Alef: The NEXT Conversation

Issue #1 - Old Country
Stories about Russian Jews, Accents, Regina Spektor, and Appetizing Stores.

Issue #2 - Area Codes
Growing up in Minnesota, Kalamazoo, Scottsdale, and Chatsworth. Living in Kobe.

Issue #3 - Tongue Tied
The way you connect to your Judaism through knowing/not knowing a language. Our complicated relationship with Hebrew.

Issue #4 - The Holiday Season
Stories about candles and the conflicts surrounding being Jewish when the rest of the world seems to be celebrating Christmas. The ones of us who celebrate a little of everything, and have the food to show for it. Looking forward to 2010 and what the new decade looks to bring.

Issue #5 - Death and Tragedy
Even with the New Year upon us, we reflect on what we have lost and those who have come before.

Issue #6 - Jews & Sports
Jews are not known for being good at sports. Discuss…

Issue #7 - The Love Issue
Marriage, dating, relationships, and all the resplendent stuff that fits in-between. Jew-style.

Issue #8 - The Sex Issue
Orthodox sex, Jewish burlesque, virginity angst. It’s true - Jews LOVE sex.

Issue #9 - What’s So Funny?
Jews are known for being funny, but we have a pretty complicated history when it comes to humor.

Issue #10 - Geniushood
Stories about failure in the face of high expectations from family members on people’s career choices and mental abilities. Stories about great achievements.

Issue #11 - Money, Greed, & Guilt
Jews have both a complicated history and a complicated relationship with money. Right in time for your taxes being due, Alef brings you stories about having it, wanting it, hating it, and giving it away.

Issue #12 - Aliyah-Going Home
“Home” means a lot of things to a lot of people. And while the concept of aliyah has to do with a return to the Land of Israel, there are many places that we, as Jews, like to call “home.”

Issue #13 - Bar Mitzvah Season
How the British do their bat mitzvah thing. Bat mitzvahs that happen in the oddest of places. And even an interview with “The Chosen Beer” man himself, celebrating He’Brew’s bar mitzvah year.

Issue #14 - Why We Kvetch
We’re not going to be bashful about it - Jews like to complain.

Issue #15: Gay Pride
In honor of Gay Pride Month 2010, a whole issue about the Jewish LGBTQ community.

Issue #16: Diverse Jews
Highlighting the diversity of the Jewish community.

Issue #17: People of the (comic)Book
We all know they came up with the Torah, but Jews also practically invented the whole comic book medium.

Issue #18: Friday Night Lights
Stories of how we celebrate and understand the Sabbath.

Issue #19: Israel
Our relationship with Israel.

Issue #20: Stereotypes
Whether they’re stereotypes about money, religious practice, nationality, or more, the truth is, Jews are one of the most stereotyped peoples on the planet.

Issue #21: Places and Spaces
What counts as a “Jewish place” and how is that concept changing?

Issue #22: Couples
No question about it, dating and marriage are hot button issues for the Jewish people.

Issue #23: Why I Eat What I Eat
There’s an oft repeated one-liner that distills the essence of every major Jewish holiday to “They tried to kill us. We survived. Let’s eat!”

Issue #24: Jewish Women
Women in Judaism, both from a religious and cultural perspective, clearly take on a different and unique look for everyone. In this issue of Alef, we explore those ideas and themes.

Issue #25: Changing Traditions
With so many laws, rules, and rituals to be evaluated and either kept or challenged, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover. Be a part of this conversation and share the traditions that you’re grappling with.