By Bill Simons
No one, except possibly Fiorello La Guardia, enjoyed being mayor of New York City more than Ed Koch. A shameless booster, Koch loved his city. He epitomized the Jewish New Yorker of his generation. Koch’s loud but warm know-it-all style reminded you of cabbies, deli counterma…
By Bill Simons
Never since the 1948 rebirth of Israel has U.S. public opinion been more critical of the Jewish state. American Jews are divided about how to respond both to canards and truths. We know what Nazi genocide looked like, insist on the right of self-defense and remain committed t…
By Bill Simons
From adolescence onward, I have experienced feelings of anger, violation and apprehension at the misdeeds of Jewish criminals and miscreants. They give renewed life to antisemitic canards, heightening Jewish American vulnerability. Through my writing, teaching and public lect…
By Shelley Hubal
For several years now, the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton has been in partnership with local Jewish leadership and the national organization Secure Community Network. Together, we have created an active team that is focused on improving safety and security for the …
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
The Talmud is pretty clear that Jews are forbidden to gamble. The Mishnah notes that gamblers are forbidden to be witnesses in court cases because they are considered unreliable. Later Jewish texts note that one reason for prohibiting gambling is because the winning…
