Rabbi Mike Rothbaum
@ravmike.bsky.social
Chutzpah, Torah, Manual Transmission.
Husband of Anthony.
Lions, Mets fan. Loyal or masochist?
he.him
Husband of Anthony.
Lions, Mets fan. Loyal or masochist?
he.him
As long as he’s building it, I’d like to propose painting Trump’s new East Wing ballroom in a lush shade of Meaty Ochre
December 10, 2025 at 7:17 PM
As long as he’s building it, I’d like to propose painting Trump’s new East Wing ballroom in a lush shade of Meaty Ochre
“Well Sean, once upon a time I was paid by the right-wing outrage machine to conjure conspiracies out of thin air. And one day, just as assuredly, I’ll do it again.”
December 5, 2025 at 6:57 PM
“Well Sean, once upon a time I was paid by the right-wing outrage machine to conjure conspiracies out of thin air. And one day, just as assuredly, I’ll do it again.”
This is Nazi rhetoric.
I've read the history and talked to the survivors and visited the museums. I don't use the term lightly.
It echoes genocidal language used against Jews for centuries. It represents an assault on Jewish values.
Every Jewish org should condemn this.
Loudly.
Forcefully.
I've read the history and talked to the survivors and visited the museums. I don't use the term lightly.
It echoes genocidal language used against Jews for centuries. It represents an assault on Jewish values.
Every Jewish org should condemn this.
Loudly.
Forcefully.
December 2, 2025 at 9:04 PM
This is Nazi rhetoric.
I've read the history and talked to the survivors and visited the museums. I don't use the term lightly.
It echoes genocidal language used against Jews for centuries. It represents an assault on Jewish values.
Every Jewish org should condemn this.
Loudly.
Forcefully.
I've read the history and talked to the survivors and visited the museums. I don't use the term lightly.
It echoes genocidal language used against Jews for centuries. It represents an assault on Jewish values.
Every Jewish org should condemn this.
Loudly.
Forcefully.
Israeli police are increasingly targeting nonviolent protestors. Many of them are Jews. Link below.
Dr. Susannah Heschel once said to me, "power is the temptation that pulls [Jews] away from justice."
We are losing our way.
Dr. Susannah Heschel once said to me, "power is the temptation that pulls [Jews] away from justice."
We are losing our way.
November 28, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Israeli police are increasingly targeting nonviolent protestors. Many of them are Jews. Link below.
Dr. Susannah Heschel once said to me, "power is the temptation that pulls [Jews] away from justice."
We are losing our way.
Dr. Susannah Heschel once said to me, "power is the temptation that pulls [Jews] away from justice."
We are losing our way.
It’s giving Miserable Chagall Realness
November 28, 2025 at 6:26 PM
It’s giving Miserable Chagall Realness
In case you don't understand how racism and antisemitism work hand-in-hand, the Trump Administration continues to provide daily lessons.
November 20, 2025 at 10:35 PM
In case you don't understand how racism and antisemitism work hand-in-hand, the Trump Administration continues to provide daily lessons.
The “final solution” was the “answer” to the “Jewish Problem.”
I’m really trying to be careful, to identify how this rhetoric is different.
I can’t.
When I learned about the Holocaust as a Hebrew School kid, it was this.
This was how it happened there.
It could happen here.
A “simple answer.”
I’m really trying to be careful, to identify how this rhetoric is different.
I can’t.
When I learned about the Holocaust as a Hebrew School kid, it was this.
This was how it happened there.
It could happen here.
A “simple answer.”
November 20, 2025 at 8:10 PM
The “final solution” was the “answer” to the “Jewish Problem.”
I’m really trying to be careful, to identify how this rhetoric is different.
I can’t.
When I learned about the Holocaust as a Hebrew School kid, it was this.
This was how it happened there.
It could happen here.
A “simple answer.”
I’m really trying to be careful, to identify how this rhetoric is different.
I can’t.
When I learned about the Holocaust as a Hebrew School kid, it was this.
This was how it happened there.
It could happen here.
A “simple answer.”
We have a child rapist in the White House. Who could try to defend that? What could they say??
Oh.
Oh.
November 14, 2025 at 2:07 AM
We have a child rapist in the White House. Who could try to defend that? What could they say??
Oh.
Oh.
ADL's Greenblatt: "[Mamdani] went to an antizionist synagogue! Which is like going to the black breakout at CPAC and saying you understand African Americans!"
Essentially Greenblatt admits here — the right hates Black folks.
If so, why cozy up to them?
Unless you don't, y'know, care about racism?
Essentially Greenblatt admits here — the right hates Black folks.
If so, why cozy up to them?
Unless you don't, y'know, care about racism?
November 7, 2025 at 11:17 PM
ADL's Greenblatt: "[Mamdani] went to an antizionist synagogue! Which is like going to the black breakout at CPAC and saying you understand African Americans!"
Essentially Greenblatt admits here — the right hates Black folks.
If so, why cozy up to them?
Unless you don't, y'know, care about racism?
Essentially Greenblatt admits here — the right hates Black folks.
If so, why cozy up to them?
Unless you don't, y'know, care about racism?
Yasher koyach to Agudath Israel for putting out such a mentshlikh statement even about a guy who causes them concern.
(Some other Jewish organizations could learn something from this.)
(Some other Jewish organizations could learn something from this.)
November 5, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Yasher koyach to Agudath Israel for putting out such a mentshlikh statement even about a guy who causes them concern.
(Some other Jewish organizations could learn something from this.)
(Some other Jewish organizations could learn something from this.)
Another desperate plea for irrelevance.
November 5, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Another desperate plea for irrelevance.
Another Mamdani voter who hates the Jews, no doubt.
November 4, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Another Mamdani voter who hates the Jews, no doubt.
Oy enough kvetching about young Jews and their motivations from legacy Jewish leaders:
“Why do young Jews stand up for everyone but themselves??”
Ever since Abe & Sarah opened their tent flaps to migrants, “standing up for others” has been the essence of Judaism.
Stop kvetching. Start listening.
“Why do young Jews stand up for everyone but themselves??”
Ever since Abe & Sarah opened their tent flaps to migrants, “standing up for others” has been the essence of Judaism.
Stop kvetching. Start listening.
November 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Oy enough kvetching about young Jews and their motivations from legacy Jewish leaders:
“Why do young Jews stand up for everyone but themselves??”
Ever since Abe & Sarah opened their tent flaps to migrants, “standing up for others” has been the essence of Judaism.
Stop kvetching. Start listening.
“Why do young Jews stand up for everyone but themselves??”
Ever since Abe & Sarah opened their tent flaps to migrants, “standing up for others” has been the essence of Judaism.
Stop kvetching. Start listening.
The need for whitefish salad and pumpernickel bagels are not political preferences or partisan talking point. These are inseparable strands of my Jewish identity. To ask me to check my need for decent appetizing at the door is offensive – no different than asking me to reject God, Torah, or mitzvot.
October 30, 2025 at 8:55 AM
The need for whitefish salad and pumpernickel bagels are not political preferences or partisan talking point. These are inseparable strands of my Jewish identity. To ask me to check my need for decent appetizing at the door is offensive – no different than asking me to reject God, Torah, or mitzvot.
Today's the 8th anniversary of the Tree of Life pogrom. The killer explained that Jews “bring [immigrant] invaders in that kill our people.”
Today this "white genocide" theory is at the core of the GOP. See the recruitment ad for ICE.
Imagine 1000 rabbis signing a letter condemning this.
If only.
Today this "white genocide" theory is at the core of the GOP. See the recruitment ad for ICE.
Imagine 1000 rabbis signing a letter condemning this.
If only.
October 27, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Today's the 8th anniversary of the Tree of Life pogrom. The killer explained that Jews “bring [immigrant] invaders in that kill our people.”
Today this "white genocide" theory is at the core of the GOP. See the recruitment ad for ICE.
Imagine 1000 rabbis signing a letter condemning this.
If only.
Today this "white genocide" theory is at the core of the GOP. See the recruitment ad for ICE.
Imagine 1000 rabbis signing a letter condemning this.
If only.
Like a lot of Jewish kids (you know who you are), I grew up wondering, "would they hide me?"
That friend? Probably?
That neighbor? Definitely not.
Now it's time to ask a different question.
"Would I hide them?"
That friend? Probably?
That neighbor? Definitely not.
Now it's time to ask a different question.
"Would I hide them?"
October 19, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Like a lot of Jewish kids (you know who you are), I grew up wondering, "would they hide me?"
That friend? Probably?
That neighbor? Definitely not.
Now it's time to ask a different question.
"Would I hide them?"
That friend? Probably?
That neighbor? Definitely not.
Now it's time to ask a different question.
"Would I hide them?"
In early ‘24, I went with a rabbinic delegation to Israel. We all were moved by Michael and Faina Kuperstein, holocaust survivors and grandparents of hostage Bar Kuperstein.
Today Bar was freed.
Baruch Atah Adonai, haTov v’haMeitiv. Blessed are You, the One who is Good and does Good.
Today Bar was freed.
Baruch Atah Adonai, haTov v’haMeitiv. Blessed are You, the One who is Good and does Good.
October 13, 2025 at 2:48 PM
In early ‘24, I went with a rabbinic delegation to Israel. We all were moved by Michael and Faina Kuperstein, holocaust survivors and grandparents of hostage Bar Kuperstein.
Today Bar was freed.
Baruch Atah Adonai, haTov v’haMeitiv. Blessed are You, the One who is Good and does Good.
Today Bar was freed.
Baruch Atah Adonai, haTov v’haMeitiv. Blessed are You, the One who is Good and does Good.
you know when we tell you that sometimes the stephen miller criticism flirts with antisemitism, we're not making it up...
October 12, 2025 at 8:01 PM
you know when we tell you that sometimes the stephen miller criticism flirts with antisemitism, we're not making it up...
A visit from Jehovahs Witnesses gave me the chance to teach the mitzvah of pursuing justice. They looked up the bible verses and asked me to repeat the Hebrew pronunciations. I invited them back any time. Sadly, they weren't eager to stay.
You may be shocked to know they didn't leave any materials.
You may be shocked to know they didn't leave any materials.
September 26, 2025 at 9:13 PM
A visit from Jehovahs Witnesses gave me the chance to teach the mitzvah of pursuing justice. They looked up the bible verses and asked me to repeat the Hebrew pronunciations. I invited them back any time. Sadly, they weren't eager to stay.
You may be shocked to know they didn't leave any materials.
You may be shocked to know they didn't leave any materials.
The irony of the Jew-hater's favored metaphor for purported Jewish secret control of world governments and markets being the octopus, when the octopus doesn't even seem to know what the hell it's doing.
September 19, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The irony of the Jew-hater's favored metaphor for purported Jewish secret control of world governments and markets being the octopus, when the octopus doesn't even seem to know what the hell it's doing.
New content just dropped
September 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
New content just dropped
If you're an alum and suggest on the New College of Florida FB page actually a statue of a racist, transphobic, sexist Jew-hater should be toppled — in the Jewish tradition of the toppling of all idols — this is the response you can expect.
You can also expect the college to do nothing to stop it.
You can also expect the college to do nothing to stop it.
September 17, 2025 at 9:20 PM
If you're an alum and suggest on the New College of Florida FB page actually a statue of a racist, transphobic, sexist Jew-hater should be toppled — in the Jewish tradition of the toppling of all idols — this is the response you can expect.
You can also expect the college to do nothing to stop it.
You can also expect the college to do nothing to stop it.
I must really be getting old. I can still remember the days when Jews didn't say nice things about guys who spit on the memory of our Six Million.
September 11, 2025 at 11:57 PM
I must really be getting old. I can still remember the days when Jews didn't say nice things about guys who spit on the memory of our Six Million.