Articles
A Communal Journey: reflections on a half-century
eJewish Philanthropy
April 21, 2021
As I complete fifty years of service and study of the Jewish communal scene, it’s an appropriate time for reflection and assessment. Indeed, while the hundreds of articles that I have crafted for eJewishPhilanthropy and other national and local publications offer specific insights into the Jewish communal enterprise, what are some of its sustaining trends and takeaways?
Rethinking Jewish LA
The Jewish Journal
April 1, 2021
This past week, the American Jewish University announced plans to seek tenants to fill its available space. This news came at the same moment that Hebrew College announced its decision to sell its property and to move into Temple Reyim in Newton, Massachusetts.
Across the country, in the wake of a radical shift to online triggered by the pandemic, Jews are witnessing the downsizing of various institutions, the mergers of others, the growing availability of commercial facilities and the presence of empty religious properties. Here in Los Angeles, we should seize this opportunity: Is this the moment for a realignment of Jewish institutional life?
The Fifth Wave of Terror: Tribalism and Hate in the Twenty-First Century
The Jewish Journal
March 26, 2021
On January 6, 2021, the nation was roiled by the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. To many, this distinctive nationalist — even tribalist— form of political behavior seemed like an anomaly. But this anti-state violence is not unique, nor is it the first wave of modern terrorist behavior. We are currently in the midst of a new terrorist assault on this nation.
Encountering the fifth wave of global terror: The new national tribalism
The Times of Israel
March 22, 2021
In 2004 UCLA emeritus professor, David Rapaport, one of this nation’s experts on terrorism published his “Four Waves on Modern Terrorism”:
Wave One: Anarchism 1880-1920
Wave Two: Anti-Colonialism 1920-1960
Wave Three: New Left 1960-2000
Wave Four: Religious 1979-2010
Upending American Jewish security
The Times of Israel
March 11, 2021
We are living in a new American political environment, where a war against minorities in general, and Jews in particular, has been launched. This moment represents the single most significant threat to Jews since the Shoah. The scope of anti-Jewish expression is not bound by a broad increase in the number of anti-Semites but rather in the ability of these hate actors to actualize their beliefs and carry forward their plans. In many ways, social media has enabled these players to gain significant media attention and visibility.
Building an American Jewish political typography
The Times of Israel
February 25, 2021
We are all creatures of our environment. Our respective political cultures reflect our particular social orbits, belief systems and particular loyalties. Our respective political identities are shaped and influenced by our broader general beliefs about our society and our place within it. Certainly, our cultural experiences, personal values, and historical encounters inform and help to frame how we see and engage with politics.
The upending of reason and the rejection of truth: America, its Jewish problem
The Times of Israel
February 17, 2021
Reason and truth represent the essential ingredients for preserving social stability and ensuring continuity, yet today these principles are under attack. In some measure, the celebration of “truth” and an appreciation for “reason” appears to be passing from the contemporary scene.
eJewishPhilanthropy (eJP) at 14: Reflections on Where We Are
eJewish Philanthropy
February 16, 2021
In 2007 Dan Brown, the founder and publisher of eJP, envisioned the design of this e-platform based on the mission of the now dormant ePhilanthropy Foundation and its role within the broader field of philanthropy. Dan reflected on how particularly helpful these folks were in conceptualizing this publication, along with the owners and operational team of CONVIO, an on-line nonprofit fund-raising platform.
How the Great Jewish Families Shaped Philanthropy: Some Contemporary Reflections
eJewish Philanthropy
January 24, 2021
For significant parts of the last several centuries, the great Jewish families of Europe, Asia, and North America were central players in international business and commerce but also created the infrastructure and framed the norms for modern Jewish philanthropy.
Jews Have a Profound Stake in America
Jewish Journal
January 12, 2021
Words are simply not adequate to define or contain the emotions following the assault on January 6 on the U.S. Capitol and American democracy.
We Jews have a profound stake in this nation. We were here from the very beginnings of this experiment in democracy. Washington’s extraordinary letter to the Jews of Newport, Rhode Island, in August 1790 affirms this unique connection: