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Articles by Todd L. Pittinsky
Teach the Holocaust. Lose the Label
The word “genocide” was supposed to make evil unmistakable. Today, it does the opposite. Raphael Lemkin coined the term in to name the unthinkable—the Nazi extermination of European Jewry. Holocaust educators adopted it almost immediately as its organizing category, using it aggressively ever since.
Teach the Holocaust. Lose the Label
The word “genocide” was supposed to make evil unmistakable. Today, it does the opposite. Raphael Lemkin coined the term in to name the unthinkable—the Nazi extermination of European Jewry. Holocaust educators adopted it almost immediately as its organizing category, using it aggressively ever since.
Trump Administration’s Research Grant Cuts Hit Public Universities Hardest
Most of the media coverage of the federal government’s recent cuts in federal research money for universities has focused on its effects on a handful of elite Ivy League universities, such as Harvard, Columbia and Cornell. “When you take money away from a Columbia or a Harvard or other institutions, you’ve just taken away funds from the best researchers,” Toby Smith, the senior vice president for government relations at the Association of American Universities, told CNN in April 2025.
Communism didn’t die. It just hired a PR firm
Discredited ideologies rarely disappear all at once. They usually shed their language before they surrender their instincts. After World War II, fascist successor movements in Italy would later recast themselves as national conservatives. In the 1970s, Western communist parties adopted “Eurocommunism,” distancing themselves from Moscow while retaining ambitions for radical socialist transformation.
The myth of the Marxist mishpacha | Commentary
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... There is a story the American Jewish left tells about Jewish immigrants, and it goes like this: Your grandparents were radicals. They organized. They marched. They believed in the collective. They were, at heart, Marxist socialists and communists. It is a useful story. It gives today’s progressive politics a Jewish pedigree, wraps guilt around anyone who strays from the coalition.
The Myth of the Marxist Mishpacha
There is a story the American Jewish left tells about Jewish immigrants, and it goes like this: Your grandparents were radicals. They organized. They marched. They believed in the collective. They were, at heart, Marxist socialists and communists. It is a useful story. It gives today’s progressive politics a Jewish pedigree, wraps guilt around anyone who strays from the coalition. It invokes the sacred authority of the immigrant generations to settle arguments that generation never had.
America’s firewall is failing | Commentary
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Before it became a euphemism for the genocide of Jews, the “Jewish Question” was the Enlightenment’s name for a question it should have been too ashamed to ask: would Jews receive what everyone else was getting? America’s answer was unusual. The Founders did not eliminate antisemitism. They built something more durable: a constitutional firewall that made it difficult to translate prejudice into power.
Nicholas Kristof’s selective skepticism
Nicholas Kristof has a skepticism problem — he is least skeptical of the stories he most wants to be true. His recent New York Times column on alleged sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees reads less like reporting than advocacy dressed in journalistic clothing.
The Joy of Hating Jews
Antisemitism has a peculiar historical signature: people participating in it often seem to be really enjoying themselves. The crowds are cheerful. The rhetoric theatrical. There are songs, jokes, slogans, insider references, and the unmistakable atmosphere of people having a good time. Even the ugliest outbreaks often arrive wrapped in festivity. From medieval religious spectacles to Nazi rallies to college quads after Oct.
Yes, You Can Quit the New York Times - Todd L. Pittinsky
A field guide for those who know better but have not—yet. There is a particular panic that sets in when one considers canceling The New York Times. Not fear of losing the paper so much as fear of losing the self that comes bundled with it. “Where will I get recipes?” “The crossword keeps my marriage alive.” “I can’t just abandon a 200-day Wordle streak!!” These are real concerns. I had some of them myself. The modern New York Times is not merely a newspaper.
Yes, You Can Quit the New York Times
A field guide for those who know better but have not—yet. There is a particular panic that sets in when one considers canceling The New York Times. Not fear of losing the paper so much as fear of losing the self that comes bundled with it. “Where will I get recipes?” “The crossword keeps my marriage alive.” “I can’t just abandon a 200-day Wordle streak!!” These are real concerns. I had some of them myself. The modern New York Times is not merely a newspaper.
Joseph’s Grain and Grok’s Forecast
In ancient Egypt, Pharaoh had really weird and troubling dreams: seven think cows devoured seven fat ones, and seven withered ears of grain swallowed seven hesalthy ones. Pharaoh’s court was filled with wise men and magicians who offered vague possibility afteer possibility for what it might mean. His “official analysts” hedged. Then Joseph, an imprisoned Hebrew slave, was brought to Pharaoy. Joseph did not offer vague warnings–he counted the years and prescribed a plan.
Todd L. Pittinsky's Blog
Todd L. Pittinsky is a professor at Stony Brook University (SUNY). Prior, he was an Associate Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he also served as Research Director for the Harvard Center for Public Leadership. Todd was a Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center (2020-2022) and a Faculty Fellow of Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College (2018–2020).
The Nachshon Doctrine: Step First
As Passover approaches, an ancient Jewish story offers a timely lesson for American foreign policy: a people trapped between a tyrant’s army and an unforgiving sea, paralyzed by justified fear, waiting for certainty that does not come. One man is willing to step from darkness into the unknown. The Haggadah, read at the Passover meal, teaches that every generation must see itself as having gone out of Egypt.
How Noble Is the Nobel?
With some distance now, María Corina Machado’s decision to hand her Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump reads as a bold and startling act. The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s response—formal, disapproving, quick to school her—feels small by comparison. The contrast is hard to miss: someone acting in the middle of a political struggle and an institution focused on decorum. It highlights the gap between the controlled setting of a prize ceremony and the far messier reality of confronting a dictatorship.
Why the Hochul-Mamdani 'progressive' child care plan is regressive
This guest essay reflects the views of Todd L. Pittinsky, a professor of technology and society at Stony Brook University, and co-author of "The Caregiving Ambition." On Jan. 8, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani stood in the Flatbush YMCA to unveil a $1.7 billion push for universal child care that features "2-Care" for New York City 2-year-olds.
The Blogs: Mandy Patinkin's Cheap One-Night-Only Performance
There are many ways to support a public figure. One can argue for their positions, defend their record, or contest critics directly. One can explain why accusations are misplaced, why objections are unfair, or why a candidate’s strengths outweigh their flaws. All of that requires effort: intellectual labor, moral risk, the willingness to engage disagreement. What is cheaper is laundering someone’s moral standing through someone else’s identity.
The Maccabees weren’t symbols - they were fighters | Commentary
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Chanukah is often described as a festival of light, warmth, and resilience. That description is not wrong—but it is incomplete. And when Jews are targeted for celebrating openly, dangerously so. The shooting targeting a Chanukah observance in Australia is a stark reminder that Jewish visibility remains contested. Lighting candles in public, wearing Jewish symbols, gathering openly to celebrate—these acts still carry risk. That is not paranoia.
The Ivies can weather the Trump administration's research cuts. Public universities that have the most to lose
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Most of the media coverage of the federal government's recent cuts in federal research money for universities has focused on its effects on a handful of elite Ivy League universities, such as Harvard, Columbia and Cornell.
The Ivies can weather the Trump administration’s research cuts - it’s the nation’s public universities that have the most to lose Original
Most of the media coverage of the federal government’s recent cuts in federal research money for universities has focused on its effects on a handful of elite Ivy League universities, such as Harvard, Columbia and Cornell. “When you take money away from a Columbia or a Harvard or other institutions, you’ve just taken away funds from the best researchers,” Toby Smith, the senior vice president for government relations at the Association of American Universities, told CNN in April 2025.
The Ivies can weather the Trump administration’s research cuts - it’s the nation’s public universities that have the most to lose
Most of the media coverage of the federal government’s recent cuts in federal research money for universities has focused on its effects on a handful of elite Ivy League universities, such as Harvard, Columbia and Cornell. kAm“(96? J@F E2<6 >@?6J 2H2J 7C@> 2 r@=F>3:2 @C 2 w2CG2C5 @C @E96C :?DE:EFE:@?D[ J@F’G6 ;FDE E2<6? 2H2J 7F?5D 7C@> E96 36DE C6D62C496CD[” %@3J $>:E9[ E96 D6?:@C G:46 AC6D:56?E 7@C 8@G6C?>6?E C6=2E:@?D 2E E96 pDD@4:2E:@? @7 p>6C:42?
To secure long-term peace, fix Gaza’s schools
For decades, billions have been poured into Gaza. It has been well documented how these funds have been used to construct tunnels, build rockets and fund other military infrastructure. But the biggest scandal isn’t what’s been built, it’s what’s been taught in Gaza’s schools — in large part funded through Western largesse. Every generation in Gaza grows up memorizing the language of martyrdom.
The wicked rabbis | Commentary
Elections end, but certain images remain. During the New York City Mayoral race, one aspect of it stayed with me: rabbis campaigning for Zohran Mamdani. Throughout the campaign, I, like many, had Mamdani’s victory photos and videos in my social feed — the handful of rabbis rallying for him, their arms raised, their smiles wide. My reaction to these images and videos was visceral — not academic disagreement or even emotional frustration, but something deeper.
To secure long-term peace, fix Gaza’s schools
For decades, billions have been poured into Gaza. It has been well documented how these funds have been used to construct tunnels, build rockets and fund other military infrastructure. But the biggest scandal isn’t what’s been built, it’s what’s been taught in Gaza’s schools — in large part funded through Western largesse. Every generation in Gaza grows up memorizing the language of martyrdom.
To secure long-term peace, fix Gaza’s schools
To secure long-term peace, fix Gaza’s schools (washingtonpost.com) To secure long-term peace, fix Gaza’s schools By Todd L. Pittinsky 2025110412454700 For decades, billions have been poured into Gaza. It has been well documented how these funds have been used to construct tunnels, build rockets and fund other military infrastructure. But the biggest scandal isn't what's been built, it's what's been taught in Gaza's schools — in large part funded through Western largesse.
The Blogs: Rabbi Sacks and the NYC Mayorial Ballot Box
He warned Britain about Jeremy Corbyn with moral precision. His test for moral clarity still applies—now in New York City, too. You can feel it in most Jewish space in New York: anxiety. Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign has unsettled many. Some are fearful, some confused. Many are deeply troubled—not just by his rhetoric and alliances, but by his ideas and the promises he has made. A small but vocal minority sees him differently, as a “progressive” champion and a voice for justice.
How syllabi shaped the Oct. 7 campus celebrations | Commentary
Two years ago, college students across America cheered as news emerged of the rape, torture, disfigurement, and slaughter of children, women, and men. Not in distant reaction to abstractions, but in real time, as the barbarism unfolded. They glorified mutilation. They celebrated kidnapping. They cheered mass murder as liberation. This remains one of the most indelible aspects of Oct.
The Blogs: Western Europe's Jewish Question
Eva Hoffman, the Polish-born writer best known for her memoir Lost in Translation, once observed that Eastern Europe was “imagined as inferior, obscure and altogether insignificant by the inhabitants of what was considered Europe tout court: Europe, which stood for civilization itself.” That prejudice still shapes how the continent sees itself. Western Europe casts itself as enlightened, modern, and civilized—but it faces a stark question today: can it still protect its Jews?
The Blogs: 6 Million Reasons to Thank Larry David
Much has been made about Holocaust illiteracy. Two-thirds of Millennials and Gen Z believe fewer than six million Jews were murdered, with over half thinking the toll was under two million. One in five New Yorkers believe Jews caused the Holocaust. While it’s easy to despair, it’s important to honor those selflessly carrying the torch of Holocaust remembrance forward. In particular: you, Larry David. Lesser comedians might toss off an occasional Hitler joke. Larry, you have made it a calling.
Harvard's response to Trump shows resistance, not leadership
When Harvard University refused to comply with federal demands to overhaul its admissions, hiring, curriculum and diversity policies, the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts while threatening to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and its ability to process visas for international students. The demands were framed as a campaign to combat antisemitism, elitism, and ideological orthodoxy.
Ukraine's Zelensky, a leader during war and peace
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Ukraine's Zelensky, a leader during war and peace - opinion
Great leadership is often defined by circumstance. A leader who thrives in chaos may falter in stability; one who rallies a nation in war may struggle to unify it in peace. The battlefield makes great heroes, but it does not always make great peacemakers. This pattern is not unique to our modern world – it is as old as leadership. Among the most enduring stories that capture this reality is that of King David, Israel’s biblical warrior-king.
Make Captain America Great Again
An all-too-familiar script is playing out again in the entertainment industry. While speaking to a European audience, the star of the new Marvel film “Captain America: Brave New World,” Anthony Mackie, remarked that honor, dignity, integrity — the values of his character, Captain America — shouldn’t be associated with America. His comments quickly ricocheted across social media and spread across news outlets.
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, looking for the righteous in Gaza | Opinion
International Holocaust Remembrance Day, observed Jan. 27, brings the weight of history, the horror of genocide, and a profound reckoning with the worst of human nature. Amid the great darkness of the Holocaust, there is always a sliver of hope and testament to the best in human nature — those individuals who risked everything to save Jews, defying unthinkable evil.
A Court of Convenience
This week the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes in Gaza. On the surface, this announcement projects an image of legal and moral seriousness. After all, the name “International Criminal Court” evokes an image of an impartial and authoritative global institution dedicated to justice. But even a cursory look closer reveals something far less impressive.
Kamala's electoral price was not choosing Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as VP - opinion
The Democratic Party must now decide whether to continue paying it through strategic missteps and moral ambiguity about virulently anti-Israel and antisemitic factions of its party. In the aftermath of Kamala Harris’s electoral defeat, Democratic strategists are busy dissecting the myriad reasons behind her loss.
Sidelining Josh Shapiro as VP cost Kamala Harris a lot
In the aftermath of Kamala Harris’ electoral defeat, Democratic strategists are busy dissecting the myriad reasons behind her loss. Among the most compelling — and contentious — explanations for Donald Trump’s decisive win is that Harris’ choice of running mate, Tim Walz, over Josh Shapiro, was a strategic misstep influenced by an undercurrent of anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment within certain Democratic factions.
One year after Oct. 7, Israel needs more than sympathy
Global reaction to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel split into two camps: sympathy and condemnation. Vigils were held worldwide, and leaders voiced their sorrow. Yet, these sentiments were quickly overshadowed by a surge of antisemitism. A year later, the divide remains. But Israel needs more than more sympathy. It needs understanding of the harsh realities it faces. Hamas and Hezbollah, backed by Iran, are committed to Israel’s destruction.
Queen Esther, Purim and the IDF
The Jewish holiday of Purim, starting Saturday evening, centers on the biblical Book of Esther. Set during the ancient Persian Empire, the story recounts how King Ahasuerus marries the beautiful Esther unaware of her Jewish identity. Haman, a wicked royal advisor, hatches a plot to have all Jews slaughtered in a one-day genocide, and convinces the king to agree. Esther discovers this plan and bravely reveals that she is Jewish. The king, furious with Haman, has him hanged.
Mazi’s Moment
Journalists like to put people in their place—that is, in a particular category. She is a feminist icon; he is a far-right firebrand. Mostly, we tend to go along with that, but it’s exciting when someone just can’t be “placed” and seems to offer something new and valuable. Such candidates offer us more “and” (i.e., rich complexity) and less “or” (i.e., binary “us/them” choices).
Palestine Will Never Be from the River to the Sea
When college students protest, they often do so with a naive conviction that they can make the world the way they think it should be by yelling at it. This can be an endearing—even admirable—rite of passage. But when college students en masse shout “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” it is something else—something dangerous and even deadly. Research has found that the majority of college students cannot accurately identify which “river” and what “sea” they are talking about.
U.S. and LI universities are hothouses of antisemitism ... again
In the early 20th century, German and Austrian universities changed from world-class centers of higher learning to hothouses of antisemitism. Jewish students were harassed and excluded. Professors taught texts full of antisemitic ideologies and tropes. Jewish students are confronting the same things today on campuses on Long Island and across the country. Some Jewish donors have told university presidents to fix their culture of hatred toward Jews or donations will end.
The ADL's Apathetic Allies
Many Jewish-Americans have had a nagging feeling since October 7 that many of the people and institutions we thought were steadfast allies are not speaking up against the explosion of Jew hate across our country. I feel that way. But feelings aren’t facts. So I went after some data to see whether or not it supported what I felt. First, I looked for recent Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Award winners. Second, I looked for what they have said or done about surging antisemitism.
‘Jew hate’ as a substitute for ‘antisemitism’?
I read a lot about antisemitism— as a professor researching prejudice, as a former fellow at a Holocaust memorial center, as a blogger for The Times of Israel, as the son of a Jewish father who was so grateful to get to live in the United States and as the father of a Jewish son in that same country, but with antisemitism on the rise. I’ve noticed a shift in what I’m reading.
OP-ED: Why I don’t love ‘Jew hate’ as a substitute for ‘antisemitism’ - Crescent City Jewish News
By TODD L. PITTINSKY (JTA) — I read a lot about antisemitism — as a professor researching prejudice, as a former fellow at a Holocaust memorial center, as a blogger for The Times of Israel, as the son of a Jewish father who was so grateful to get to live in the United States and as the father of a Jewish son in that same country, but with antisemitism on the rise. I’ve noticed a shift in what I’m reading.
Why I don't love 'Jew hate' as a substitute for 'antisemitism'
( JTA) - I read a lot about antisemitism - as a professor researching prejudice, as a former fellow at a Holocaust memorial center, as a blogger for The Times of Israel, as the son of a Jewish father who was so grateful to get to live in the United States and as the father of a Jewish son in that same country, but with antisemitism on the rise. I've noticed a shift in what I'm reading.
Why ‘Jew hate’ shouldn’t replace ‘antisemitism’ - Todd L. Pittinsky
JTA — I read a lot about antisemitism — as a professor researching prejudice, as a former fellow at a Holocaust memorial center, as a blogger for The Times of Israel, as the son of a Jewish father who was so grateful to get to live in the United States and as the father of a Jewish son in that same country, but with antisemitism on the rise. I’ve noticed a shift in what I’m reading.
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