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Man goes undercover with the KKK, Netflix Nazi film shortlisted for an Oscar, the secret Jewish history of Jane Austen and the unlikely Jewish journalist who answers Santa's mail.
FROM THE FORWARD Why do Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas? Some traditions are so ingrained, we hardly question them. But the story of why Jews dig into cold sesame noodles on Christmas is worth examining. Dating back to the turn of the last century, it’s a story of (partial) assimilation, cross-cultural exchange and good will toward men. “Chinese people didn’t look down on Jews as being less American in terms of Westernness,” author Jennifer 8. Lee said to explain why Eastern European immigrants felt comfortable in Chinese restaurants. “And it tastes good!” Read the story ➤
Opinion | I was an IDF commander, but it was my autistic son who taught me about strength. Doron Almog grew up internalizing the tough, sabra mentality he was raised with. Crying was unacceptable and no challenge insurmountable. When his son Eran was born with autism and severe developmental disabilities, Almog’s perception of heroes and what it means to be strong shifted. Eran’s challenges highlighted the lack of social inclusion and opportunities for those with disabilities in Israel and abroad. “The way in which we relate to the most vulnerable among us,” he writes, “constitutes the greatest test of our society.” Read the essay ➤
Book by book: A granddaughter lovingly dismantles ‘Lissy’s Library’: When her grandmother died in October at 97, Leah Jarvik faced a dilemma of what to do with the hundreds of books she left behind. The collection spanned her grandmother’s journey from Holocaust survivor to a leader in the field of psychology, and reflected her myriad interests. Some were valuable first-editions or signed by their authors. Jarvik came up with a plan to give away the books, one by one, to people who filled out a form online. Our Louis Keene got one and wrote about it. Read the story ➤
Another group finds flaws in its handling of rabbinic misconduct: The Reform rabbis’ association detailed problems with the way it handles accusations of sexual misconduct and other ethical violations in an extensive report released Wednesday. The report, part of a broader societal reckoning brought on by the #MeToo movement, follows the release last month of a similar – and more explosive – investigation from the leading Reform seminary, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Read the story ➤
A Disney classic, a Hallmark Hanukkah and more movies to watch this Christmas: We all fervently hoped we would be able to return this year to the dim, dank and sticky sanctuary of our local multiplex and engage in that most hallowed Jewish custom: A movie on Christmas. Man plans, God laughs. With that in mind, here’s a list of films you can watch without a mask from the (hopefully) pandemic-free zone of your home. All are worth your time as you relax this Xmas, which, not for nothing, falls on Shabbat, but ends after Havdalah. Read the story ➤
But wait, there’s more… The state of Illinois divested its pension funds from Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s, over the ice cream maker’s decision to stop selling in the occupied West Bank. A Texas judge ordered four lawyers to take ethics classes for ‘baseless’ accusations of antisemitism. Every year, the Boston Globe receives as many as 17,000 letters addressed to Santa Claus. Here’s what it’s like to be the Jewish journalist who answers those notes.WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY The Israeli delegation at the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. (Getty Images) 🏅 The International Olympic Committee announced that countries that ban Israeli athletes won’t be allowed to host competitions. The move followed the cancellation of the men’s squash world championship last month, which was set to be held in Malaysia, a country that does not have diplomatic ties with Israel. (JTA)
😮 A Florida man spent nearly a decade undercover with the Ku Klux Klan. He attended secret meetings and participated in cross burnings. He even helped plan a murder. The man, an Army veteran and father of four, wore a recording device and the information he gathered helped the F.B.I. in several cases. Now he’s telling his story. (AP)
🎬 “Camp Confidential: America’s Secret Nazis” is on the Academy Awards shortlist for Best Documentary Short Subject. The animated Netflix film tells the story of a top-secret prisoner-of-war camp in Virginia through the eyes of the young Jewish GIs who served there. The soldiers were asked to guard the facility and, ultimately, welcome Nazis to America. (Haaretz)
📱 Religion apps are attracting venture funding, including from celebrities like Michael Bublé, Kris Jenner and James Corden. “I grew up in a family of faith,” explained Corden, who invested in Glorify, a prayer and meditation service, after being impressed with its founder, who he said “was building not merely an app, but a community.” (Wall Street Journal)
🎤 Shaun Eli Breidbart was a banker on Wall Street for 19 years but he gave up a lucrative living in favor of … standup comedy. “I get paid to make people happy,” he said. “What could be better than that? I suppose it was the same thing when I worked at Baskin-Robbins in high school and college, scooping and serving ice cream, but laughter has no fat, no calories, no salt and you can do it for an hour and a half at a time.” (New York Times)
🐶 Humans and dogs are both donating blood in Israel. Pets, like their owners, need blood for transfusions, surgery and other traumas, and canine blood banks are becoming increasingly common. (Times of Israel)
They said it ➤ “My stomach issues come from my Judaism. As we all know, every Jewish girl knows, our tummy issues are very... it happens,” said Alana Haim, star of the new movie “Licorice Pizza.” Haim said her mother’s matzo brei messes with her “stomach for the next three years. I’m still dealing with all the Pesachs through the years.” She added sardonically: “I’m really going to get a lot of dates through this interview.” (Thrillist)
SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM As 2021 comes to a close, now is your chance to power fiercely independent Jewish journalism in the year ahead. Show your support for the news you trust and make a tax-deductible donation to the Forward today. Donate now ➤ ON THE CALENDAR Corey Feldman (left) and Corey Haim (right) will forever be the two most famous Jewish Coreys. On this day in history: Corey Haim, an actor who rose to fame with his best friend Corey Feldman, was born on Dec. 23, 1971. Known as “the two Coreys,” they starred in a number of popular 1980s films together, including “The Lost Boys” and “License to Drive.” A reality series in 2007-8 followed their less-glamorous lives as adults. Haim, who had struggled with a drug addiction, died of pneumonia on Mar. 10, 2010.
Also on this day in 1815, Jane Austen’s novel “Emma” was first published. In its honor, take a gander at her secret Jewish history.
Last year on this day, we reported that New York City sanitation workers helped Orthodox Jews in Williamsburg go on an hourslong dumpster dive for a pair of lost tefillin. It was eventually found.
On the Hebrew calendar, it’s the 19th of Tevet when, in 1901, the Jewish National Fund was established to help purchase land in Israel.
VIDEO OF THE DAY Last week, our editor-in-chief and I gave a select group of readers a behind-the-scenes look at how we put this newsletter together each morning. In case you missed it, no worries: We recorded it because, you know, there’s a record button and it’s easy.
––– Thanks to Nora Berman, PJ Grisar and Louis Keene for contributing to today’s newsletter. You can reach the “Forwarding” team at editorial@forward.com.
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