The Jewish Museum’s Ambitious New ExhibitA qualified improvement. Dec 23 25December 23, 2025Article at ideas.tikvah.org
The Global Intifada Comes to American MuseumsBeing an activist has become the artist’s and intellectual’s self-celebratory vocation. Jul 17 25July 17, 2025Article at ideas.tikvah.org
How “The Brutalist” Tries to Rewrite American Jewish HistoryAnti-American epic. May 01 25May 01, 2025Article at ideas.tikvah.org
Form Without Function - Jewish Review of BooksThe Brutalist's foundation as a film is fundamentally shaky. Apr 07 25April 07, 2025Article at jewishreviewofbooks.com
The Messages about Jews in Christian ArtAnd how Jews used art to send messages about themselves. Aug 28 24August 28, 2024Article at ideas.tikvah.org
Like 9/11, 10/7 Has Only Strengthened Intellectuals’ Commitment to Make Excuses for TerrorismAnything done to the Jews in Israel will be justified. Nov 13 23November 13, 2023Article at ideas.tikvah.org
Hollywood’s Retreat into UniversalismMany recent Hollywood movies seem to exhibit a fear of showing too much Jewish particularism. Why? Jan 30 23January 30, 2023Article at ideas.tikvah.org
Jews’ Sense of Themselves Flies in the Face of Today’s Identity PoliticsThe Jewish story of redemption doesn’t just involve enduring suffering, but actually imposes obligations. Oct 28 22October 28, 2022Article at ideas.tikvah.org
The Dismantling of Jewish IdentityAssuming no education, offering little knowledge, and affecting not to care about either, New York's Jewish Museum promises to inspire new forms of an “ever-changing” Jewish identity. May 20 19May 20, 2019Article at ideas.tikvah.org
Biblical Illiteracy = Cultural IlliteracyThe Bible molded modern English and shaped American society and culture. Now, as attacks on the Museum of the Bible suggest, it has been cripplingly tossed aside. Jan 08 18January 08, 2018Article at ideas.tikvah.org
“Indecent” Tells a False Story about a Yiddish DramaMisreading God of Vengeance. Apr 28 17April 28, 2017Article at ideas.tikvah.org
Podcast: Edward Rothstein on Jerusalem Syndrome at the Met | Tikvah IdeasExplore how the Met's Jerusalem exhibit distorts history, downplays Jewish ties, and reflects troubling trends in Western museums. Mar 09 17March 09, 2017Podcast at ideas.tikvah.org
Not “Your” City—”Everyone’s” CityHow the Met, in its exhibition Jerusalem 1000-1400 and in its defense against critics of that exhibition, exploits the vocabulary of openness. Mar 01 17March 01, 2017Article at ideas.tikvah.org
Jerusalem Syndrome at the MetAn exhibition on the diverse multiculturalism of medieval Jerusalem has been ecstatically received. There's just one problem: the vision of history it promotes is a myth. Feb 06 17February 06, 2017Article at ideas.tikvah.org
How Jewish Museums Reflect the Condition of Mainstream JewsThey are still invoking dated forms of self-abnegation, or engaging in more or less ignorant forms of advocacy, or yearning for a vague universalism. Feb 22 16February 22, 2016Article at ideas.tikvah.org
The Problem with Jewish MuseumsOurs is an era of museums celebrating the identity of nearly every group and ethnicity. But something else takes place when the identity in question is Jewish. Feb 01 16February 01, 2016Article at ideas.tikvah.org
Unknown Musicians of a Wandering RaceA remarkable concert reintroduces three Jewish composers who fled fascist Europe to America, where two of them pioneered a new art form—the symphonic film score. May 21 15May 21, 2015Article at ideas.tikvah.org
The Unusual Relationship Between Abraham Lincoln and the JewsAs a powerful new exhibit shows, the 16th president felt a close connection to the Jewish people. Why? Apr 01 15April 01, 2015Article at ideas.tikvah.org