Proposal By Text: How Rotem, IDF Vet With A Brain Injury, Won Shelly

Posted: Tue, 05/21/2013 - 14:55 | The New Normal

It was no ordinary marriage proposal. Rotem Langer is a 31-year-old disabled veteran of the Israeli army whose speech was affected by his injuries. “Sometimes I forget words,” says Rotem. “I didn’t want that to happen when I proposed to Shelly.”

A Photographer With An Ironic Eye

Posted: Tue, 05/21/2013 - 11:10 | Well Versed

Vivid purple, yellow and green feathers grow out of his face, peacock feathers crown his head, and green feathers wrap around his neck. A beard pokes through and a trenchcoat covers his body. An avian humanoid or a man in a Purim costume?

Life Lessons In The Lunchline

Posted: Mon, 05/20/2013 - 13:09 | The New Normal

Rabbi Chanina taught, "I have learned much from my teachers. I have learned more from my colleagues than my teachers. But I have learned more from my students than from all of them." (Babylonian Talmud, Taanit, 7a)

Ira Forman Named Envoy To Combat Anti-Semitism

Posted: Mon, 05/20/2013 - 13:05 | Political Insider

Secretary of State John Kerry today named veteran Jewish political operative Ira N. Forman to be the administration's Special Envoy and head of the Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.

He brings to the job nearly 40 years of experience working at the intersection of the Jewish community and the political world, winning bipartisan respect. He served as the Jewish Outreach Director for President Obama's 2012 reelection campaign.

Jews And The Arts, Players And Pundits

Posted: Sun, 05/19/2013 - 17:44 | Well Versed

The Jewish Studies Center at Baruch College hosted an ambitious and absorbing program, “Jewish Arts and Identity in the Contemporary World” on May 7th. Three panels – on theater, music and the visual arts - were the core of the conference complemented by a performance by Audrey Flack and the Art History Band.

Repealing Obamacare: Obama 37, Republicans 0

Posted: Sun, 05/19/2013 - 13:40 | Political Insider

House Republicans made their 37th attempt to repeal Obamacare last Thursday and for the 37th straight time failed. Actually it passed the Republican-controlled House but it is DOA at the Democrat-controlled Senate, and everyone knew that. So why try?

Republicans make no secret that it's easier to keep up these meaningless votes that risk passing legislation that President Obama might claim as an achievement, even if they get to share the credit.