In the Press

Constitution Day 2023: George Washington’s Correspondence with America’s Jews Illuminates a Country Founded on a Covenant
by Monica Schreiber, Stanford Law School
Published September 25, 2023

Rabbi Soloveichik’s presentation at Stanford Law School’s 2023 Constitution Day is essentially a lecture on the early history of Congregation Shearith Israel. Read about it – and hear it for yourself – here.

Tolkien’s Biblical Epic
by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, for the Wall Street Journal
Published September 2, 2023

Rabbi Soloveichik discusses how the long-lasting popularity of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ shows that in a secular age, readers still respond to Judeo-Christian teachings about morality, providence and power.

The Palm Frond and the Sword
by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, for Commentary Magazine
Published in the October 2023 issue

Rabbi Soloveichik’s article in the October edition of Commentary describes how recent archaeological discoveries highlight the awe-inspiring distinctiveness of the consistency and continuity of Jewish practice over the millennia.

The Boy Who Thought He Shouldn’t Run
by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, for Commentary Magazine
Published in the July/August 2023 issue

Rabbi Soloveichik often references his movie hero, Eric Liddell, the real-life Christian runner depicted in the film Chariots of Fire. With the support of his family, Liddell resisted the pressure to compete in the 1924 Olympics on his Sabbath. But in 2021, when an increasingly observant Jewish day school student runner is faced with the decision about racing on Shabbat, his Jewish family and school encourage him to run. Read Rabbi Soloveichik’s reflection on this scenario.

Upper West Side Hosts Fifth Annual ‘Smash the Stigma’ Program on Mental Illness
by Judith Falk, for the Jewish Link
Published June 8, 2023

In the moving discussion, Amy Danziger Tenenbaum and Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann discussed their families’ stories in order to bring awareness to mental health issues, in particular mental health stigma.

The Marvel, and the ‘Scandal,’ of Jerusalem
by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, for the Wall Street Journal
Published May 18, 2023

As we celebrated Yom Yerushalayim, Rabbi Soloveichik, in this Wall Street Journal article, marveled at and reflected on the wonder that is Jewish history itself.

Thanksgiving Was Born From America’s Struggles
by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, for the Wall Street Journal
Published November 23, 2022

In his Wall Street Journal article published on “Ereb Thanksgiving,” Rabbi Soloveichik traces the turbulent history of Thanksgiving, demonstrating how this American holiday embodies the biblical imperative to express gratitude even in the harshest of circumstances.

The Meaning of a Yom Kippur Prayer
by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, for the Wall Street Journal
Published September 22, 2022

Rabbi Soloveichik writes about Kal Nidre, one of the most awe-inspiring and misunderstood parts of Jewish liturgy, explaining how it dramatizes the power of repentance.

Marc Lewitinn, Covid Patient, Dies at 76 after 850 Days on a Ventilator
by Clay Risen, for the New York Times
Published September 9, 2022

After the death of our member, Marc Lewitinn, the New York Times memorialized him, his record-breaking battle with COVID-19, and the multigenerational legacy of his family. Read this poignant exploration of the Lewitinn family’s Jewish-Egyptian roots.

In a first, UJA leaders visit Saudi Arabia for four days of dialogue
by Jacob Miller, for Jewish Insider
Published June 28, 2022

Rabbi Soloveichik and 12 other American Jewish leaders toured Saudi Arabia to learn about Islam and teach the Saudis about Judaism on a mission to Saudi Arabia. Read about this historic visit and how our congenial rabbi advanced the mission’s goal of interfaith engagement through friendly conversations with the Saudi photographer about the best way to eat shawarma.

How Thanksgiving helped Jews carve out a piece of the American story
by Yael Buechler, for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
Published on Nov 22, 2021

Patriotic Manhattan synagogue has celebrated Thanksgiving since 1789
by Jon Levine, for the NY Post
Published on Nov 20, 2021

Take a (Solo) Stroll
by Will Heinrich, for the New York Times
Published on Mar 26, 2020

What the Bible Taught Lincoln About America
by Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, for the Wall Street Journal
Published on Feb 16, 2020