Erica Brown, at The Blogs

Erica Brown

Mar 2, 2026, 2:58 PM

In the role of Haman for my imaginary Purim shpiel: Tucker Carlson

US political commentator Tucker Carlson speaks during the public memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21, 2025. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

When a bottom-crawler kindles underlying Jew-hatred in those who find his farfetched lies entertaining, his influence on otherwise good people is perilous

Dec 15, 2025, 2:59 PM

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Globalize the light

Mourners gather to light Hanukkah candles at Bondi Pavillion, a day after the deadly terror attack against the Jewish community there, on December 15, 2025. (Video screenshot; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

A message to those who seek to 'globalize the intifada': With your unbounded hate, I say, we Jews have been here before and we know how to shine in the darkest places

Nov 11, 2025, 7:39 PM

Healing a fractured world

Reimagining character development in higher education

Sep 3, 2025, 4:38 PM

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11 questions to help students hold on to their momentum as leaders

The highest achievers in high school should be adding to their leadership skillset during their gap years

Apr 9, 2025, 3:42 PM

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Welcoming the hungry on Seder night and the 10/4 rule

'Ha Lahma Anya,' the invitation to join a Passover Seder, from The Barcelona Haggadah Folio 28v29r. (Wikipedia)

Instead of a disapproving, judgmental 'I-don’t-know-you-nor-do-I-care-to' once-over, we need to welcome each other with a smile and kind words

Jul 26, 2024, 4:00 PM

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Handing power to the next generation is hard

US First Lady Jill Biden, left, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, right, watch as US President Joe Biden, center left, raises the hand of Vice President Kamala Harris, as they view the Independence Day firework display over the National Mall from the balcony of the White House, July 4, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

How timely that this week’s Torah portion culminates in Moses’ ceding his role leading the Israelites to Joshua, for the nation's needs come first (Pinchas)

Jul 11, 2024, 4:02 PM

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Hersh’s letter

Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, parents of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, then 201 days since October 7 (now Day 279), from a video statement pleading for a hostage deal and urging Hersh to stay strong and survive, April 24, 2024. (Courtesy, via The Times of Israel)

To bring the hostages home, we are storming the heavens by writing a new Torah scroll together - a community of words that bring redemption

Mar 21, 2024, 5:23 PM

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Purim offers 4 ways to heal the wounds of war – when the time is right

The best antidote to hate is gifts of affection, even when the tangerines are old and the licorice stale

Nov 22, 2023, 1:21 PM

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Thanksgiving: This year in Jerusalem

Posters of the hostages abducted to Gaza by Hamas on October 7, 2023, line the walkway to the arrivals hall at Ben-Gurion airport. (via Facebook)

Anxiety about Israel at war, the hostages, antisemitism (the list goes on) makes it hard to give thanks, but it's exactly the right thing to do

Sep 29, 2023, 2:11 PM

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The Book of Kohelet and a cup of joy

Sure, Ecclesiastes pitches existential dread, but its clusters of optimism remind us that there's a time for everything, even coffee

About Me

Dr. Erica Brown is the vice provost for Values and Leadership, Yeshiva University and the director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. Her latest book is 'The Torah of Leadership: Weekly Essays on the Parsha.'