-David Horovitz argues that “McCain is plainly grappling with how best to confound the Islamists’ ambitions. In Philadelphia, it must be said, Obama wasn’t really trying.” (The Jerusalem Post)
-While noting that Obama “eloquently highlighted his distinctive, patriotic message of self-awareness, self-criticism and reconciliation”, Gil Troy notes, “He never confronted Jeremiah Wright. He sat silently by […]

MTV has two new public service announcements about the Holocaust, which are part of its Think campaign.
Additionally the have a new video, “I’m Still Here” which features Elijah Wood, Ryan Gosling, Kate Hudson, Oliver Hudson, Brittany Murphy, Amber Tamblyn, and Joaquin Phoenix as they share stories from the diaries of young people who experienced firsthand […]

-Rabbi Marc Angel calls the recent RCA deal with Israel’s Chief Rabbinate “a complete capitulation” to haredi standards. But others defend it. (The Jewish Week)
-Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, one of Modern Orthodoxy’s elder statesmen says, “I am very much afraid of this system. The RCA is making it more difficult for people to convert just […]

Last week, a 15 year-old boy had to have his leg amputated after being wounded by an exploding Purim gift basket. Police are investigating the matter, and it seems likely that the boy was targeted because he is a Messianic Jew.
If it turns out that the boy was, indeed, a victim of Jewish terrorism, it […]

In today’s New York Times magazine, Peggy Orenstein looks at the significance of Barack Obama as the first biracial — not just African-American — candidate.
Orenstein is married to a Japanese-American man, and she reflects upon her own daughter’s future:
For the moment, she attends a Jewish preschool (where, as it happens, a quarter of her class, […]

-Why did King Ahasuerus seek the ministers’ advice when Vashti refused his request, but made do with the servants’ advice for his second decision? And did the latter give him better advice than the former? (Ynet)
-Why did Moredecai not bow? (Jewish Journal)
-Does one satisfy the obligation of listening to Megillah reading via loudspeaker, telephone, or […]

Tomorrow night the One Family Fund, along with a number of partners, will try to get one million people online for a rally in support of Israel. While it may be difficult for some to log in because of Purim, it seems like a monumental, global event for the Jewish community.
The broadcast begins at 11:00 […]

-Rabbi Sharon Brous says: “Megillat Esther…reminds us that history is capricious and life is fragile; that willing or not, we must confront our powerlessness and vulnerability, our inability to control everything. Or anything.” (Jewish Journal)
-What Purim teaches about seizing the moment. (The Philadelphia Jewish Voice)
-Rabbi Naphtali Hoff says, “Purim… presents the Jewish blueprint for survival […]

Yesterday night I attended a program at my shul called Vashti’s Banquet. More than 150 women of all ages came to celebrate Purim with belly dancing, Middle Eastern food, and music.
But more importantly, we came together to raise awareness about domestic abuse. Vashti, of the Purim story, was beheaded because she refused to dance naked […]

It has been almost a year since the Jewish Theological Seminary announced it will accept students that identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. To celebrate the year anniversary, the school is hosting a day of learning about the issues still ahead in this area.
For those in the New York-area more information can be found […]