Perri Schwartz, at The Blogs

Aug 24, 2026, 12:25 AM

For the Patrilineal Jews: You Are Jewish

The Davidson Archaeological Park in Jerusalem, October 2021 - Courtesy of the Author

I am not a “patrilineal Jew.” My mom is Jewish, and so is my dad. I am simply Jewish. But I believe the same principle of belonging should extend to Jews whose Jewish identity comes through their fathers. The term...

Jun 15, 2026, 4:20 AM

Read the Room: A Letter to Israel’s Educational Leaders on Disability Inclusion

Recently, a dispute erupted in Israel between the Teachers’ Union, parents’ organizations, and the Education Ministry over the future of disability inclusion in schools. The Teachers’ Union has argued that severe staffing shortages and a lack of support personnel...

Mar 10, 2026, 2:25 AM

To be a Zionist means acknowledging wrongdoing on all sides.

I’m a loud and proud Jewish American Zionist and a centrist—and I condemn settler violence and anti-Arab violence. Being a Zionist does not mean blind loyalty. It means loving Israel while acknowledging its imperfections. It means confronting the parts of...

Feb 5, 2026, 2:44 AM

Jewish Disability Inclusion Is More Than Just a Month

JDAIM Colors In The Style of Abstract Art - Image Made with AI

Each February, Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) is a powerful reminder of our collective obligation to honor the full diversity of the Jewish people. But for me — and for countless disabled Jews — JDAIM isn’t a...

Jan 10, 2026, 4:08 PM

Washington’s Generational Shift and the Moral Test of US–Israel Relations

The announcement of the retirement of longtime pro-Israel Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer is the latest in a seismic shift that the US-Israel relationship is deteriorating rapidly, and it’s incredibly alarming. However, this year, there is an unusually high number of...

Sep 24, 2025, 4:12 PM

Jewish Identity is at a Crossroads

In 2025, Jewish identity feels both fragile and unshakable. The events of the last two years — the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, the ensuing war with Hamas, and the surge of antisemitism worldwide — have forced Jews...

Sep 4, 2025, 10:35 PM

What the media learned about a little boy and a lie

Today, the news of eight-year-old Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamdene, known as “Abboud”—revealed to be alive and safe, and with his mother outside of Gaza, confirmed what many of us suspected but few dared to say out loud. And yet, for...

Aug 30, 2025, 12:39 AM

When Inclusion Comes With Conditions – The Litmus Test Problem

Across history, litmus tests have been used to enforce control and exclusion. For Black Americans during Jim Crow, literacy and voting tests denied constitutional rights and reinforced systemic power. For Jews today, the notion of a “Jewish litmus test”...

Aug 29, 2025, 12:37 AM

Lessons Learned from Interactions With An Iranian Jew

A little over a year ago, I received a message that surprised me. It was from an Iranian Jew who had come across my work and decided to reach out. At first, I had to pause. An Iranian Jew?...

Jul 31, 2025, 5:51 AM

Hurricane Holiness: Helping Through the Hands of Nechama

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take a free Jewish service trip to Western North Carolina with Nechama, the only Jewish natural disaster relief organization, Mem Global, and Repair The World, the leading Jewish service organization, to...

About Me

Perri Schwartz is a writer and digital media diplomat with a focus on the Jewish world and Israel, along with accessibility. She has been politically active for 10 years. She is an alumnus of the Young Judaea Year Course gap year. Currently, she writes for the Israel Daily News, where she interned on Year Course, and has published pieces in Unpacked Media, the Atlanta Jewish Times, and The Jerusalem Post. She is also on the autism spectrum and is super committed about making the world a better place. You can follow her on Instagram, @perrispeaks_ and you can support her and her work here: PayPal.me/PerriSchwartz609

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