In a week when many Jews were glued to the New York City mayoral race with anxiety and dread, a very different kind of story was unfolding quietly in the Midwest. In University Heights — a suburb of Cleveland with the largest concentration of Orthodox Jews in Ohio — Michele Weiss, an Orthodox Jewish woman, accountant, nonprofit founder, and longtime community builder, was ele...

Dear Jew in the City,

Is the Lev Tahor cult actually Jewish?

Best,

Max

Dear Max,

Thanks for your question. You know, had you asked “Is Lev Tahor a cult,” I might have balked at answering (I have an aversion to lawsuits), but I didn’t say it’s a cult, you did. And so do lots of other people, including an Israeli court in...

By the late 1990s, Kevin Bright had everything most people dream of. As an executive producer of Friends, he was shaping one of the most iconic shows in television history. But while millions connected to the six friends on screen, Kevin felt disconnected from something he once knew intimately: his ...

Dear Jew in the City-

This week Americans will show their thanks by getting together and eating Turkey and stuffing. Are there any Jewish customs or rituals for expressing gratitude?

Thanks, Adam

Dear Adam-

Thanks for your question. There is an important characteristic in Judaism called hakaras hatov, acknowledging the good. It is stressed that we ...

Dear Jew in the City-

Is being wicked for good a Jewish concept?

All the best,

Linda

Dear Linda-

Thanks for your question. Before I answer it, let me just say that I see what you did there. I can answer this question, but as of this writing I have not yet seen the movie you reference, so I can’t ma...