Pini Dunner
ARTICLES BY: Pini Dunner
Avoiding the Dangers of Spiritual Groupthink
A couple of months ago, I wrote a column about the German-born social psychologist, Kurt Lewin (1890-1947). Although most people have never heard of him,...
True Self-Esteem Is Earned, Not Given
We recently marked the second anniversary of the death of a colorful California politician: Assemblyman John Vasconcellos. If Vasconcellos is remembered at all, it is for his...
This Year, in Jerusalem
The most famous image of the reclamation of Jerusalem in June 1967 is undoubtedly the iconic photo, taken by the late David Rubinger, of three...
Why We Observe the Torah When We Don’t Have To
Jews have lived in the biblical Land of Israel, uninterrupted, for thousands of years. For much of that time, Jewish life was confined to small communities...
Why Rabbi Akiba’s Disciples Were a Threat to the System
For more than a thousand years after the Exodus from Egypt, the greatest threat to monotheism was polytheism -- better known to us as idolatry. This form...
Being a ‘Good Person’ Is Not the Be All and End All
There has always been an inclination among Jews to present contemporary political views as being in line with Judaism and Jewish teachings. Perhaps the most...
What the Torah Teaches Us About Childbirth
This week, a remarkable breakthrough in the field of premature childbirth was announced. An artificial womb -- a plastic sac, filled with temperature controlled amniotic fluid...
Why Pesach and Shavuot Are Both Necessary
It is an axiom of the American national narrative that in 1776, citizens of the 13 colonies declared themselves independent of Great Britain, King George III and his...
Jewish Enemies — Then and Now
The issue of Jewish collaboration with the Nazis is probably the most challenging aspect of Holocaust history for Jews. The idea that Jews cooperated with...
Would You Hear the Call of God?
It's highly unlikely that you have heard of Angel and Carmen Perez. Indeed, until a short time ago, I had never heard of them either. The Perezes were recovering...
Why People Must Learn From Other People
Anyone who uses an iPhone is familiar with the silvery voice of “Siri” -- an electronic personal assistant that (who?) responds to questions. You can ask Siri...
Explaining God’s Absence — and How to Find Him
Earlier this week, an official in France’s far-right National Front party was suspended after footage emerged of him denying the magnitude of the Holocaust. In the...
Purim’s Warning for Modern-Day Antisemitism
The United States has seen a surge in antisemitic activity that is unprecedented in modern times. Bomb threats against Jewish community centers, desecrated cemeteries, offensive graffiti and social...
Jews Must Be in Constant Dialogue With Our Past
One of the most significant pioneers of psychology in the 20th century was a German-Jewish immigrant to the US named Kurt Lewin. He was born...
