Judaism

A sense of mutual distrust has descended upon Amsterdam’s Muslim and Jewish communities. Anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise and Jewish institutions are now guarded by police. Despite this, two activists — one Jewish, and one Muslim — have found common ground, and friendship, though not without personal cost.

In the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, both sides use social media as armor — and ammo.

The Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir is the only institutional synagogue choir in Israel. No other choir in the world is expected to do what this kind of choir does — to work all day on Yom Kippur without food or drink, and to uphold a central part of the European Jewish synagogue tradition going back to at least the 16th century.

Spirituality is a constant hum of white noise at Boston College, and I needed something to put there while everyone else was at 10:30 mass. What I found was Judaism.

Plenty of religions tell their members that masturbation is a sin, but few are willing to go to the lengths of ultra-Orthodox Jews to make sure the rule is followed. That struggle is the subject of a new documentary, "Sacred Sperm," from an ultra-Orthodox filmmaker who lives that temptation.

Victoria Hanna, a longtime fixture of the small indie Jewish spiritual music scene, released her first single this month. It's just a riff on a Hebrew alphabet song, but the video became an Internet hit.

In the United States, we speak easily of different ethnic and religious communities. But the reality is far different in France, where the Charlie Hebdo attacks have brought religion and its place in French society back to the top of the agenda.

Yiddish may be a language in decline, but some Yiddish words are more popular than ever. Reporter Julia Simon takes us on a tour that includes Kenya, Egypt and the Netherlands.

A senior rabbi in Los Angeles has announced that same-sex weddings will be performed at his synagogue. Sinai Temple is the oldest and largest Conservative Jewish congregation in LA and Rabbi Wolpe's announcement has angered some members.

One of the biggest conflicts in Israel doesn't involve the Palestinians. It's over a shopping mall in a Jerusalem suburb that's at the center of a culture war. Reporter Daniel Estrin explains.