Joel S.
@joelhs.bsky.social
Professor of Religion and Jewish Studies, Sarah Lawrence College. PhD in Religious Studies, University of Chicago. Globalist elite and Thing-in-Itself-hating Jew. Husband of @petticoatshrink.bsky.social. He/Him/הוא/ער
A student today told me, "In high school, I thought all religion was stupid and backwards. But now that you've given me Walter Benjamin and Gershom Scholem's correspondence to read, I see some value in religion."
Whatever issues higher education may have, this makes it worth it.
Whatever issues higher education may have, this makes it worth it.
February 17, 2026 at 8:25 PM
A student today told me, "In high school, I thought all religion was stupid and backwards. But now that you've given me Walter Benjamin and Gershom Scholem's correspondence to read, I see some value in religion."
Whatever issues higher education may have, this makes it worth it.
Whatever issues higher education may have, this makes it worth it.
This is what happens when you take a generation of STEM students and convince them that there is no need for any knowledge of history, philosophy, theology, or any of the subjects broadly known as the humanities.
Researchers working with the A.I. system Claude have come to understand that the model’s selfhood, like our own, is a matter of both neurons and narratives. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/kEX1vV
February 17, 2026 at 5:52 PM
This is what happens when you take a generation of STEM students and convince them that there is no need for any knowledge of history, philosophy, theology, or any of the subjects broadly known as the humanities.
The success of podcasts where men (yes, overwhelmingly men) talk about Big Questions in philosophy, politics, and ethics, shows that there is still a real audience for humanist education, that we are ceding to unqualified charlatans.
February 17, 2026 at 4:31 PM
The success of podcasts where men (yes, overwhelmingly men) talk about Big Questions in philosophy, politics, and ethics, shows that there is still a real audience for humanist education, that we are ceding to unqualified charlatans.
Funding for the humanities is drying up in the United States, but if I wanted to do really bad Jewish Studies scholarship to prove that the US is the unique bearer of the "Judeo-Christian heritage," and that the Talmud influenced the founders of the US or whatever, I could get funded for it easily.
February 17, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Funding for the humanities is drying up in the United States, but if I wanted to do really bad Jewish Studies scholarship to prove that the US is the unique bearer of the "Judeo-Christian heritage," and that the Talmud influenced the founders of the US or whatever, I could get funded for it easily.
I'm never sure if classical music like Beethoven is culturally right-coded because of its association with certain ahistorical constructions of "Western civilization," or culturally left-coded because it supposedly appeals most these days to college educated urban liberal elites.
This is just open, unabashed white nationalist rhetoric at this point.
February 17, 2026 at 2:56 PM
I'm never sure if classical music like Beethoven is culturally right-coded because of its association with certain ahistorical constructions of "Western civilization," or culturally left-coded because it supposedly appeals most these days to college educated urban liberal elites.
In 2024, Jesse Jackson noted that he was the first major presidential candidate to talk about Palestinian human rights.
Rest in power.
Rest in power.
February 17, 2026 at 1:22 PM
In 2024, Jesse Jackson noted that he was the first major presidential candidate to talk about Palestinian human rights.
Rest in power.
Rest in power.
This really ought to be the bare minimum.
This is reprehensible coming from anyone, let alone a member of the United States Congress.
We remain disgusted by Congressman Fine’s persistent and rampant anti-Muslim racism. We call on all American Jewish leaders to speak out.
We remain disgusted by Congressman Fine’s persistent and rampant anti-Muslim racism. We call on all American Jewish leaders to speak out.
February 17, 2026 at 3:54 AM
This really ought to be the bare minimum.
This is a good explanation of why I am so troubled by the use of term "blood libel" to describe allegations of genocide made against the state of Israel for its actions in Gaza. peterbeinart.substack.com/p/the-closin...
The Closing of the Establishment Jewish Mind
What a Letter Claiming that Accusations of Genocide Against Israel Constitute a “Blood Libel” Says about Pro-Israel Discourse
peterbeinart.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:32 PM
This is a good explanation of why I am so troubled by the use of term "blood libel" to describe allegations of genocide made against the state of Israel for its actions in Gaza. peterbeinart.substack.com/p/the-closin...
I really wish American Jewish organizations would spend a bit less time on college student protestors, and a bit more time on the fact that the US government is barely bothering to dog whistle to the historically antisemitic and Holocaust revisionist European far-right.
This is just open, unabashed white nationalist rhetoric at this point.
February 16, 2026 at 8:56 PM
I really wish American Jewish organizations would spend a bit less time on college student protestors, and a bit more time on the fact that the US government is barely bothering to dog whistle to the historically antisemitic and Holocaust revisionist European far-right.
In fact, defining religion and ethnicity as discrete categories is a major way in which Christianity imposes its own supposed universalism upon the rest of the world, hiding its particularism by claiming to completely lack particularistic qualities.
It can be really tricky to parse esp since in the ancient world nationality, ethnicity and religion did not function as the discrete categories they function as today.
February 16, 2026 at 8:24 PM
In fact, defining religion and ethnicity as discrete categories is a major way in which Christianity imposes its own supposed universalism upon the rest of the world, hiding its particularism by claiming to completely lack particularistic qualities.
This is a good thread, but as a Jewish Studies scholar, one of the major points I try to make to my students is that Jewish peoplehood contains elements of religion, ethnicity, and nationality, without totally fitting into any of these boxes.
India does not have the academic study of religion. IMO, this is part of the reason why modi’s Hindu nationalist regime gained control of India
the concept of religion is a western construct that doesn’t “fit” non-Abrahamic traditions. Many Hindus say Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. 🧵
the concept of religion is a western construct that doesn’t “fit” non-Abrahamic traditions. Many Hindus say Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. 🧵
If it is not clear, they are arresting Black activists & journalists b/c they can’t deport them legally & state terror can serve a dual purpose of chilling dissent & labeling Black folks as rioters (read-anti nationals)./1
A 🧵 showing how this worked in India from 2014-2019.
A 🧵 showing how this worked in India from 2014-2019.
February 16, 2026 at 8:16 PM
This is a good thread, but as a Jewish Studies scholar, one of the major points I try to make to my students is that Jewish peoplehood contains elements of religion, ethnicity, and nationality, without totally fitting into any of these boxes.
This is just open, unabashed white nationalist rhetoric at this point.
February 16, 2026 at 6:57 PM
This is just open, unabashed white nationalist rhetoric at this point.
It is not surprising that we have seen a resurgence of interest in nineteenth century race science, because the only way to justify this degree of gross inequality is to claim it is rooted in biology and natural order.
February 16, 2026 at 6:09 PM
It is not surprising that we have seen a resurgence of interest in nineteenth century race science, because the only way to justify this degree of gross inequality is to claim it is rooted in biology and natural order.
The US ambassador to Belgium, who amplified posts by a Belgian Holocaust denier, is telling the Belgian minister of health that he is being antisemitic by investigating unsafe mohel practices - even though the complaints were made from within the Jewish community. www.jta.org/2026/02/16/g...
US ambassador demands that Belgium drop 'ridiculous and anti semitic' investigation of mohels - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
The mohels came under scrutiny after an Antwerp rabbi filed a complaint about their practices.
www.jta.org
February 16, 2026 at 5:42 PM
The US ambassador to Belgium, who amplified posts by a Belgian Holocaust denier, is telling the Belgian minister of health that he is being antisemitic by investigating unsafe mohel practices - even though the complaints were made from within the Jewish community. www.jta.org/2026/02/16/g...
Gratified that my recent essay on the many meanings of "Zionism" was quoted in this new Shaul Magid piece on the rising American Jewish left: shaulmagid.substack.com/p/what-does-...
What Does the Jewish Left Want? *
“To be non-Zionist one first must be anti-Zionist” – Adi Ophir
shaulmagid.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Gratified that my recent essay on the many meanings of "Zionism" was quoted in this new Shaul Magid piece on the rising American Jewish left: shaulmagid.substack.com/p/what-does-...
This is just annexation, which a lot of people have said would be a red line. So what happens when the red line is crossed? www.cnn.com/2026/02/15/m...
Israel advances registration of West Bank territory as state land in move decried as “de facto annexation” | CNN
For the first time since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967, the government will create a mechanism to officially register large swaths of land under the state.
www.cnn.com
February 16, 2026 at 5:06 AM
This is just annexation, which a lot of people have said would be a red line. So what happens when the red line is crossed? www.cnn.com/2026/02/15/m...
We really need to bring back the idea that shame can be a necessary feeling, and that there are things nations do that ought to lead to feeling shame.
This message from the US State Department about "not wanting allies to be shackled by guilt and shame" is a pretty direct call-out to the German far-right argument that Germany has spent too long feeling guilty about the Holocaust, and needs to move on and stop doing remembrance.
February 16, 2026 at 3:37 AM
We really need to bring back the idea that shame can be a necessary feeling, and that there are things nations do that ought to lead to feeling shame.
Thousands of people in Dresden came out to protest against a far-right march in the city. The police used pepper spray to attack the counter-protestors and protect the far-right marchers. p.dw.com/p/58mFo
Dresden: Protesters briefly clash with police in rally against far-right
p.dw.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Thousands of people in Dresden came out to protest against a far-right march in the city. The police used pepper spray to attack the counter-protestors and protect the far-right marchers. p.dw.com/p/58mFo
This is one of the most racist members of Congress out there, bar none, and the fact that he is Jewish just makes me ashamed.
February 16, 2026 at 2:42 AM
This is one of the most racist members of Congress out there, bar none, and the fact that he is Jewish just makes me ashamed.
A good rule of thumb is that if you are comparing human beings to animals, you are probably the bad guy.
February 16, 2026 at 2:34 AM
A good rule of thumb is that if you are comparing human beings to animals, you are probably the bad guy.
Gratified to be quoted in this new Shaul Magid essay on the growing American Jewish left: shaulmagid.substack.com/p/what-does-...
What Does the Jewish Left Want? *
“To be non-Zionist one first must be anti-Zionist” – Adi Ophir
shaulmagid.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Gratified to be quoted in this new Shaul Magid essay on the growing American Jewish left: shaulmagid.substack.com/p/what-does-...
Free speech in the classroom is back: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/u...
Students Across the U.S. Are Protesting ICE. Texas Wants to Punish Their Schools.
www.nytimes.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Free speech in the classroom is back: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/u...
The fact that this is the response from the Conference of Presidents shows that they really do not understand what is coming in the next generation: www.jpost.com/diaspora/art...
Senior Jewish leader urges right to confrontTucker Tucker Carlson | The Jerusalem Post
Daroff described what he called a deepened bond between Israel and the United States since the October 7 attacks
www.jpost.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:58 PM
The fact that this is the response from the Conference of Presidents shows that they really do not understand what is coming in the next generation: www.jpost.com/diaspora/art...
If we want people to criticize the government of Israel without attacking all Jews worldwide (and we should want that!), the flip side is that pro-Israel people have to stop cynically claiming that people who were very careful only to criticize the Israeli government were actually attacking "Jews."
February 15, 2026 at 9:39 PM
If we want people to criticize the government of Israel without attacking all Jews worldwide (and we should want that!), the flip side is that pro-Israel people have to stop cynically claiming that people who were very careful only to criticize the Israeli government were actually attacking "Jews."
She didn't accuse Jews as a people of committing genocide, though. She accused the government and the military of the state of Israel of doing so. People reporting it this way are trying to make a conflation that AOC herself was careful not to make.
February 15, 2026 at 9:20 PM
She didn't accuse Jews as a people of committing genocide, though. She accused the government and the military of the state of Israel of doing so. People reporting it this way are trying to make a conflation that AOC herself was careful not to make.