Louis Keene
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louiskeene.bsky.social
Louis Keene
@louiskeene.bsky.social
200 followers 67 following 96 posts
Covering the Jewish world for @forward.com | sometimes write about sports | Talk to me: keene at forward dot com
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louiskeene.bsky.social
The ADL, New York's Jewish Federation and its Board of Rabbis declined to congratulate Zohran Mamdani in their statements acknowledging his victory.

You know who did though? Bill Ackman!

forward.com/news/781402/...
Mamdani’s victory divides Jews one more way: Whether to say congratulations
Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the NYC mayor’s race was received coldly by the ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt and other Jewish institutions.
forward.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:41 AM
louiskeene.bsky.social
blogged about sandy koufax, clayton kershaw and a full-circle moment all of us deserved to see:
forward.com/news/sports/...
It’s so cool that Sandy Koufax was there for that
The legendary Dodger pitcher witnessed Clayton Kershaw's redemption and all 18 innings of a World Series game for the ages.
forward.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Louis Keene
manucleardevice.bsky.social
I hate to be such an old crank but there was literally a time where there was zero gambling content on sports television and now it is like 40% of the programming and anywhere from 5-30% of the actual screen space
October 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
When there’s a Jewish angle, it’s
never just a poker game.
forward.com/news/sports/...
Was Deni Avdija an unwitting victim of the NBA betting scandal?
Changes in Deni Avdija's playing time could be evidence of Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups' deeper involvement in a betting scandal.
forward.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:14 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
with "nobody wants this" returning to netflix today for season 2, i blogged about one giveaway of its hallmark-channel sensibility:
forward.com/culture/7777...
Nobody wants all those menorahs in 'Nobody Wants This,' do they?
There's just no reason 'Nobody Wants This,' which returns Thursday for Season 2, needs to have a menorah on display in every Jewish space.
forward.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:12 AM
louiskeene.bsky.social
I'm pleased to learn that the Clippers, tired of fending off allegations related to previous jersey sponsor Aspiration, have partnered with a new, totally uncontroversial entity going forward.
www.forbes.com/sites/shaney...
Visit Rwanda Expands To U.S. Sports With Clippers And Rams Sponsorships
Visit Rwanda becomes the first African tourism brand to sponsor NBA and NFL teams, joining the LA Clippers and Rams in a landmark partnership.
www.forbes.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:50 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
Is there a prefix that includes all kinds of "-washing"s (pinkwashing, greenwashing, sportswashing etc)? The best I can come up with is culturewashing but it's not exactly right.
September 25, 2025 at 10:48 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
I tried to explain why some in the Orthodox Jewish community have been treating Charlie Kirk like mashiach.
forward.com/news/770722/...
In Charlie Kirk, Orthodox Jews found a champion — and a wedge
Jewish conservatives — especially Orthodox Jews — saw Kirk as a good kind of crusader, even if Jews on the left were collateral damage.
forward.com
September 21, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Reposted by Louis Keene
louiskeene.bsky.social
Sometimes you write a story hoping it will change the world. Sometimes you just want to coin a term in the headline.
forward.com/fast-forward...
Is this hotel Elul-washing? A rabbi blows the whistle on Qatari High Holiday hosts
Rabbi Pini Dunner is petitioning a colleague to relocate High Holiday prayer services from a Beverly Hills hotel owned by Qatari sheikhs.
forward.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:58 AM
louiskeene.bsky.social
Sometimes you write a story hoping it will change the world. Sometimes you just want to coin a term in the headline.
forward.com/fast-forward...
Is this hotel Elul-washing? A rabbi blows the whistle on Qatari High Holiday hosts
Rabbi Pini Dunner is petitioning a colleague to relocate High Holiday prayer services from a Beverly Hills hotel owned by Qatari sheikhs.
forward.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:58 AM
louiskeene.bsky.social
I'm proud of @forward.com's coverage of the Charlie Kirk assassination and will thread a few of the follow-ups we have published so far on the national news story.

From @benyamincohen.bsky.social on perceptions of Kirk as a "martyr" and that debate's Jewish implications:
forward.com/news/769333/...
Was Charlie Kirk a martyr? Here’s why Christians are divided and Jews should care
Evangelical leaders are casting Charlie Kirk as a Christian martyr, while other pastors reject that framing, warning it deepens America’s divisions.
forward.com
September 15, 2025 at 7:22 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
This morning's palate cleanser is from @forward.com's Olivia Haynie, on the Jewishness of 'The Golden Girls': forward.com/culture/film...
Forty years later, we need 'The Golden Girls' now more than ever
'The Golden Girls' Jewish soul gave humor and heart to issues other shows refused to touch; its take on bigotry still rings true.
forward.com
September 15, 2025 at 5:11 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
There are now Charlie Kirk memorial yarmulkes being advertised on Instagram, underscoring the beatification of the right-wing activist in a large segment of the Jewish community.
September 12, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Reposted by Louis Keene
acarv.in
“It feels important for people to show what their politics are, especially as Jews, when the narrative is that Judaism is Zionism, Zionism is Judaism & Jews have loyalty to the state of Israel. I fully get why people want to say, like, No, not me, though.”
Via @louiskeene.bsky.social @forward.com
A new kaffiyeh policy is designed to help divided Jews pray together. Is this the Jewish future?
The traditional-egalitarian independent minyan movement is thriving in Brooklyn. But the war in Israel has put their values to the test.
forward.com
September 9, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Louis Keene
cwarzel.bsky.social
very clear that these ai enhance tools are a scourge
eliothiggins.bsky.social Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · Sep 11
The replies on X to the FBI's call for help IDing the Charlie Kirk shooting suspect is made up mainly of people either blaming trans people or doing shitty internet detective work. Also lots of terrible attempts to use LLMs to enhance the images.
September 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
I wrote about the growth, and growing pains, of traditional-egalitarian Judaism:
forward.com/news/767221/...
A new kaffiyeh policy is designed to help divided Jews pray together. Is this the Jewish future?
The traditional-egalitarian independent minyan movement is thriving in Brooklyn. But the war in Israel has put their values to the test.
forward.com
September 10, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Reposted by Louis Keene
rvbdrm.com
On Thursday, the Holocaust Museum LA posted “'Never again' can’t only mean never again for Jews” on instagram. It’s notable because they would be recognizing the genocide in Gaza.

Anyway, they pulled it down today saying, “we promise to do better.”
Instagram post from Holocaust Museum LA with six panels. Messages include: “‘Never again’ can’t only mean never again for Jews.” “Never again for anyone.” “Jews must not let past trauma silence our conscience.” “Standing with humanity honors our people.” “To be Jewish is to remember and to act.” holocaustmuseumla HOLOCAUST MUSEUM LA, THE FIRST SURVIVOR-FOUNDED AND OLDEST HOLOCAUST MUSEUM IN THE COUNTRY, IS COMMITTED TO ITS CORE MISSION TO EDUCATE, COMMEMORATE, AND INSPIRE. WE RECENTLY POSTED AN ITEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WAS PART OF A PRE-PLANNED SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN INTENDED TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY AND COMMUNITY THAT WAS EASILY OPEN TO MISINTERPRETATION BY SOME TO BE A POLITICAL STATEMENT REFLECTING THE ONGOING SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THAT WAS NOT OUR INTENT. IT HAS BEEN REMOVED TO AVOID ANY FURTHER CONFUSION. WE PROMISE TO DO BETTER AND WE WILL ENSURE THAT POSTS IN THE FUTURE ARE MORE THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED AND THOROUGHLY VETTED. WE HAVE TAKEN ACTIONS INTERNALLY TO ENSURE OUR MESSAGE ALWAYS REMAINS CLEAR AND REFLECTIVE OF OUR MISSION TO INSPIRE HUMANITY THROUGH TRUTH. 167 41 minutes ago
September 6, 2025 at 10:32 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
I blogged about Joe Sanberg, the prison-bound social justice entrepreneur at the center of the scandal embroiling the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard.

This marks (I think) a professional first for me – the reasonable inclusion of a Getty photo I appear in. Click to see it!
forward.com/fast-forward...
The fraudster at the center of an NBA scandal once proclaimed 'tzedek tzedek tirdof'
Revelations about corrupt investor Joe Sanberg could mean trouble for the Los Angeles Clippers and its owner, Steve Ballmer
forward.com
September 3, 2025 at 11:45 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
leave chris martin alone
forward.com/fast-forward...
Coldplay welcomed Israeli fans onstage ‘as equal humans.’ Why are some Jewish people mad?
Coldplay singer Chris Martin welcomed Israeli fans onstage then was criticized for also welcoming Palestinians.
forward.com
September 2, 2025 at 8:58 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
when you're searching getty images and see the one
September 2, 2025 at 8:07 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
I blogged about the Adam Friedland/Ritchie Torres interview — a sensational, longform encounter between an American Jewish critic of the war and one of its staunchest proponents.
forward.com/fast-forward...
‘Be a human being about this’: Ritchie Torres, Adam Friedland and a sensational confrontation over the Israel-Hamas War
Adam Friedland’s Ritchie Torres interview delivered a sensational exchange between an avowed Zionist and a Jewish critic of the war in Gaza.
forward.com
August 29, 2025 at 1:26 AM
louiskeene.bsky.social
Not mentioned in this story: A pair of Joshes currently run the Burnley midfield.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
It's the golden age of 'Josh'
In politics, sports and culture, Joshes are hot. It’s a sign of generational change.
www.nbcnews.com
August 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
I have blogged about Chet Holmgren's new nickname and the silly way he acquired it.
forward.com/news/sports/...
'What happened Chetanyahu?' NBA star sucked into Gaza culture wars over workout video
Chet Holmgren has been pejoratively nicknamed "Chetanyahu" after a video circulated of him practicing in a gym that hung Israeli flags.
forward.com
August 21, 2025 at 7:49 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
I genuinely do not get creating a musical using an actual victim of the Holocaust to parody wokeness in a moment when progressive ideology is being crushed and claims of antisemitism are not only contested but increasingly laughed at.
www.jta.org/2025/08/21/c...
'Anne Frank, Superstar'? A satirical musical reimagines the Holocaust victim as a symbol of wokeness. - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
"Slam Frank" — assuming it's real — turns Anne Frank's diary into a satire about the discourse around inclusivity.
www.jta.org
August 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
louiskeene.bsky.social
This letter is not only a rebuke of Israel's war in Gaza, though it certainly is that.

It is also a rejection of the prevailing, expansionist vision of Religious Zionism by rabbis who identify with that movement but not those ideas.
forward.com/fast-forward...
80 Modern Orthodox rabbis call for ‘moral clarity’ in the face of Gaza humanitarian crisis
“Hamas’s sins and crimes do not relieve the government of Israel of its obligations to make whatever efforts are necessary to prevent mass starvation,” the rabbis write.
forward.com
August 20, 2025 at 6:06 PM