Saturday Night Seder by Erich Bergen et al., and: Mishkan HaSeder, A Passover Haggadah ed. by Rabbi Hara E. Person and Jessica Greenbaum (review)

In the wake of 9/11, for instance, the Union for Reform Judaism rapidly posted a "Survivor Tree Planting Ceremony," a memorial service for religious schools, an interfaith dialogue guide, and readings and prayers for congregations and individuals. [...]for many Jewish Americans, the virtual Passover of 2020 was the gateway experience for so many other online forms of Judaism that followed: live-streamed prayer services attended by thousands across time zones, Zoom gatherings for weddings, brisses, baby namings, funerals, and shivas. [...]first I copied down the last stanza of "Passover Love Poem" (147), a poem by Rabbi Person, knowing it was just right to contribute to my second (and hopefully last) Zoom Seder: "This is more than a recipe for nostalgia.

Online cross-religion donation during COVID-19: mediating role of empathy and trust

PurposeMost donation-related studies have extensively examined in-group donation behavior, but it is difficult to find similar studies that consider donations to out-group members. This study aims to understand online cross-religion donation during COVID-19 in Indonesia.Design/methodology/approachThe online questionnaire is distributed using the purposive and snowball sampling technique. From July to August 2021, 753 respondents are obtained, comprising Muslims, Catholics, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Confucian.FindingsThis study found that online cross-religion dona tion is strongly influenced by the social presence, trust in fundraiser and empathy. Interestingly, this study also reveals a partial mediation effect of trust in fundraiser and empathy in the relationship between social presence and online cross-religion donation. Future studies are encouraged to investigate and explore how care for others may affect online prosocial behavior.Originality/valueThis study provides two theoretical contributions. First, this study empirically evinced that charitable donation is blind to religious belief. Second, it promotes the mediating role of empathy and trust in fundraisers to improve online cross-religion donation.

Applying Jewish theology to issues in mental and physical health

Jewish theological convictions and values undergird the approaches of Judaism to all aspects of life. This article first describes five fundamental Jewish convictions about God, human beings, and the relations between them as well as the place of medicine in life. It then describes the positions taken by the three largest denominations of contemporary Judaism on end-of-life issues and the approach of Judaism to mental health issues, two aspects of medical ethics that have become especially prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic but have always been, and will always be, important aspects of human life to which religious traditions can and should give guidance.

Introduction

The geopolitical scenario generated by the Russian aggression against Ukraine continues to determine the international order and, in particular, the European context. This conflict at the external borders of the European Union (EU) has slowed down the timid post-Covid recovery process initiated in 2021, while adding more uncertainty. Apart from the colossal humanitarian emergency, the war in Ukraine is having a direct global economic impact, reflected primarily in the significant rise in inflation caused by rising energy prices and the intermittent disruption of international supply chains. However, even at a slower pace, the EU and the Member States keep on implementing their recovery plans, which began with the adoption of the Next Generation EU in 2020. In this uncertain and evolving context, the EU strives to adopt measures that respond to new challenges. An example is the REPowerEU Plan, a new strategy adopted in May 2022, which includes additional financing, and with which the EU hopes to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas before 2030 and accelerate the green transition towards a climate-neutral European economy. As a relevant geopolitical gesture, it is to point out the recognition of Ukraine and Moldova as candidate countries to join the EU. In addition to the usual case law commentary and European current affairs report signed by our faithful and valued collaborators, respectively, David Ordonez Solis and Beatriz Inarritu, the contributions included in this miscellaneous issue 67/2022 of Deusto Journal of European Studies deal with some of the challenges that the EU is currently facing.

Breaking down templates and stereotypes in an interdisciplinary manner

During the Covid-19 pandemic the construction of conspiracy theories was rapidly infused by patterns of antisemitic resentment, which reveals a link bet-ween global crises and stoking antisemitism worldwide. From a religious educa-tional perspective, this contribution describes how the problem can be tackled by providing literary texts within an interdisciplinary approach. As certain herme-neutics, which dissociate Christianity from Judaism by using stereotypical anta-gonists, are highly problematic, a discussion of the "Judas Novel" by Amos Oz offers valuable insights to the context. Even though the character of Judas embodies a multifaceted stereotype, the novel's storyline, narrative tone and point of view help to dismantle rigid patterns and break the bias.

COVID-19's effects upon the religious group resources, psychosocial resources, and mental health of orthodox Jews

In this article, we examine how COVID-19 has affected the mental health of Orthodox Jews and how religious resources cushion the effects of isolation and deprivation of religious gatherings over time. Using longitudinal data from the COVID-19 Community Portrait Study, fixed-effects regression models are employed to predict how religious resources are affected by COVID-19 and how mental health is affected by both COVID-19 and religious resources. We find two competing effects upon participants' religious resources. While group resources decreased as a result of the pandemic, psychosocial resources were strengthened. A Closeness-to-God Index predicted lower levels of depression and anxiety, less perceived stress, and less loneliness. Congregational prayer also predicted lower stress and less loneliness, but the magnitude of the effect was smaller. The findings provide empirical support for theoretical frameworks emphasizing the positive effects of religion on mental health and suggest psychosocial resources enable religious coping during particularly challenging times. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

‘The Jews are our Misfortune!' Contemporary antisemitism as a hydra-headed phenomenon

Antisemitism has once again proven itself to be an international phenomenon, crossing borders and cultures with ease and adept at finding major issues in the public square, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, upon which to hang its claims. This article argues that antisemitism currently takes four major forms: Anti-Zionist antisemitism, which targets the State of Israel as a Jewish collectivity;Neo-Traditionalism, which revives pre-modern anti-Judaic notions in contemporary guise;Holocaust relativisation, which involves instrumentalizing and distorting the nature of the Holocaust without denying it outright;and anti-Judaism, which manifests in efforts to ban circumcision, kosher slaughter and other core Jewish rituals. The article concludes by examining whether the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism is an adequate tool for engaging with a growing problem, suggesting ways in which the definition might be amended to make it more effective.

Religious Doctrine and Attitudes Toward Vaccination in Jewish Law.

Individual and herd immunity against communicable diseases requires high rates of timely and complete vaccination, particularly in closely knit communities, densely populated areas, and places with high influx of potentially infected individuals. Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and, previously, measles in religious Jewish communities of New York, as well as the rise of vaccine hesitancy in faith communities, call for the examination of Jewish attitudes toward vaccination. In this article, we examine religious doctrine and guidance on vaccination in Orthodox (including Modern Orthodox, Chabad-Lubavich, and Ultra-Orthodox), Conservative, and Reform denominations of Judaism and apply these principles to vaccinations against measles, human papillomavirus (HPV), and COVID-19. We found that the leaders and scholars in these three major denominations of Judaism are uniform in their strong support, often to the point of mandate, for the principles of vaccination. Support for vaccination is deeply rooted in the Torah, Jewish law, and contemporary rulings of poskim (Jewish legal scholars). These principles are applied by each denomination in strong support of measles and COVID-19 vaccination, though there is less certainty in their support of vaccination against HPV.

Chaplaincy, Judaism, Ukraine, COVID-19 and JORH Jubilee.

This first issue of JORH for 2023 considers (1) the ministry of chaplains, (2) Judaism, (3) the people of war-torn Ukraine, (4) the ongoing saga of COVID-19 and, on a happier note, (5) we celebrate a belated jubilee by presenting a bibliometric analysis of the Journal of Religion and Health (1961-2021). To conclude this issue, a book review is presented, "The Desperate Hours" by award winning journalist Marie Brenner, focusing on one hospital's fight to save New York City during COVID-19. A reminder is also provided to readers on the call for papers regarding a future issue on religion, spirituality, suicide and its prevention.

Health, Religiosity and Hatred: A Study of the Impacts of COVID-19 on World Jewry.

This exploratory study examines the likely causes of the alarming global rise of antisemitism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning with an appraisal of today's world Jewry, this exploratory study highlights the main social, health, and religious impacts COVID-19 has had on Jews worldwide and goes on to highlight how various Jewish communities managed and adjusted to COVID-19 public health restrictions. From this contextual backdrop, an assessment of how and why antisemitism has surged during the pandemic is presented, along with a review of what efforts are being taken to curtail this rise in hatred toward Jews. A central aim of this study is to underline the point that until meaningful, broad, and international steps are taken to curb online hate, the historic antisemitic tropes and myths suggesting Jews are the cause of disease will undoubtedly evolve and surge (especially across social media) during future pandemics and times of global crisis and unrest.

Applying Jewish theology to issues in mental and physical health

Jewish theological convictions and values undergird the approaches of Judaism to all aspects of life. This article first describes five fundamental Jewish convictions about God, human beings, and the relations between them as well as the place of medicine in life. It then describes the positions taken by the three largest denominations of contemporary Judaism on end‐of‐life issues and the approach of Judaism to mental health issues, two aspects of medical ethics that have become especially prominent during the COVID‐19 pandemic but have always been, and will always be, important aspects of human life to which religious traditions can and should give guidance. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Surfing the Waves of Uncertainty: How Jewish Educational Leaders Face Enduring Dilemmas

The authors taught students in an Executive Master's program in Jewish education how to recognize and manage Enduring Dilemmas, situations in which two prized Jewish values stand in tension with one another and cannot be enacted simultaneously. They explore how these educators draw on the leadership practice of Managing Enduring Dilemmas in their professional lives and highlight the power of this practice to bring a unique Jewish frame and semblance of order to complex situations and issues. They conclude by describing the process by which educators learn this practice and the implications for professional learning and leadership development.

Guides as Mediators of Memory: On the Holocaust and Antisemitism -- 75 Years Later

This article deals with the relationship between the Holocaust and antisemitism, focusing on the events of 2020-2021. The point of departure is the fifth World Holocaust Forum at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, held under the slogan: "Remembering the Holocaust, fighting antisemitism". The event took place at the invitation of Israel's president, Reuven Rivlin, in advance of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 23, 2020). Content analysis of the speeches given by presidents and prime ministers from around the world reinforce the insights of the Holocaust and the association with current-day antisemitism. In March 2020 the COVID-19 virus appeared, and a wave of antisemitism surfaced with it. Analysis of contents that appeared on websites and social networks reveals vitriolic antisemitism against Jews as generators of the virus, being the virus themselves. This study utilized the method of anthropologist Clifford Geertz (1926-2006), who established the interpretive approach to anthropology for analyzing culture contents. This, with regard to content analysis in general and to the contents of social networks and their contribution to antisemitism, in particular. Operation "Guardian of the Walls" in Gaza in 2021 further fanned antisemitism. Content analysis of websites and social networks portrays the Jewish soldier as a Nazi soldier and all Jews as murderers -- with all the Holocaust symbols and Holocaust language. The study seeks to examine whether and to what degree the educational system in general and guides of youth trips to Poland as mediators of memory in particular, are prepared for the educational challenge of eradicating antisemitism in the post-Holocaust era. The research findings show that the challenge still awaits us. Education is an essential instrument in the battle against antisemitism but the educational system, both formal and informal, is not prepared.

'The Jews are our Misfortune!' Contemporary antisemitism as a hydra-headed phenomenon

Antisemitism has once again proven itself to be an international phenomenon, crossing borders and cultures with ease and adept at finding major issues in the public square, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, upon which to hang its claims. This article argues that antisemitism currently takes four major forms: Anti-Zionist antisemitism, which targets the State of Israel as a Jewish collectivity;Neo-Traditionalism, which revives pre-modern anti-Judaic notions in contemporary guise;Holocaust relativisation, which involves instrumentalizing and distorting the nature of the Holocaust without denying it outright;and anti-Judaism, which manifests in efforts to ban circumcision, kosher slaughter and other core Jewish rituals. The article concludes by examining whether the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism is an adequate tool for engaging with a growing problem, suggesting ways in which the definition might be amended to make it more effective.

Progressivism, Old and New: The Spiritual Moorings of Progressive Reforms.

With the tide of progressive reforms facing strong headwinds today, this essay offers a retrospective look at the progressive movement in the U.S.A. and reflects on the lessons to be learned from its triumphs and failures. The case is made that major advances in the progressive agenda came at historical junctions precipitated by dramatic events. The stretch between 1900 and 1920 saw the first wave of social reforms following the late nineteenth century recessions and upsurge in labor unrest. The New Deal took shape in the 1930s in the aftermath of the Great Depression. The Civil Rights movement burst onto the scene in the 1960s in the face of bitter attempts to shore up segregationist practices in southern states. And the 2020s spike in progressive activism gained momentum against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the January 6 Capitol riots. Special attention is paid to the interfaces between Social Gospel theology and efforts to ground progressive rhetoric in what John Dewey called "common faith," Robert Bellah "civil religion," and Richard Rorty "liberal pragmatism."

"We've all got the virus inside us now": Disaggregating public health relations and responsibilities for health protection in pandemic London.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted ethnic minorities in the global north, evidenced by higher rates of transmission, morbidity, and mortality relative to population sizes. Orthodox Jewish neighbourhoods in London had extremely high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence rates, reflecting patterns in Israel and the US. The aim of this paper is to examine how responsibilities over health protection are conveyed, and to what extent responsibility is sought by, and shared between, state services, and 'community' stakeholders or representative groups, and families in public health emergencies. The study investigates how public health and statutory services stakeholders, Orthodox Jewish communal custodians and households sought to enact health protection in London during the first year of the pandemic (March 2020-March 2021). Twenty-eight semi-structured interviews were conducted across these cohorts. Findings demonstrate that institutional relations - both their formation and at times fragmentation - were directly shaped by issues surrounding COVID-19 control measures. Exchanges around protective interventions (whether control measures, contact tracing technologies, or vaccines) reveal diverse and diverging attributions of responsibility and authority. The paper develops a framework of public health relations to understand negotiations between statutory services and minority groups over responsiveness and accountability in health protection. Disaggregating public health relations can help social scientists to critique who and what characterises institutional relationships with minority groups, and what ideas of responsibility and responsiveness are projected by differently-positioned stakeholders in health protection.

The offering of incense make : Jewish mystical perspectives on disease and healing

An examination of a passage from the Zohar on Exodus (2:218b‐219b) provides Jewish mystical perspectives on disease, which may help inform a Christian response of solace and healing to illness and suffering in general, and to the COVID‐19 pandemic in particular. The aforementioned passage in the Zohar describes the preparation of incense. The primary purpose of the portion maintains that incense has special healing powers that even relieve people from severe diseases. The relating Midrash Ha‐Ne'lam explains the passage further by referring to the 4th century Palestinian Rabbi Aha arriving at a town that struggles with an epidemic. It describes how R. Aha initiates a ritual containing a study of the Talmud on incense, after which the village is healed from the epidemic. The Jewish theological background and reception of the passage may shed new light on how ritual and sensory experience can alleviate the experience of disease and suffering.

Historical Overview of the Past Documented Pandemics: From Antiquity to Present

The key to understand a pandemic start with an understanding of the disease itself and the progression of the natural course of the disease. They are part of human race and even documented in all major civilization and Abrahamic religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Every pandemic has its own ratio of sternness, frequency and characteristics on different regions and various techniques to cater for. The paper is a historical overview of the past documented pandemics from Athens plague to Covid-19 (1st really global and extensively documented pandemic) of the recorded history.

Apocalypse then and now! – Political and religious interpretations of tribulations in apocalyptic mind-sets

The article has three parts. Firstly, we give an overview on how the Greek-Hellenistic imperialism provoked apocalypticism as a way of resistance to colonization (e.g. Egypt and Judah). Secondly, we show how the early African apocalypticism is very similar to that of the Ancient Near East. In many African countries, colonization was perceived as an apocalyptic phenomenon. Within this mind-set, apocalypticism became an information system that speculated about the true nature of time, space and being. This information system also gave solutions to how the coming destruction could be ameliorated by human ingenuity and actions. This ideology informed liberation movements like the Chimurenga and others. Thirdly, we analyse how the anti-imperial apocalypticism was calmed by an imperially formatted Christianity. Elements like the belief in heaven created a naïve world-denying attitude: ‘this world is not my home I am just passing through.’ Within the African apocalyptic mind-set, COVID-19 is an ambivalent phenomenon. Initially, it was perceived as God’s judgment on the ungodly West, but perceptions quickly changed as it later ravaged Africa. Many government officials voiced that COVID-19 is a well-promoted hoax by fake news of prominent western media houses. Some dismissed the existence of the pandemic while others declared that the vaccine is the dreaded 666 mark of ‘the beast’ or the protective masks were blamed the masks of ‘the beast’. COVID-19 apocalypticism thus can be understood as an anti-modern, xenophobic way of constructing identity. © 2021. Open Access/Author/s.

COVID‐19's effects upon the religious group resources, psychosocial resources, and mental health of Orthodox Jews

In this article, we examine how COVID‐19 has affected the mental health of Orthodox Jews and how religious resources cushion the effects of isolation and deprivation of religious gatherings over time. Using longitudinal data from the COVID‐19 Community Portrait Study, fixed‐effects regression models are employed to predict how religious resources are affected by COVID‐19 and how mental health is affected by both COVID‐19 and religious resources. We find two competing effects upon participants’ religious resources. While group resources decreased as a result of the pandemic, psychosocial resources were strengthened. A Closeness‐to‐God Index predicted lower levels of depression and anxiety, less perceived stress, and less loneliness. Congregational prayer also predicted lower stress and less loneliness, but the magnitude of the effect was smaller. The findings provide empirical support for theoretical frameworks emphasizing the positive effects of religion on mental health and suggest psychosocial resources enable religious coping during particularly challenging times.