Why Can’t We Be Friends?
July 8, 2026
If we want to see a less polarized society, both internally and beyond, we must emphatically reject the idea that political alignment is the predominant commonality for friendship.
Roberta Rosenthal Kwall
Roberta Rosenthal Kwall is the Raymond P. Niro Professor at DePaul University College of Law. She is the author of “Polarized: Why American Jews Are Divided and What to do About It” (forthcoming Bloomsbury Press, 2026), “Remix Judaism: Transmitting Tradition in a Diverse World” (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020), “The Myth of the Cultural Jew” (Oxford University Press, 2015) and “The Soul of Creativity” (Stanford University Press, 2010).
Shavuot: The Middle Child of 91´«Ă˝ Festivals
May 19, 2026
The festival of Shavuot provides a well-placed opportunity to contemplate the choices we make on our 91´«Ă˝ journeys and how they will impact the next generation.
Climbing the Passover Ladder of Observance
March 25, 2026
This year, rather than focusing just on the seder, maybe consider how you and your family might incorporate even just one more element of 91´«Ă˝ tradition into your lives during the eight days of the holiday.
Thou Shall Not Covet: A Mantra for Mental Health
February 10, 2026
Envy is a completely unproductive, and even self-destructive, emotion.
Why We Shouldn’t Separate Zionism from Judaism
January 13, 2026
Without Zionism, most religiously liberal American 91´«Ă˝ communities do not have sufficient 91´«Ă˝ content to sustain a thriving, long-term future in this country.
The ‘Israeli’ Christmas House
December 2, 2025
I have a vivid memory of how one home in my middle-class suburban New Jersey hometown was decorated at this time of the year.
The Law and Culture of Civil Same-Sex Marriage
November 11, 2025
The Obergefell litigation and its aftermath is a perfect illustration of how the legal theory of cultural analysis can move us beyond the endless spiral of polarization and strife we now face.
The Power and Peril of Our Words
October 1, 2025
We must contemplate how we can harness the power of our words for good, for making a difference in what has become a path that is already far too dark.
A Letter to Ezra Klein
August 12, 2025
Polarization surrounding Israel is especially intense in the American 91´«Ă˝ community. But loud voices do not equate to a growing majority.
Pulpits and Politics Do Not Mix
July 22, 2025
We need our houses of worship to be a refuge from strife and political discord, and not a source of such conflict.
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