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|birth_place = Buffalo, New York|nationality = American, Israeli|citizenship = Orthodox Judaism outreach>Jewish outreach, media coverage of the Arab-Israeli conflict|alma_mater = University of Texas at Austin|employer = Aish HaTorah|title = Rabbi|website = }}Shraga Simmons (born 1 July 1961) is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, journalist, filmmaker, brand builder and leader in Torah-themed marketing. He is the co-founder of Aish.com, the educational website and co-founder of HonestReporting, the pro-Israel media watch group. He is also founder and director of the online Torah academy JewishPathways.com.

Biography

Simmons was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism, he worked as a reporter for newspapers and magazines, specializing in entertainment. He led marketing campaigns for various politicians, entertainers and professional athletes. In 1994, he received rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He served three years as Director of Outreach for Aish HaTorah in Los Angeles.

Jewish education

He was a close student of Rabbi Noah Weinberg, served as his ghostwriter for 20 years, and co-authored the best-selling 48 Ways to Wisdom. In 1997, he was selected to run the Aish internet site, serving as editor for 25 years. He is often quoted as a rabbinical authority in print and online media.BOOK,weblink The Torture Debate in America, Greenberg, Karen J., 167, 2006, Cambridge University Press, 0-521-85792-9, WEB,weblink Rabbi's Sermons – Does Judaism Allow Cloning?, Mishkan Torah Synagogue, 9 February 2011, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110727085000weblink">weblink 27 July 2011, WEB,weblink Genesis Reads Like a Sibling Rivalry Primer, Kazilsky, Amy, 8 January 2009, 9 February 2011, Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110928054012weblink">weblink 28 September 2011, WEB,weblink Organ Donation, a Lifesaving Mitzvah: Beth Jacob Member Needs a Kidney, Memberg, Fran, Atlanta Jewish News, 9 February 2011, WEB,weblink Chosen Pets: May Fido have the lobster?, Haist, Paul, 15 November 2008, 9 February 2011, Jewish Review, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110107105246weblink">weblink 7 January 2011, He is author of: LifeWisdom Series; the Discovery Seminar sourcebook; "Ask the Rabbi" series featured on various websites;WEB,weblink Second Look, 2007, torah.org, 9 February 2011, courses on Brachot, Middot, Jewish History; "Shraga's Weekly" on Chumash; reporting for Ami magazine and Mishpacha magazine; and hundreds of essays on spirituality, translated into 10 languages.

Zionist activism

Simmons is an activist in matters regarding media bias relating to the Arab–Israeli conflict.WEB,weblink Gerstenfeld, Manfred, Green, Ben, Watching the Pro-Israel Media Watchers, Fall 2004, 9 February 2011, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, In 2000, he co-founded HonestReporting.com, the pro-Israel media watch group. In 2012, he authored David & Goliath, a study of Western media bias in coverage of the Arab–Israeli conflict. As a historical study of the years 2000–2011, the book is sourced with over 2,000 footnotes and includes statistical studies that claim to document a pervasive pro-Palestinian slant in the New York Times, CNN and much of the British media.BOOK, David & Goliath: The explosive inside story of media bias in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 978-0984039807, Simmons, Shraga, 2012, Emesphere, In 2006 he produced a short film "Photo Fraud in Lebanon" which became the first Jewish-themed video to register 5 million views.David House, "A Picture is Worth... Ah...", Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 27, 2006. In 2009 he produced a video which exposed glaring inconsistencies in media coverage of the Gaza flotilla raid.WEB,weblink U.S. Jews play 'historic role' in campaigning for Israel, Chottiner, Lee, 9 February 2011, The Jewish Chronicle of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, In 2012 he wrote, directed and produced a short Internet film, The Red Line, explaining the urgency of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}In 2017 he wrote, directed and produced Jerusalem: Unite or Divide?, a film and marketing campaign to promote the 50th anniversary of reunified Jerusalem.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Books

• BOOK,weblink David & Goliath: The Explosive Inside Story of Media Bias in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Emesphere, 2012, 978-0-9840398-0-7,
• BOOK, Thumbs Up!, stories and teachings of Rabbi Noah Weinberg and Rabbi Kalman Packouz, Shabbat Shalom, 2023, 978-0-9992880-2-3, .

Simmons has co-edited five collections of articles which originally appeared on Aish.com:

• BOOK,weblink 48 Ways to Wisdom, ArtScroll, 2017, 978-1-4226-1862-2,
• BOOK, Like Water on a Rock, ArtScroll, 2011, 978-1-4226-1175-3,
• BOOK,weblink Heaven on Earth: Down to earth Jewish spirituality, Targum Press, 2002, 1-56871-206-5,
• BOOK,weblink Israel: Life in the shadow of terror, Targum Press, 2003, 1-56871-237-5,
• BOOK,weblink Triumph: Inspiring true stories of challenge and spiritual growth, Targum Press, 2006, 1-56871-411-4,

Articles

• "Antisemitism and the Holocaust" in BOOK,weblink Jewish Matters: A Pocketbook of Knowledge and Inspiration, Kornbluth, Doron, 30–37, 1-56871-188-3, 1999, Targum/Feldheim in conjunction with Jewish Direct,

References

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External links

• David & Goliath: The Explosive Inside Story of Media Bias in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
• Red Line on Iran film
• Shraga Simmons website
• Shraga's Weekly commentary on the parsha
• List of articles by Simmons on Aish.com
• How Terrorists Manipulate the Media (video analysis by Shraga Simmons)

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