Posts Tagged‘Jewish Press’

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On Gaza, Sense and Centrism

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

There is so much being written/published about what is happening in Gaza. As usual, much of it angers, saddens, and sickens me. Once again, I’m reminded why I stopped contributing to NPR, and why even CNN (with some notable exceptions, as Seth Gitell has pointed out) lets me down time after time after time.

Then, of course, there are the reliable, reassuring voices of reason. Like Rabbi Eric Yoffie’s. See Rabbi Yoffie’s piece, “On Gaza, Sense and Centrism,” in The Forward.

Job Opening at The Forward

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

“The Forward, a national Jewish weekly, is seeking an aggressive reporter to cover news and features about Jewish life and politics. The ideal candidate is a stylish writer who delights in breaking news; who will generate his or her own story ideas; know how to chase down a story and write it with ease on deadline, and can step back and conceptualize long-form stories. We’re looking for a team player who will thrive in a results-oriented, collaborative newsroom. A minimum of two years of experience on a daily newspaper or Web site is required. Send us your resume and three of your best clips. To be considered, you must include your salary requirements.” Deadline: January 16, 2009. See the full announcement and application instructions here.

Significant Jewish Books

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Last night I was looking through the latest issue of Reform Judaism magazine when I noticed books by two authors I admire featured “For Discussion”: Saving Stanley: The Brickman Stories, by Scott Nadelson, and The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Father’s Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World, by Lucette Lagnado.

As I say, these authors are not new to me (I’ve mentioned them both on this blog), but what is new to me is the Union for Reform Judaism’s “Significant Jewish Books” initiative. As explained here, “In November 1997, Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie unveiled an initiative to encourage every Reform Jew to read significant Jewish books. Since then, the Union has selected eight volumes each year and prepared study guides for them.”

The books by Nadelson and Lagnado, therefore, can now be read with an eye toward discussion fostered by guides provided here. Keep them in mind for your next book group meeting, and check out the full archive of previously recommended titles.

Featured Fiction by Jewish Women

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

This just in from 614, the ezine of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, and its editor, Michelle Cove:

“For our 2nd annual issue on Jewish books, we wanted to find young Jewish women who were writing about themes we haven’t seen dozens of times. This is why you’ll find mention in this issue of cowboys, Madame Bovary, a modern day Jewish heiress, a 12-year-old Iranian, Jewish spies, and a heroic German baker. Rather than post book reviews, we talked to the authors behind these stories and asked them about the inspirations for their books, and also what they think about today’s Jewish fiction in general. Meet Joanna Hershon, Tova Mirvis, Laurie Gwen Shapiro, Dara Horn, Jenna Blum, and Gina Nahai.”

Intrigued? Read on, here.

Writing for Jewish Magazines

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

I should also mention that the current (November) issue of The Writer magazine includes an article by Ligaya Figueras on “writing for Jewish magazines.” The article was clearly written before the recent demise of Jewish Living, so aspects of the article that focus on that magazine are no longer so useful. But the piece still provides background for those who may want to pitch Hadassah, Lilith, Moment, and Reform Judaism.