Berman Archive at Stanford

For ex-Haredi Jews, forgiveness may be a route to greater happiness, study finds (RNS) — Those who are able to forgive their former community, their family and themselves show greater psychological gains in well-being, resilience and growth.

A new study of ex-Haredi Jews focuses on spiritual harm and forgiveness, respectively. JNS has a nice summary of the project. religionnews.com/2025/12/03/f...

The changing field of synagogue Hebrew education comes into focus At the start of 2025, educational leaders responsible for Hebrew learning in synagogue and other part-time settings were invited to participate in the “2025 Hebrew Snapshot Survey.” The study was comm...

We Heart Hebrew: #OnwardHebrew is out with a survey of synagogue education programs. The kids seem to like their Hebrew education! The survey’s co-authors share their findings: ejewishphilanthropy.com/the-changing...

State of Jewish Nonprofit Talent 2025 We are not maximizing the full potential of our people — yet. In 2025, Leading Edge conducted three major studies, yielding insights based on data from over 200 CEOs, over 3,000 people outside the Jew...

Leading Edge is out with a new report assessing the “State of Jewish Nonprofit Talent.” The report concludes that the Jewish nonprofit sector is not fully tapping the potential of its employees. www.leadingedge.org/resource/jew...

In the Berman Archive: We hold a 1982 issue of Sh’ma dedicated to disability and the Jewish community. Some of the terms might have changed, but roadblocks for disabled individuals persist.

exhibits.stanford.edu/bermanarchiv...

New Research: The Jewish community has a disability accessibility problem. New research from Matan hows the many ways the Jewish community is falling short for disabled people and their families. image.ejewishphilanthropy.com/wp-content/u...

A second look back at 130 years of our publication From “the Palestine Problem” to saving Soviet Jewry to contemporary antisemitism, we’re looking back on 130 years of our print editions.

To celebrate the 130th anniversary of the @jewishsf.bsky.social Weekly newspaper, culture editor @mayamirsky.bsky.social Mirsky shares some archival gems from decades past.
jweekly.com/2025/12/02/a...

And we recently interviewed Rachel Cockerel, whose book Melting Point, tells the story of Jewish Galveston with the help of our archive
bermanarchive.stanford.edu/the-past-spe...

In the Berman Archive: We hold a lot of items related to the Gaveston Moment, including this account by Morris Waldman:
exhibits.stanford.edu/bermanarchiv...

In Galveston, descendants of a forgotten Jewish migration keep their community’s story alive The Texas city was briefly known as “The Ellis Island of the West” thanks to Jacob Schiff.

The @forward.com looks back at the role Galveston, Texas played in American Jewish history. For a brief moment, this Texas island town was known was “the Ellis Island of the West.” forward.com/fast-forward...

"I tried to find Judaica that fit our space and aesthetic, and came up empty. By then, I’d been making and selling ceramic mugs for a few years, so I figured, if I couldn’t find it, I’d make it.

—JWA sat down with Melissa Felderman, ceramicist and designer: buff.ly/t4zFFoX

Washington Post exclusive headline says "U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols. The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”

This is appalling.

Slingshot, a non-profit focused on young, Jewish philanthropy, released “Portrait of Next-Gen Jewish Giving Today.” This report offers a holistic profile of what motivates the next generation of Jewish philanthropists.

assets.takeshape.io/77c2a281-148...

AI vs Antisemitism? The Anti-Defamation League is out with a new study today exploring the possibility of AI as a tool to fight antisemitism.

🤖 www.adl.org/resources/re...

Judaism teaches us that we are all created in God’s image. B’tzelem Elohim.

We wish we didn’t have to honor Transgender Day of Remembrance, yet dozens of trans folk are killed each year in acts of anti-trans violence.

War and Religiosity: A new study by the Jewish Public Policy Institute shows the Israel-Gaza war has caused an increase in religious observance and a politically rightward shift among Jewish Israelis, particularly among the young.

💥 jppi.org.il/wp-content/u...

Graphic with a background of raised hands holding blue, pink, and white transgender pride flags. In the foreground, two lit memorial candles glow softly. The text reads: “Transgender Day of Remembrance — May their memories be a blessing and a revolution.” The JCPA (Jewish Council for Public Affairs) logo appears at the bottom.

On Trans Day of Remembrance, we honor the trans and nonbinary people whose lives were taken by violence. As anti-LGBTQ+ attacks escalate, we reaffirm: Jewish values demand inclusion. Everyone deserves to live openly, safely, and without fear. May their memories be a blessing.

OPINION | CSU faculty union alienates its Jewish members The California Faculty Association has inadequately responded to the criticism that it has advanced a classic antisemitic trope.

Faculty Disunion: Marc Dollinger, chair of Jewish Studies at SFSU, addresses the CSU faculty union’s anti-Jewish, alienating actions.

👀 jweekly.com/2025/11/18/c...

Surging LGBTQ enrollment in Jewish seminaries signals 'astounding' shift in US rabbinate - Jewish Telegraphic Agency A surge in LGBTQ rabbinical students reflects long-delayed access and a changing model of spiritual leadership, raising questions about a possible ‘queering’ of the non-Orthodox rabbinate.

A new study shows 51% of US rabbinate students identify as LGBTQ. It’s a compelling statistic marking a cultural shift happening among younger Jews.

🏳️‍🌈 www.jta.org/2025/11/18/u...

OPINION | Rising antisemitism is a national public health crisis Definitional debates about antisemitism are a distraction. Many Jews fear for their safety, and it’s impacting their mental health.

New research from the American Psychiatry Association finds Jewish participants exhibited significant increases in depression and anxiety following the October 7 attack. Report author Leah Hibel suggests a national public health response:
jweekly.com/2025/11/12/w...

The Jewish South: An American History by Shari Rabin

Shari Rabin

Tomorrow (Nov 19) at 7:00 pm CST, please join the Aaron Family JCC in welcoming Shari Rabin, author of The Jewish South, for the Dallas Jewish Bookfest! Come hear Rabin discuss her work and this neglected facet of the American experience.

Get tickets for this in-person event here: buff.ly/PutQfUQ

THE J. INTERVIEW | Emily Winston's ‘benevolent bagel empire’ From kitchen table pop-up to California bagel empire, Emily Winston of Boichik Bagels brings the community together over fresh bagels.

Benevolent Bagels: The birth of Boichik Bagels, reigning champ of Bay Area bagels: jweekly.com/2025/11/13/h...

Gender and Jewish Leadership — An assessment from 1995, and a baseline: how is the Jewish Federation System faring now?
exhibits.stanford.edu/bermanarchiv...

The Federation and Jewish Education from 1995—how are things looking 30 years later? exhibits.stanford.edu/bermanarchiv...

A look forward from 1995: How has the Federation System met its own vision for itself?
exhibits.stanford.edu/bermanarchiv...

*In the Berman Archive: Past is prologue, General Assembly included. We hold a lot of documents related to past annual gatherings like this account of the 1934 General Assembly held in Chicago:

🗃️https://exhibits.stanford.edu/bermanarchive/catalog/ch427zk7491

| The General Assembly 2025 Join us as we explore the future of Jewish education, philanthropy, and our community — taking the Federation Movement farther than ever before.

The @jfederations.bsky.social General Assembly* is in full swing this week in Washington DC. 2,000 Jewish communal leaders are meeting to discuss what’s next for Israel, Jewish safety, and deepening engagement. Follow along here: generalassembly.org

Pull quote from article: “Nexus has sharpened its focus on the dangers posed to Jewish safety by authoritarianism and its attendant instrumentalization of antisemitism.” - Jonathan Jacoby

Read our interview with @nexusproject.bsky.social National Director Jonathan Jacoby on antismeitism, authoritarianism, democracy, and history.

bermanarchive.stanford.edu/democracy-an...

Behind a strange controversy over Jewish studies and antisemitism at Indiana University I thought the German approach to antisemitism could never work in the United States. Maybe I was wrong.

Over on Substack, I wrote about some of the background of my piece on Indiana University and how it ties into a German approach to fighting antisemitism that I covered a few years ago

antisemitismdecoded.substack.com/p/behind-a-s...

WATCH: After Zohran's election, some asked us why the ADL — founded to keep Jews safe — is trying to keep Jews afraid with a “Mamdani Monitor.

We made a video about how the same group that excused Elon Musk’s Nazi salute is helping Trump and capitulating to authoritarianism.

What the first major study of the US rabbinate reveals - Jewish Telegraphic Agency The rabbinate is older, happier and more diverse than previously known, according to the study.

More (51%) non-Orthodox rabbinical students are queer or trans (LGBTQ) than NOT, according to a new survey.

12% are nonbinary (58% women, 30% men)

16% are Jews by choice

12% ID as a race other than white.