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The Fifth Question

by Mira Sucharov

Quinoa and Orthodox Judaism's relevancy problem

The question of long-term vitality of Judaism may ultimately come down to the question of relevance and whether Orthodox Jews are seen more as keepers of the faith or gatekeepers of the faith.

By Mira Sucharov | Mar 15, 2013 | 12:57 PM | 2

Quinoa and butternut squash salad with dried tomato powder

House of Cards, the Oscars 2013 and Jewish power
By Allison Kaplan Sommer | 17
Blackface on Purim: Is anybody listening?
By Mira Sucharov | 2
Valentine's Day may not be a Jewish holiday, but I wouldn't want it to disappear
By Mira Sucharov | 4

BDS supporters can’t decide on what the endgame is

The settlement boycotters have to speak up more clearly and forcefully, with more liberal Zionist organizations jumping aboard.

By Mira Sucharov | Jul 13, 2012 | 01:41 PM | 6

Want to forget the occupation? End it

It’s easy to forget about the occupation, when we pass right by the new housing units designated for the members of the Ulpana evacuation, just down the hill from their old apartments, the emerald green adhesive wrapping on the prefab walls still intact.

By Mira Sucharov | Jun 29, 2012 | 10:01 AM | 4

Mudslinging over Israel's 'pinkwashing' obscures the real solutions

Activists should be fighting for LGBTQ equality as if there was no Israeli occupation, and fighting the occupation whether or not officials use Israel’s LGBTQ record as a public relations tactic.

By Mira Sucharov | Jun 14, 2012 | 11:20 PM

We are all the American Jewish establishment

If you still don’t think you are part of the Establishment, maybe it’s time to take the Establishment back. These are not smoky back rooms with secret membership lists.

By Mira Sucharov | May 31, 2012 | 04:59 PM | 28

Israel should listen to Shimon Peres - and look in the mirror

'You know when civilization began?' President Peres asked guests gathered in Ottawa. 'With the invention of the mirror.'

By Mira Sucharov | May 17, 2012 | 08:00 PM

Liberal Zionism - possibly Israel's last hope

If you believe in Israel, what kind of Israel do you believe in? And if you have stopped believing in Israel, what would it take to get your Israel back?

By Mira Sucharov | May 3, 2012 | 09:06 PM | 10

Does Peter Beinart love Israel?

I am inspired by Beinart's attempt to draw a distinction between the boycott of Israel by many international activists and a targeted boycott of the settlements.

By Mira Sucharov | Apr 19, 2012 | 09:00 PM | 3

Illustration: A Jewish family celebrating Passover at a seder.

Expanding the lessons of Passover

Being Jewish isn’t just about gathering for a seder or lighting a Hanukkah candle - being Jewish means bringing a certain Jewish subjectivity to bear in everything one does and wrestling with life’s questions of identity every day.

By Mira Sucharov | Apr 5, 2012 | 11:26 PM

Why Peter Beinart might be right on boycotting the settlements

A selective boycott might best be thought of as an expression of authenticity, a symbolic act that helps us connect to our Jewish and Zionist longings.

By Mira Sucharov | Mar 24, 2012 | 11:16 PM | 15

Can Judaism tolerate atheism in its midst?

With Godlessness coming squarely into the mainstream of Western thought, the question of belief may not be settled anytime soon. And it may not need to be.

By Mira Sucharov | Mar 9, 2012 | 05:19 AM | 3

About this blog

Mira Sucharov is Associate Professor of Political Science and Assistant Dean, Faculty of Public Affairs, at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. A child of the 70s and 80s in two tight-knit Canadian Jewish communities, Mira wrestles with the role of tradition in light of contemporary values, the links between narratives and identity, and the Diaspora relationship with Israel. She is the author of The International Self: Psychoanalysis and the Search for Israeli-Palestinian Peace (SUNY Press), and is a 2010 recipient of a Rockower Award for Excellence in Jewish Journalism. She is currently writing a book on nostalgia and political change.