On Jewish Journalism

At this inflection point in the history of American Jewish life, we need stories that reveal the complexity and nuances of our faith

There’s a new journalism fellowship (applications due October 15th) focused on “excellence in journalism on Jewish issues.” It is the first of its kind anywhere in the world—the first journalism fellowship to ever focus on reporting and writing on Jewish-American life.

Inspired by this fellowship, I wanted to share today some writing about my own Jewish ‘biography.’

But first, an update on my own Jewish journalism! I’m excited to be working on two big stories this fall: one on political divisions and disagreements within (and around) the Jewish community in the small Appalachian city where I live since October 7, 2023; and one on new spaces of worship and belonging that non-Zionist and anti-Zionist Jews have been building in Appalachia since October 7, 2023. These stories reveal the big and small ways that Jews, even in rural America, are grappling with their relationships to Israel, to one another, and to their faith.

(I am also working on a big story about Southern queer Christianity…