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Rabbi Emily Cohen

@thatrabbicohen

Happy Brooklynite. Lefty in all the ways. Rabbi of West End Synagogue but views here are only my own (She/Her/Hers) www.rabbiemilycohen.com

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30.06.2023
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Latest posts by Rabbi Emily Cohen @thatrabbicohen

The truth is that I like sweetgreen! I just don't need there to be so many of them especially when they're replacing local cafes!!!

06.03.2026 18:35 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

The number of small businesses closing in my neighborhood due to intense rent hikes is such a shanda. These mom and pops that have been around for decades are being replaced with Sweetgreens and Chipotles or by vacant storefronts because nobody can afford to pay anymore 😒

06.03.2026 18:22 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I would absolutely follow that account

05.03.2026 14:10 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

And so comes the return of the Boston Tea Party, latte style (I’ll take mine with almond mild and one shot of vanilla, please)

05.03.2026 12:30 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I think that kavanah is exactly the point: that we do Jewish to be more fully human, not that we do Jewish to be more special and place ourselves above others. The purpose of Reconstructionist Judaism isn’t setting apart for its own sake but rather becoming better versions of ourselves

04.03.2026 12:14 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Honestly there unique trappings and traditions but most religious outlooks come down to 1 of 2 approaches:

- we do this because it helps us be more special

Or

- we do this because it helps us be more human

If you’re part of a religious group, make sure it’s the second kind.

03.03.2026 17:21 πŸ‘ 19 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
MRFF President and Founder Mikey Weinstein, a veteran of the Air Force and the Reagan White House, told me that since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran early Saturday morning, the MRFF has been β€œinundated” with similar complaints:

These calls have one damn thing in freaking common; our MRFF clients [service members who seek MRFF aid] report the unrestricted euphoria of their commanders and command chains as to how this new β€œbiblically-sanctioned” war is clearly the undeniable sign of the expeditious approach of the fundamentalist Christian β€œEnd Times" as vividly described in the New Testament Book of Revelation.

Many of their commanders are especially delighted with how graphic this battle will be zeroing in on how bloody all of this must become in order to fulfill and be in 100% accordance with fundamentalist Christian end of the world eschatology.

MRFF President and Founder Mikey Weinstein, a veteran of the Air Force and the Reagan White House, told me that since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran early Saturday morning, the MRFF has been β€œinundated” with similar complaints: These calls have one damn thing in freaking common; our MRFF clients [service members who seek MRFF aid] report the unrestricted euphoria of their commanders and command chains as to how this new β€œbiblically-sanctioned” war is clearly the undeniable sign of the expeditious approach of the fundamentalist Christian β€œEnd Times" as vividly described in the New Testament Book of Revelation. Many of their commanders are especially delighted with how graphic this battle will be zeroing in on how bloody all of this must become in order to fulfill and be in 100% accordance with fundamentalist Christian end of the world eschatology.

Well, that's bad

jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-...

03.03.2026 10:56 πŸ‘ 286 πŸ” 95 πŸ’¬ 6 πŸ“Œ 19
Preview
Military leaders pushing 'Armageddon views' on troops as Iran war begins: complaint A combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers Monday that the Iran war was part of God's plan to usher in the End Times and bring about Jesus Christ's second coming, according to a complaint ...

What they tell the NYT: β€œIsrael made us do it”

What they tell their own troops: β€œwe are super psyched for Armageddon because of our extremely specific Christian theology that surely you also share”

03.03.2026 14:50 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I’m wondering if you’d apply the same logic to senior healthcare. Should seniors save when they’re young so that when they become ill they don’t expect fellow citizens to sacrifice?

Children are a valuable part of society. Parents (usually mom) should not have to give up everything to raise them.

02.03.2026 20:47 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

If childcare is a "big-ticket want" then are you suggesting only the wealthy should be able to have children? Or that a parent (usually mom) should leave their career to care for kids?

I have a 1 year old. My partner and I are both working professionals in good fields. We can barely afford care.

02.03.2026 19:22 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

It’s easy to fall back on the trope of Jews as puppet masters. Jews as the source of the world’s ills.

So this isn’t about us. And most of usβ€” God-willing all of usβ€” will be safe tonight, which is certainly more than can be said for Iranians.

And it still sucks that Jews will be scared at Purim.

02.03.2026 14:22 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This moment is not at all *about* Jews, much less American Jews. This moment is about the people of Iran and the people with power using them to maintain their power.

But there are people who will follow the false logic of blame Israelβ€”> blame Jews β€”> target American Jews.

Because it’s easy. ➑️

02.03.2026 14:19 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Tonight is Purim and Jewish communities will be gathering for joyful celebration. Lots of costumes. Lots of kids.

Our shul is on the same block as another shul (hello upper west side) and I’d bet good money that there will be at least 1 squad car out front tonight. And let’s be clear… ➑️

02.03.2026 14:15 πŸ‘ 15 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I am such an admirer of your work. But with respect, this dude has nazi sympathizer written all over him. In this case *literally*

02.03.2026 13:55 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I personally think that antisemitism will just be less of an issue for candidates over time. It will likely be treated more like other forms of bigotry, in that it will be acceptable as long as it helps those it doesn’t target.

01.03.2026 22:25 πŸ‘ 76 πŸ” 18 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1

It is possible to be glad that certain tyrants are no longer in power *and* to be deeply disturbed by how other would-be tyrants are wielding their power.

It is possible to be worried for Iranians *and* for Israelis in their bomb shelters and Palestinians without them.

Compassion has no ceiling.

01.03.2026 20:18 πŸ‘ 68 πŸ” 19 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

I think you can worry about American Islamophobia without minimizing American antisemitism. People literally shoot up synagogues in this country, it’s not an imaginary problem or a matter of microaggressions against bourgeois knowledge workers, which is how I see fellow leftists describing it

01.03.2026 17:14 πŸ‘ 1069 πŸ” 191 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

the first leader of a major american jewish organization to suggest that the attack on iran is illegal and a quagmire-in-the-making

01.03.2026 19:17 πŸ‘ 54 πŸ” 20 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

I’m not sure why it’s so challenging for people to understand that multiple things can be true at once and that nuance is a good thing.

01.03.2026 12:34 πŸ‘ 32 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

People overseas love their kids just as much as you love yours. Your kids aren’t more special just because they were born on US soil

28.02.2026 22:36 πŸ‘ 2893 πŸ” 705 πŸ’¬ 17 πŸ“Œ 15

My visit to Susya with @truahrabbis.bsky.social nearly a decade ago was what really helped me to understand the inhumanity of the Occupation, and things have only gotten worse since.

27.02.2026 17:16 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 8 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Even if they make it through this insanity, Americans will have to deal with the fact that so very many people in their country were fine with everything, and how many even celebrated it. Not to mention how deep the damage has been to America's international relationships.

25.02.2026 12:09 πŸ‘ 63 πŸ” 19 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 1

A piece of me broke when Trump stated…” we have LIFTED thousands off of SNAP benefits”, in reality yesterday my 72-year-old patient informed me her food benefits have dropped now from $152 a month to $40, and all the Republicans stood and cheered!

25.02.2026 04:34 πŸ‘ 239 πŸ” 132 πŸ’¬ 12 πŸ“Œ 5

Shifra and Puah

24.02.2026 19:07 πŸ‘ 39 πŸ” 9 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Photo shows a short snowman next to a baby’s boot and a snow shovel

Photo shows a short snowman next to a baby’s boot and a snow shovel

Good snow is when you can make a mini snowman at the bottom of the stoop in <5 minutes

23.02.2026 15:36 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Photo shows a snowy street with snow-covered cars and branches on each side

Photo shows a snowy street with snow-covered cars and branches on each side

Good morning NYC!!!!

23.02.2026 13:08 πŸ‘ 27 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Photo shows a row of brownstones with stoops, sidewalks, trees and cars covered with snow

Photo shows a row of brownstones with stoops, sidewalks, trees and cars covered with snow

Brooklyn + snow = 😍

23.02.2026 03:14 πŸ‘ 135 πŸ” 23 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

I think once they're posting conspiratorial claims about the Rothschild family, they've already arrived at full-blown antisemitism.

22.02.2026 19:32 πŸ‘ 812 πŸ” 102 πŸ’¬ 25 πŸ“Œ 2

I guess we're taking this one very seriously?!

22.02.2026 17:56 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Photo shows a 14 month old in an NYC onesie sitting on a carpet with toys scattered around him

Photo shows a 14 month old in an NYC onesie sitting on a carpet with toys scattered around him

Just to say that this kid is the best thing that has ever happened to me and also I miss sleep.

22.02.2026 12:41 πŸ‘ 39 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0