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October, 2006
From the Editor
Nadine Epstein
?My son, now 14, turned to me the other day and suggested that we move away from our home in the nation's capital. “Eventually Mom,” he said, “you know we’re going to get bombed.” He’s not the only one feeling anxious. In conversations with friends and family over the High Holidays, the sad state of the world came up again and again: the horrific summer for Israel, the growing insurgency in Iraq, rising anti-Semitism and the worsening situation in Darfur.
Our October issue was conceived during Israel’s war with Hezbollah; it reflects feelings of despair and anguish, especially the eulogy by Israeli writer and peace advocate David Grossman for his son Uri, killed in the war. Suzanne F. Singer writes about lessons not learned from the previous cycle of war in Lebanon in which she lost her own son Alex. Naomi Ragen addresses the painful necessity of sending children to fight in Israel’s battles and explores why she and other parents do it. Israeli literary star Etgar Keret takes a brutally honest look at the way Israelis live with war and the need for Israel’s writers to push their readers to think beyond stereotypes. American Prospect writer and blogger Matthew Yglesias details the animosities between Hezbollah and Al Qaeda. And Moment co-founder and founding editor Leonard Fein takes on the complexities of American Jewish feelings about the war.
Even though fear abounds, my heart warms when I see various generations of American Jews doing what they can to make our world a better place. The older generation donates time and money, and younger ones follow suit in their own way. I know, for instance, that my son is scared (and why shouldn’t he be?), so I feel particularly blessed that he and his friends continue to care about the world with the passion of youth. Not only do they discuss their concerns about terrorism, global warming and—most of all these days, Darfur—they also came up with the idea of selling Shirley Temples (the latest in cool drinks, who knew?) for Darfur at school, raising both money and consciousness and reaffirming life.
There is much in this issue that resonates with optimism. A new college graduate spends his summer as a counselor at a Seeds of Peace camp in Maine and bonds with his young Palestinian camper. What it will lead to no one knows, but there is value in the understanding gained. I find comfort in the way Tel Aviv’s vast seven-story Central Bus Station pulses with life during good times and bad. Writer Carl Hoffman spends 19 hours and 20 minutes in what may be the epicenter of modern Israel, watching beggars, soldiers, guest workers and the country’s many immigrants mingle in a vast structure schizophrenic enough to hold synagogues and tattoo parlors under one roof. The sights, smells and sounds captured by our storyteller will make you hungry for a falafel sandwich as well as inspire you to join him on his bench on the station’s sixth floor.
For our cover story, Beliefnet editor Michael Kress invites us into the world of a people who call themselves Noahides. These non-Jews, mostly former Christians, observe Jewish rituals more strictly than many Jews, and yet don’t convert. Kress’s fascinating portrayal of this little-known group—which is actively courted by the Chabad—grapples with the question of whether Jews should spread Jewish beliefs to non-Jews.
In 2005, Moment ran Jennie Rothenberg’s profile of Nossom Slifkin, an Orthodox rabbi who caused a stir in the Orthodox world with his defense of Darwinism. After it appeared, our office was inundated with letters, the majority in praise of the young rabbi. In this issue, Rothenberg (who won first prize from the American Jewish Press Association for her Slifkin profile) continues to examine the tension between religion and science in a review of two very different books on the subject, including one by Slifkin.
We are delighted to announce the winners of the first-ever Moment Editorial Cartoon Contest. Entries arrived from all over the world. Congratulations to Canadian Steve Mielczarek, our first place winner, whose cartoon we feature this issue on page 40. The work of finalists Bruce Gerlach and Serik Kul will appear in future issues.
Our third annual Publish-a-Kid Contest deadline is December 15. Each year we delight in the wonderful book reviews we receive from children nine through 13. Winning submissions will be published in our February issue. Be sure to tell your children, grandchildren and students.
Finally, because we believe that teenagers today care deeply about the world, we are introducing a new contest. In our first-ever essay competition for high school students, we ask: “What can be done to prevent future genocides?” We’re looking for creative, out-of-the-box solutions and encourage you to spread the word to all the talented young writers you know. Three winners will each receive $500. Go to momentmag.com for details about both our Publish-a-Kid and high school essay contests. Entry is free and open to all.
May the New Year bring you much joy and may we continue to meet again.
Shana tova!