Some Jewish NYC schoolteachers seek religious vaccine exemption By Philissa Cramer, JTA Oct 4, 2021 When Rivka Taub Rivera decided to apply for a religious exemption to New York City’s vaccine mandate for teachers, she didn’t turn to the rabbis of Borough Park, the Orthodox neighborhood in Brooklyn where she lives. Instead, she asked Michoel Green, a Chabad rabbi who has openly opposed vaccination, to submit the required letter from… Read More
Education Virus and vitriol: Berkeley’s Jewish school board president reflects on Covid Berkeley school board president Ty Alper used to love meeting parents and community members out and about. After all, both he and his wife grew up in… By Maya Mirsky Sep 28, 2021
Bay Area How this Holocaust refugee beat Covid-19 against all odds Vitali Voskoboinik’s bright blue eyes sparkled behind his glasses as he sat in his sunny Pacifica apartment. At 79, the Holocaust refugee looked full of… By Lea Loeb Aug 16, 2021
Israel Sharansky once offered advice on life in lockdown. Now he has Covid. When the world shut down last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Natan Sharansky figured his experience as a Soviet political prisoner meant he had a… By Ben Sales, JTA Aug 11, 2021
Bay Area Oakland Temple Sinai halts preschool camp due to six Covid cases A summer camp for preschoolers at Temple Sinai in Oakland was cut short after two vaccinated staff members and four children tested positive for Covid-19,… By Gabriel Greschler Aug 10, 2021
Israel Birthright cancels remaining summer trips to Israel due to Covid Birthright, the program that brings young Jews to Israel for free, is canceling its remaining 42 trips this summer because of new Israeli rules that… By Ron Kampeas, JTA Aug 10, 2021
U.S. Jewish Federations of North America cancels in-person General Assembly citing COVID The Jewish Federations of North America has canceled the in-person portion of its signature annual event, the General Assembly, citing the coronavirus.… By Ron Kampeas Aug 5, 2021
U.S. Guess which religious group is most likely to be vaccinated As public health experts fret over a stalling Covid-19 vaccine campaign in the U.S., a new survey suggests they don’t have to worry about American Jews.… By Arno Rosenfeld, Forward Jul 29, 2021
Torah Our journey through Covid must count for something The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Matot-Masei Numbers 30:2–36:13 What a journey it… By Rabbi Amy Eilberg Jul 9, 2021