Robert L. Wolkoff

Apply for a Blog

Dec 19, 2023, 2:39 AM

The Triple Standard Strikes Again

In the Jewish community, there is probably no complaint more justified, and more misplaced, than the claim that Jews are judged by a double standard. Justified, because virtually every government, human rights organization, and member of the media punditburo...

Nov 23, 2023, 4:53 AM

Accusation of genocide in Gaza is raw antisemitism

The great historian Gavin Langmuir gave us a very insightful definition of antisemitism. He began by distinguishing it from anti-Judeanism (my term, not his) and anti-Judaism. When the Romans attacked Israel 2000 years ago, it was standard geopolitics. The Romans attacked any...

Jan 27, 2022, 8:16 AM

The hatred that must not be named

Anti-Semitism is the hatred that must not be named. At least it sure seems that way. Recently, the Jewish world held its collective breath when hostages were taken in a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. The hostage taker had gone to...

Nov 23, 2021, 6:21 AM

We’re a long way from the water fountains

The Book of Bereshit (Genesis) that we have been reading is filled with stories of ethnic conflict, deceit, and violence. In fact, the Bible as a whole is replete with such stories. It makes for painful reading, to be...

Jun 10, 2021, 10:47 AM

Who are the Jews here?

The recent conflict in Gaza, and the reaction to it, have set off alarm bells in many Jewish quarters. The moral questions that arise whenever military power is applied are tough enough. But the breadth of anti-Israel demonstrations; the...

Jan 8, 2021, 7:33 AM

It happened here

A narcissistic, paranoid, mendacious, and manipulative leader has surrounded himself with sycophants and incompetents. They offer nothing constructive, and are only capable of making situations worse, rather than better. They stand by, or applaud, when their leader embarks on...

Sep 25, 2020, 8:10 AM

A Zionist ‘Al Chet’

For the sin we have committed by diminishing the sanctity of Jewish lives And for the sin we have committed by diminishing the sanctity of Arab lives For the sin we have committed by accepting a double standard And for the sin...

Jun 21, 2020, 8:33 PM

Do Black LIves Matter?

“Do you love me?” said the one. “Of course I love you,” said the other. “Do you know what hurts me?” said the one. “No, I don’t know what hurts you,” said the other. “If you don’t know what hurts me,” said the...

Jun 14, 2020, 7:53 AM

This is a story about power

This is a story about power. King David looked out from his palace and saw a beautiful woman. Now, King David was a man who lived in and for power, so, as was typical for him, what he wanted, he...

Jun 4, 2020, 1:42 AM

US President Donald Trump holds a Bible as he visits St. John's Church near Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, June 1, 2020. (AP/Patrick Semansky)

It is terrifying that the man who sits in the office of the president of the United States has such profound disregard for the very principles on which the country was founded

Load more

About Me

Rabbi Wolkoff serves Congregation Bnai Tikvah in North Brunswick. He has published hundred of articles and lectured internationally on Jewish topics, and has been active both in interfaith work and in the struggle against anti-Semitism, both in the United States and in Sweden, where he served for a decade. He is a JNF Rabbi for Israel.

Contact Me