Eric M. Leiderman, at The Blogs

Jul 6, 2026, 3:02 AM

Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, America's oldest synagogue. Photo by Kenneth C. Zirkel, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). President George Washington's 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport. Image courtesy of the U.S. National Archives (public domain).

As Americans celebrate Independence Day this weekend, millions of people will gather for barbecues, parades, fireworks, and backyard parties. In Chicago, where I live, many of those celebrations will include a local tradition: the Chicago-style hot dog. It is...

Nov 18, 2025, 5:29 AM

The Real Israel Divide No One Admits

$Zionism contains multitudes—fractured, complex, and still forming a coherent whole.$

It has now been 774 days since October 7, 2023, and Hamas continues to hold the bodies of three deceased hostages. That painful reality should focus our conversations about Israel and about the future of Jewish life. These discussions...

Sep 10, 2025, 8:01 AM

Am I a Monster for Loving Israel First?

Scales and Stars of David (abstract style)

Elul is the month when Jews are commanded to take stock. Each morning, the shofar blasts not as background music but as a piercing summons: return to your most authentic self, strip away illusions, and confront what you would...

Apr 18, 2025, 9:07 AM

What Happened to Jewish Unity after October 7?

Joyful, united, and diverse—this is what Jewish peoplehood looks like when we choose connection over division. (AI)

In the days and weeks following the October 7 Hamas massacre, something rare stirred across the Jewish world: unity. We wept as one. We posted in solidarity. We donated. We prayed. We showed up. For a moment—brief, beautiful, and...

Mar 10, 2025, 7:47 AM

The Future of Zionism is in Your Hands

Resolution Proposed and Debated at the 2023 Extraordinary Congress. | Photo by Eric M. Leiderman

In October 2025, delegates from around the world will gather in Jerusalem for the 39th World Zionist Congress (WZC), the international parliament of the Jewish people. This body, initially convened by Theodor Herzl in 1897, is responsible for allocating...

Jan 31, 2025, 6:13 AM

The Jewish Question in 21st-Century America

2023.11.14 March for Israel, Washington, DC USA 318 201233-Edit
March for Israel, Washington, DC USA

Credit: Ted Eytan/Flickr

Reports that President Trump signed an executive order targeting antisemitic foreign students for deportation should alarm every American Jew. On the surface, this may seem like a necessary measure to combat the unprecedented rise in antisemitic hate since October...

Jan 21, 2025, 12:32 AM

2025—The Year to Open Our Doors and Become a ‘Regular’

There is a deep truth at the heart of Judaism: we are only as strong as the communities we build. From Sinai to the shtetl, from the bustling streets of Jerusalem to the quiet corners of suburban New Jersey,...

Oct 1, 2024, 8:14 AM

Jewish Pride Reborn: A Rosh Hashanah Reflection

Hopeful Renewal: Young Jews Celebrating Identity Proudly

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, the reflective tone of Rosh Hashanah invites us to examine not only our personal lives but also the state of our community, our people, and our future. For me,...

Jan 25, 2024, 8:56 AM

Tu Bishvat: Planting Our Legacy

Tu Bishvat, the Jewish New Year for Trees, is a joyous celebration deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. Beyond being a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature, this holiday underscores the Jewish value of planting trees, emphasizing the mitzvah...

Dec 27, 2023, 5:29 AM

The Ruptured Pipeline of Conservative Judaism

In the ever-evolving landscape of Jewish identity and community, the recent closure of the Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel marks yet another fracture in the once robust pipeline that guided young Jews from adolescence into adulthood within the...

About Me

Rabbi Eric Leiderman is a Chicago-based rabbi, educator, and community builder. His work focuses on Jewish peoplehood, Israel education, Zionism, and the future of Jewish communal life. Through teaching, writing, and leadership, he seeks to strengthen connections between Jews, Judaism, and Israel across generations.