Category: Social Issues
A Brief Personal Introduction
My name is Nora Zaki and I’m a recent graduate of the University of Chicago, where I earned a Master’s degree of Divinity. I concentrated in Islamic Studies, Arabic and chaplaincy. Currently, I am... Read More
“Rabba?” The Orthodox Union Grapples with the Possibility of Female Rabbis
The recent decision by the Orthodox Union (OU) to mandate that female members of the Orthodox community cannot serve as clergy has been making headlines and prompting discussions of the correct roles ... Read More
Dispatch from the Lifejacket Graveyard near Eftalou Beach in Lesvos Greece
There is a “lifejacket graveyard” on the island of Lesvos in Greece, where Syrian and Afghani refugees flee from wars, departing from the Turkish shores 4 kilometers away. This is where ad... Read More
How to Keep Your Cool When Engaging With Religious Zealots
My fingers hovered over the keyboard, ready to write a fighting response while my mind willed me that violence (even if only verbal) is never the answer. The blood steadily coursed through my veins ... Read More
Reflections on being a proud Jew in uncertain times
Mark Oppenheimer, in his article for the New York Times entitled “Reclaiming ‘Jew,’” states that Jews should be proud to call themselves Jews, rather than only state that they are “Jewish,... Read More
The Day I Learned About Systemic Oppression
In the days since the election I have reflected on how the stories we tell ourselves about the world are wrapped up with our identities. What a story means and how it is interpreted are a direc... Read More
Jewish Responses to Trump fears: Dialogue and Action
Among the progressive streams of Judaism, there is now a feeling of being overwhelmed by all the different challenges President Trump has either created or increased in both the political and cultural... Read More
The Power of Prayer and the Promise of Seven Generations
When you hear the terms ‘peaceful protest’ or ‘non-violent opposition’, if you know anything of our history, your mind thinks of two powerful leaders: Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. Wh... Read More