Doheny Meats owner said to be involved in previous kosher controversy

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on April 1, 2013

Thirty years ago, in 1983, Rabbi Pinchas Gruman, an esteemed scholar of Jewish texts who also holds a doctorate in philosophy, was the chair of the Rabbinical Council of California’s (RCC) committee dedicated to enforcing Jewish dietary law at establishments under its supervision.

Is Buddhism a Religion?

By Beit T'shuvah
Published on February 25, 2013

Rabbi David Hartman, Jewish philosopher, dies at 81

Published on February 11, 2013

Rabbi David Hartman, one of the great Jewish philosophers of his generation and the founder of the Shalom Hartman Institute, died on Feb. 10, 2013, at 81. Hartman is considered one of the leaders of liberal Orthodoxy, and his philosophy influenced Jews both in Israel and around the world.

Psychotherapy and philosophy intersect in ‘Spinoza problem’

By Jonathan Kirsch
Published on March 7, 2012

Around our house, Irvin D. Yalom is a familiar name, and for more than one reason.

Q & A With George Nolfi of “The Adjustment Bureau,” Coming Soon to DVD

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on April 26, 2011

Dangerous memes: When ideas can kill [VIDEO]

By The Web Guy
Published on January 4, 2009

Pub theology, topless bars and the basis for mental breakthroughs

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on July 28, 2008

Religion as a figment of human imagination?

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on May 7, 2008

Coming soon—a Jewish liberal arts college

By Orit Arfa
Published on February 28, 2008

"The idea of the Jewish liberal arts college began with the question: What would Jews or non-Jews interested in the Jewish perspective need to study in order to think about the biggest questions from a perspective that's relevant to Jews," Yoram Hazony said in an interview in his office.

Politics of liberal and conservative Jews reverse

By Arnold Steinberg
Published on November 15, 2007

Recently, I spoke to Reform rabbinical students in their class on "Jewish Political Tradition." Which is, exactly, what? My expertise, I told them, is politics, not theology. Here was my dilemma: to talk reality or defer to the orthodoxy of Reform Jews, which is to say, political liberalism. (Forget the Reconstructionists, i.e., Jewish Unitarians, who are oxymoronic "religious" secular humanists.) How confusing all this, especially for non-Jews, who are further told that Conservative Jews are somewhere between Reform Jews and Orthodox Jews -- sort of like the words "liberal" and "conservative."

The New Nostradamus predicts the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on November 9, 2007

God’s not dead, but is religion?

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on September 25, 2007

Jesus the social philosopher

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on July 20, 2007

Controversial bioethicist pounces on animals in art

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on May 17, 2007

Bioethicist Peter Singer has received death threats for his views on incendiary topics such as infanticide and animals rights. Singer -- an Australian Jew who is considered to be one of the most influential living philosophers -- will lecture about how art depicts animals on May 24 at the Getty Center, in conjunction with the Getty Museum exhibition, "Oudry's Painted Menagerie."

I challenged karma, but did the karma win?

By Amy Klein
Published on December 21, 2006

I've now have been living in Los Angeles for five years, and the hippie-dippie-yoga-Pilates-karma-kabbalah-astrology-Burning Man-surfer-superstitious-psychic-feng shui-acupuncturist-vegetarian ethos has invaded my life. (I'm embarrassed to say I practice some of the above now.)

One woman’s search for the meaning of life, the universe, and everything

By Amy Klein
Published on September 21, 2006

I'm probably one of the last people on earth who should be investigating questions such as "Why are we here?" and "What is the meaning of life?" See, I've given up.

The Spin on Spinoza—Rebel or Traitor?

By Rabbi David Wolpe
Published on May 25, 2006

"Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity": Traditional Judaism feared and distrusted this child of the enlightenment. Although prominent Jewish thinkers, from Moses Mendelssohn to Solomon Maimon to modern Zionists, have claimed him as their own, every deliberation on Spinoza wonders -- is he a Jewish thinker?

Touring With Lévy a Dizzying Experience

By Marc Ballon
Published on April 27, 2006

Punk Princesses:  Jews With Attitude

By George Robinson
Published on December 8, 2005

There were always Jews in punk, even before there was punk.

"It really begins with Lenny Bruce," says Steven Beeber, whose new book "The Heebie Jeebies at CBGBs: A Secret History of Jewish Punk," will be published next year by A Capella Books. "Bruce sort of epitomizes the attitude, the whole smart-ass, clever truth-telling."

In fact, the punk attitude is also a Jewish attitude that begins with the midrash, in which Abram smashes all but one of his father's household idols and blames the sole survivor for the wreckage.

Meow With a French Accent

Published on May 26, 2005

Comic books aren't just for kids anymore. In both the United States and France, they've been enjoying a popular explosion among readers of all ages.

Spectator - The Geffen’s Great Escape

By Tom Tugend
Published on May 19, 2005

Cunningly constructed, the play relates the adventures and misadventures of the Sycamore Family of New York, whose guiding motto is, do whatever turns you on, however eccentric, and you'll have lots of fun, avoid ulcers and enjoy a happy ending.

Rambamalama

By Tom Teicholz
Published on July 29, 2004

Put down your "Da Vinci Code." Set aside your "South Beach Diet." Let your kaballah red string drop off your wrist. I'm here to alert you to the next pop cultural phenom: a 12th-century philosopher popularly known as the Rambam.

For Heaven’s Sake

By Rabbi Gershon Johnson
Published on June 17, 2004

The Torah portion for this Shabbat is Korach, which details a disastrous mutiny led by Korach, a first cousin of Moses and Aaron.

Coalition Lesson

By Raphael J. Sonenshein
Published on March 11, 2004

Community activist Karen Bass' victory in the 47th Assembly District's Democratic primary provides a valuable opening for coalition efforts between the Jewish community and a new generation of African American and Latino activists.

The Core of Judaism

By Rabbi Ed Feinstein
Published on June 12, 2003

Try this experiment: Put your hands in your pockets and try to explain to someone -- verbally -- how to tie shoes. It's an exercise in frustration, because there are certain things you can learn by description, and there are others that can only be learned in the doing -- learned not by words and concepts, but by involving fingers, hands and heart.