Ami Eden


The House That Ruth Built

By Ami Eden

Shavuot, the holiday that marks God’s giving of the Torah to the Jewish people, is punctuated at many synagogues by studying religious texts throughout the night and by the reading of the Book of Ruth on the second day of the holiday.Read More


Spinmeisters, Start Your Engines

By Ami Eden

Most of the press corps keep tabs on Iowa and New Hampshire for signs that the presidential race is heating up. The Shmooze, on the other hand, keeps political time by monitoring the frequency, hypocrisy and overall shrillness of statements from the National Jewish Democratic Council and the Republican Jewish Coalition. And judging from this week’s round of e-mails, the 2008 campaign is in full gear.Read More


Dead Man Walking

By Ami Eden

Prophets are a grumpy bunch, always scolding their neighbors and warning of divine punishment. However, Jonah, whose story we read on the afternoon of Yom Kippur, stands out.Read More


Pride or Prejudice: Va. Pol Admits His Jewish Roots

By Ami Eden

Just in time for Rosh Hashanah, a bitter campaign controversy in Virginia has culminated with Senator George Allen acknowledging that his mother hailed from a Jewish family.Read More


Hey Rush, Who You Calling Hollywood Liberal?

By Ami Eden

Like many of his fellow conservative pundits, Rush Limbaugh has accused critics of the Iraq War of trafficking in antisemitism when they toss around the term “neocon.”“It just means Jews, Republican Jews,” Limbaugh said in one broadcast last year.And what about that favorite conservative boogeyman — “The Hollywood Liberal”? Well, sayRead More