted on January 30, 2026 by zjb

Dear All:  Writing with sad but not unexpected news. I met the other day with [two administrators in the College of Arts and Sciences –henceforth “The College”] who informed me that the SU is eliminating the major in  Modern Jewish … Continue reading →

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Iran @Twitter

Posted on January 19, 2026 by zjb

Follow at Twitter for reliable information and perspectives about the struggle for democracy and human rights in Iran: Arash Azizi آرش عزیزی @arash_tehran Siavash Ardalan @BBCArdalan BBC Persian/World Senior Reporter Yashar Ali @yasha Holly Dagres @hdagres @WashInstitute Senior Fellow Meir … Continue reading →

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(Mamdani) The Friend-Friend Distinction (Diaspora Haredi Political Theory)

Posted on January 9, 2026 by zjb

An “askan” in Haredi communities is the political fixer who coordinates the communal interest before local or state power. Indig is the askan who represents the interests of the Ahronim segment of the Satmar community. Based on enmity, the organized … Continue reading →

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(AI TRANSLATION) Toldot Ya’akov Yosef (Reader’s Digest)

Posted on January 2, 2026 by zjb

I generated an UNFINISHED AI-translation of the Toldot Ya’akov Yosef, which I am sharing here. It is heavily annotated. The paragraph organization that I sought to impose on the copy from Sefaria is very rough and represents my own attempt … Continue reading →

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(Jewish) Fish

Posted on December 21, 2025 by zjb

h/t Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone @Mottel

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Unhinged On The Jewish Anti-Zionist Left

Posted on December 18, 2025 by zjb

In this tendentious post, I want to trace along the edge of the broader undoing of political norms and institutional guardrails in the Age of Information a more local version manifest in the dynamic of Jewish life. Beset by deep … Continue reading →

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(Red Lines) Anti-Israel-Anti-Semitic (Protest at Park East Synagogue)

Posted on November 22, 2025 by zjb

For those tracking the escalatory messaging at anti-Israel protests, this one outside a synagogue in NYC, and what to expect from Mayor-Elect Mamdani (as cribbed from Luke Terres at the TOI). Chants  “Death to the IDF,” “We don’t want no … Continue reading →

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(On Pause) Students Love Humanities (Syracuse University)

Posted on November 20, 2025 by zjb

Young people never fail to impress. It is profoundly moving to hear students affirm what our classes mean to them, intellectually and personally. As part of the University led portfolio review of impacted majors across several departments and areas of … Continue reading →

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