O pinion
A Time of Transition, and Continuity
BY NAOMI ADLER
IN 2015, after the Jewish
Exponent went through a series
of significant changes, Joshua
Runyan was appointed editor-
in-chief. For Runyan, the job
was a natural fit, as he began
his journalism career years
before with the Exponent upon
his graduation from college.

the vibrancy and diversity of
our region’s Jewish life to the
Exponent’s pages.

Under his guidance, the edi-
torial section deeply engaged
our readership and encour-
aged passionate responses,
with fresh commentary that
tackled everything from the
U.S.-Israel relationship to the
opioid epidemic to local zon-
ing laws. During his tenure,
Runyan made sure readers
were up to speed on issues
affecting their day-to-day lives,
always capturing the unique
intersection between Jewish
and Philadelphia life.

The Exponent is the sec-
ond-oldest continuously pub-
lished Jewish weekly in the
United States, and in its 131
years of existence it has not
as publisher, while the editorial
team will continue to report on
pertinent Jewish Federation and
community news and events
to keep the audience engaged
and informed.

As we wish Runyan well as he
prepares for the next step in his
career, we are incredibly grate-
ful that two years ago he hired
reporter and editor Liz Spikol.

Spikol, a lifelong Phila-
delphian with an extensive
and estimable local journalism
career, will take over as editor-
in-chief beginning with next
week’s issue. We expect she will
bring a new perspective, energy
and excitement while maintain-
ing the fresh and original con-
tent that Exponent readers are
now accustomed to.

I encourage everyone to
Whether you enjoy opinion pieces or news features, or recipes or
engagement announcements, the Exponent will remain your go-to place
for “what it means to be Jewish in Philadelphia.”
A native Philadelphian,
Runyan had a great perspective
and impeccable credentials to
spearhead the Exponent’s next
editorial chapter.

Over the last four years,
with Runyan’s leadership and a
renewed focus on reader input,
we have seen our cherished
community paper flourish and
prosper. Through thought-
ful crafting of breaking news
coverage and local commu-
nity profiles, Runyan brought
missed delivery of a single
issue. The changing of an edi-
tor will not deter the Exponent
from remaining the essential
source for Jewish news source
in our region.

Whether you enjoy opin-
ion pieces or news features,
or recipes or engagement
announcements, the Exponent
will remain your go-to place
for “what it means to be Jewish
in Philadelphia.” The Jewish
Federation will continue to serve
continue to read the paper
each week and engage with
the Exponent online at jew-
ishexponent.com, while also
following the paper on social
media for the most up-to-date
content. Josh, thank you for your
time and dedication, and Liz,
welcome to your new role. l
Naomi Adler is the president and
CEO of the Jewish Federation of
Greater Philadelphia.

KVETCH ’N KVELL
Agreeing to Agree, and Disagree
I AGREE WITH the authors of a recent article that tikkun
olamism, the exclusive focus by liberal Jews on repairing the
world via social justice as the totality of their Judaism, evinces an
existential threat to the Jewish people (“Tikkun Olam: A Return
to Our True Mission,” Jan. 31). I also agree with the authors that
those congregants of Beit Tikkun Olam should recognize the
state of Israel for what it is — a not-perfect-but-much-better-
than-average country when it comes to their secular religion’s
core tenets: free speech, free press, religious freedom, women’s
rights, gay rights, minority rights, an independent judiciary,
public education, economic freedom and on and on.

But for us Jews who believe that there is no creator of the
universe, and for our fellow Jews who at least do not believe that
the God of Moses commanded the Jewish people to obey His
commandments, the challenge is to figure out what in Judaism is
the baby and what is the bathwater.

Unfortunately, for some of us, the closer we look, the more
bathwater we see. As a result, my fellow liberal Jews have grasped
onto tikkun olam as a lifesaver thrown to someone who has fallen
overboard into the Sea of Reasonable Doubt.

Tikkun olamism is just a symptom of the real existential
threat to the Jewish people: disbelief.

Steve Mendelsohn | Penn Valley
Searching for Jewish View
I don’t get it (“Listen Now, Rather Than Planning for the Future,”
Feb. 14).

Your publication is the Jewish Exponent. But Dave Anderson’s
opinion piece could easily have appeared in a general circulation
publication. It possessed no distinctive Jewish angle or content.

Why devote your precious/limited print space to information
which could easily appear elsewhere? l
Jesse H. Wohlberg | Philadelphia
Statement From the Publisher
We are a diverse community. The views expressed in the opinion columns and letters
published in the Jewish Exponent are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect
the views of the officers and boards of the Jewish Publishing Group and/or the Jewish
Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Send letters to letters@jewishexponent.com or fax to
215-569-3389. Letters should be a maximum of 200 words and may be edited for clarity
and brevity. Unsigned letters will not be published.

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