Louis Keene
@keene.la
Covering the Jewish world from Los Angeles @forward.com | sometimes write about sports | Talk to me: keene at forward dot com
A detailed and fair look from @keene.la at Melat Kiros (and incumbent Diana DeGette's) differences on Israel that could decide today's congressional election in Colorado.
Colorado voters weigh candidate for Congress who declined to call Boulder firebombing antisemitic
Melat Kiros has made Israel a wedge issue in her campaign. Polls show the strategy is working.
forward.com
Stealing from my colleague @keene.la: My mayor Muslim My soccer team Swiss My practice field Jewish Knicks in six?
Swiss World Cup team sets up shop at California Jewish day school's soccer field
San Diego Jewish Academy has been hosting Switzerland’s national squad. Cue the snake jokes
forward.com
Continuing a trend of recent elections, heavily Orthodox Jewish LA neighborhoods Pico-Robertson and Beverly-La Brea swung for the most conservative candidate, in this case Spencer Pratt for mayor. In four Pico-Robertson districts, Pratt beat incumbent Karen Bass, 2533 to 1027. Map by @latimes.com
As long as the money was coming, Israeli and Jewish groups welcomed Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his sidekick, Jona Rechnitz. Now that they're at odds, those groups don't have much to say. Our story includes Rechnitz's first public quotes since the $175 million lawsuit: forward.com/news/827647/...
Floyd Mayweather showered cash on Jewish causes — and now he’s suing their ‘Robin Hood’ alleging $175 million got diverted
High-flying middleman Jona Rechnitz tells the Forward ‘holy work’ brought him and the boxer to Israel after Oct. 7
forward.com
spoke to the guy who wrote the article comparing the thunder to israel (and to the paper who deleted it post-publication) forward.com/news/sports/...
An op-ed compared an NBA team to Israel as underdog success stories. Then the threats poured in.
The Oklahoman removed the commentary about the Thunder, leaving its Jewish author alone to face the backlash
forward.com
The Jewish Theological Seminary invited Israeli President Isaac Herzog to be its commencement speaker. Not all its students are happy about it. forward.com/news/822142/...
Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s selection as JTS commencement speaker roils graduating class
Two opposing letters are circulating among undergrads at the college, a bastion of Israel support
forward.com
There are two DSA members running to unseat Karen Bass as the next mayor of Los Angeles. There is also one proud Zionist — Adam Miller, a former NFTY teen, Israel resident, and shul president. Miller says LA's response to antisemitism is a prime example of its problems: forward.com/news/821818/...
He was president of his synagogue. Now he wants to be LA’s next mayor.
Adam Miller’s Judaism runs deep — but he’s been quiet about it during his campaign
forward.com
Yeshiva University has announced U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee as its commencement speaker. The choice deepens the school's ties with the Trump administration and the American right. YU President Rabbi Ari Berman delivered a benediction at Trump's 2025 inauguration. News release below.
So for the last couple months Ziegler rabbinical school has been hinting at cutting ties with Conservative Judaism Now the school has paused fall admissions Faculty say they haven't been told what's going on "The future is foggy," one told me forward.com/fast-forward/808285
Conservative rabbinical school Ziegler pauses admissions, signaling broader overhaul
The LA-based seminary has begun to distance itself from the Conservative movement under new leadership
forward.com
I appreciated the candor from AJ Edelman. Story's full of great quotes like this. forward.com/news/sports/...
Louis Keene@keene.la · 5mo agoJust pubbed @forward.com – an exclusive interview with AJ Edelman, the Israeli Olympic bobsled captain, who pulled no punches defending the ill-fated switch that got his team disqualified. Read here: forward.com/news/sports/...
Just pubbed @forward.com – an exclusive interview with AJ Edelman, the Israeli Olympic bobsled captain, who pulled no punches defending the ill-fated switch that got his team disqualified. Read here: forward.com/news/sports/...
Just pubbed @forward.com: I spoke with Nithya Raman about her run for mayor of Los Angeles, her engagement with the Jewish community in her district and how voters should read her breaking with DSA on Israel. Gift link! forward.com/news/806134/...
She's a democratic socialist who affirmed Israel's right to exist. Can she be LA's next mayor?
Nithya Raman thinks she can win over the city's Jewish voters. Step one: Convince them she’s not Zohran Mamdani.
forward.com
Just pubbed @forward.com: I spoke with Nithya Raman about her run for mayor of Los Angeles, her engagement with the Jewish community in her district and how voters should read her breaking with DSA on Israel. Gift link! forward.com/news/806134/...
She's a democratic socialist who affirmed Israel's right to exist. Can she be LA's next mayor?
Nithya Raman thinks she can win over the city's Jewish voters. Step one: Convince them she’s not Zohran Mamdani.
forward.com
TOMORROW NIGHT: I'm speaking about how to fight authoritarianism locally at a great *virtual* event with @forward.com and the Jewish Partnership for LA With amazing copanelists – Pastor Eddie Anderson, Rudy Espinoza, and Marjorie Gilberg, moderated by the Forward's @louiskeene.bsky.social Join us!
From D.C. to L.A.: The Local Impact of the Second Trump Administration
Join Jewish Partnership for Los Angeles and The Forward for a virtual conversation about the impact of the first year of the second Trump Administration on Los Angeles: the social safety net, immigrat...
actionnetwork.org
I went into the heart of Lakewood to get the Jewish case against A.I. forward.com/news/800466/...
These rabbis are making an Orthodox case against AI. Will anyone listen?
The leadership of the Orthodox Jewish community is addressing the challenges of AI use and its perceived spiritual risks.
forward.com
Here's a thread of some Dan McQuade blogs that we really loved 🦅 The Garden State Parkway’s Jon Bon Jovi rest stop is playing fast and loose with famous quotes: defector.com/the-garden-s...
The Garden State Parkway's Jon Bon Jovi Rest Stop Is Playing Fast And Loose With Famous Quotes | Defector
CHEESEQUAKE, N.J. — Have you ever scored a touchdown? I never played real football, so my own experiences have been pretty low-key, but man, did they feel great. I think I remember almost all of them—...
defector.com
Interviewed someone who's against the Nazi/Anne Frank ICE comparisons. Except he's also the only Orthodox rabbi I'm aware of who signed a letter against ICE. His perspective is important so I'm sharing it here. Rabbi Max Davis on Minneapolis, ICE and his shul: forward.com/news/800628/...
Orthodox Jewish groups have been quiet about ICE. This Minneapolis rabbi wasn’t.
Bucking the political norms of Orthodox Judaism, Rabbi Max Davis signed a letter condemning ICE for "wreaking havoc across our state."
forward.com
It's one thing when opposing Anne Frank comparisons is the only way you're engaging with this topic at all, and it can feel like that is typically the case. Not here. (Story is also a good reminder that Orthodox Judaism contains a range of political views!)
Louis Keene@keene.la · 6mo agoInterviewed someone who's against the Nazi/Anne Frank ICE comparisons. Except he's also the only Orthodox rabbi I'm aware of who signed a letter against ICE. His perspective is important so I'm sharing it here. Rabbi Max Davis on Minneapolis, ICE and his shul: forward.com/news/800628/...
Interviewed someone who's against the Nazi/Anne Frank ICE comparisons. Except he's also the only Orthodox rabbi I'm aware of who signed a letter against ICE. His perspective is important so I'm sharing it here. Rabbi Max Davis on Minneapolis, ICE and his shul: forward.com/news/800628/...
Orthodox Jewish groups have been quiet about ICE. This Minneapolis rabbi wasn’t.
Bucking the political norms of Orthodox Judaism, Rabbi Max Davis signed a letter condemning ICE for "wreaking havoc across our state."
forward.com
Oh wow: Major U.S. Cardinal (Tobin of Newark) is calling for Catholics to urge lawmakers to vote against ICE funding. Via @ncronline.bsky.social
Michael J. O'Loughlin@mikeoloughlin.bsky.social · 6mo agoCardinal Tobin: Pray, mourn and say 'no' to ICE funding www.ncronline.org/news/cardina...
What the OU is posting on social media today...
Louis Keene@keene.la · 7mo agoEvery major Jewish denomination other than Orthodoxy has signed a joint letter condemning "in the strongest terms" the violent immigration enforcement by ICE/DHS in Minneapolis and beyond. Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist orgs signed. Orthodox Union + Agudah did not.
Some interesting comments in here on the future of Ziegler rabbinical school from Jay Sanderson, president of AJU, who implies he wants to eventually make the Conservative seminary "multi-denominational." forward.com/fast-forward...
Longtime dean of Ziegler School retiring as Conservative seminary plots new course
Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson's retirement may signal a broader transformation of the Conservative Ziegler rabbinical school in Los Angeles.
forward.com
Cool to see Jennifer Venditti nominated for Best Casting for her work on Marty Supreme, which included this chap:
Louis Keene@keene.la · 7mo agoSpoke to the guy who plays Roger (who gets hustled in the bowling alley by Timothée Chalamet and Tyler, The Creator) in MARTY SUPREME. His day job is teaching at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in NYC! forward.com/culture/7974...
Every major Jewish denomination other than Orthodoxy has signed a joint letter condemning "in the strongest terms" the violent immigration enforcement by ICE/DHS in Minneapolis and beyond. Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist orgs signed. Orthodox Union + Agudah did not.
this is cooler than the robert pattinson cameo imo
Louis Keene@keene.la · 7mo agoSpoke to the guy who plays Roger (who gets hustled in the bowling alley by Timothée Chalamet and Tyler, The Creator) in MARTY SUPREME. His day job is teaching at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in NYC! forward.com/culture/7974...
Just announced: I'll be speaking with the author of "American Reich," a new book about the Blaze Bernstein case and the post-Trump neo-Nazi revival, for a Zoom conversation on Feb. 4. Really looking forward to this. Register here: events.zoom.us/ev/AvnPVbYQR...
Book talk: "American Reich" | The Blaze Bernstein story
events.zoom.us
just did a very fun interview that i'm excited to share with yall soon!
More info on Mississippi synagogue arson suspect Stephen Spencer Pittman: Quit college baseball, launched "scripture-based fitness" website, shared antisemitic meme on Instagram the day of the attack. forward.com/news/796632/...
Synagogue arson suspect posted antisemitic cartoon on day of the attack
Stephen Spencer Pittman posted an antisemitic meme around the time of the Mississippi synagogue fire at Beth Israel in Jackson.
forward.com
Louis Keene@keene.la · 7mo agoHere's the FBI affidavit on Stephen Spencer Pittman, the suspect charged in the arson of Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Miss. Pittman called Beth Israel the "synagogue of Satan" in an interview following his arrest, authorities said. (1/2) forward.com/fast-forward...
I think the graffiti ghost towers are an artistic triumph, I hope they live forever, and I'm so thrilled that this art piece exists (and close to me at least for now).
Alissa Walker@awalkerinla.bsky.social · 7mo agoArtist Sayre Gomez made a sculpture of the Graffiti Ghost Towers and this story about why he felt he had to document LA’s “source of civic embarrassment and angst” as our megaevents put the city on the world stage is the best thing you’ll read today 🎁🔗
Here's the FBI affidavit on Stephen Spencer Pittman, the suspect charged in the arson of Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Miss. Pittman called Beth Israel the "synagogue of Satan" in an interview following his arrest, authorities said. (1/2) forward.com/fast-forward...
