# Bethany Mandel

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American conservative commentator

Bethany Mandel Born Bethany Ann Horowitz 1986 (age 39–40) Education Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BA) Spouse Seth Mandel Children 6

**Bethany Shondark Mandel**[1] (born **Bethany Ann Horowitz**) is an American [conservative](/source/Conservatism_in_the_United_States) columnist and political commentator. She is a contributor to the *[New York Post](/source/New_York_Post)* and *[Washington Examiner](/source/Washington_Examiner)*, and is known for her writings on culture, education, and family policy from a right-wing perspective. Mandel was listed among *[The Jewish Week](/source/The_Jewish_Week)*'s "36 under 36" in 2013 and *[The Forward](/source/The_Forward)*'s "Forward 50" in 2015.[2] In 2019, the [Jewish Telegraphic Agency](/source/Jewish_Telegraphic_Agency) named her one of "50 Jews everyone should follow on [Twitter](/source/Twitter)."[3]

## Early life and education

Mandel was raised primarily by her mother[1] in the [Rochester, New York](/source/Rochester%2C_New_York), area,[4] and has described experiencing periods of poverty during her childhood.[5] Her family relied on government assistance programs including "[welfare](/source/Social_welfare), [Medicaid](/source/Medicaid), and [food stamps](/source/Supplemental_Nutrition_Assistance_Program)."[6][*[non-primary source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research#Primary,_secondary_and_tertiary_sources)*] Her mother died of [lupus](/source/Lupus) when Mandel was 16.[7] At age 18, she changed her surname to her mother's [maiden name](/source/Maiden_and_married_names), Murphy, becoming Bethany Shondark Murphy.[1][5] Her father, who struggled with [opioid](/source/Opioid) addiction, died by suicide when she was 19.[5][8][9][*[non-primary source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research#Primary,_secondary_and_tertiary_sources)*]

Mandel graduated from [Rutgers University](/source/Rutgers_University) in 2008 with a [BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) in history and [Jewish studies](/source/Jewish_studies).[2]

## Career

### Early work

After university, Mandel moved to [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), working for the [Washington Hebrew Congregation](/source/Washington_Hebrew_Congregation) while seeking a role in conservative politics.[1] She subsequently spent a year in [Cambodia](/source/Cambodia) teaching fifth grade at the Jay Pritzker Academy near [Siem Reap](/source/Siem_Reap).[1]

Returning to Washington, D.C. in 2010, she pursued an [Orthodox](/source/Orthodox_Judaism) [conversion to Judaism](/source/Conversion_to_Judaism).[4] Her professional work in the conservative sphere began with a fundraising and writing position at [The Heritage Foundation](/source/The_Heritage_Foundation), followed by a role as a marketer, editor, and blogger for *[Commentary](/source/Commentary_(magazine))* magazine. In 2013, *[The Jewish Week](/source/The_Jewish_Week)* named her one of its "36 under 36" for her role in reinvigorating Jewish public life.[10]

Since 2013, she has worked primarily as a freelance writer and commentator, balancing her career with raising her children at home.[11]

### Writing and commentary

Mandel's commentary frequently addresses education, parenting, and cultural issues from a conservative standpoint. She is a regular contributor to the *[New York Post](/source/New_York_Post)* and *[Washington Examiner](/source/Washington_Examiner)*.

In 2023, she co-authored the book *Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation* with Karol Markowicz, which critiques progressive ideologies in education and culture.

### Public controversies

#### "Woke" definition

On March 14, 2023, during an interview on *[Rising](/source/Rising_(web_series))*, Mandel struggled to provide a concise definition of the term "[woke](/source/Woke)," a central concept in her then-new book. The awkward exchange, where she stated, "This is going to be one of those moments that goes [viral](/source/Viral_video)," quickly circulated on social media and news outlets.[12][13]

In a subsequent *[Newsweek](/source/Newsweek)* op-ed, she criticized the interview's tone and offered her definition: "a radical belief system suggesting that our institutions are built around discrimination, and claiming that all disparity is a result of that discrimination. It seeks a radical redefinition of society in which equality of group result is the end point, enforced by an angry mob."[14]

#### COVID-19 pandemic remarks

During the [COVID-19 pandemic in the United States](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States), Mandel was a vocal critic of prolonged lockdowns and school closures. In a May 2020 tweet, she wrote: "You can call me a Grandma killer. I'm not sacrificing my home, food on the table, all of our docs and dentists, every form of pleasure (museums, zoos, restaurants), all my kids' teachers in order to make other people comfortable. If you want to stay locked down, do. I'm not."[15] She has also consistently opposed mask mandates for children.[16]

### "Heroes of Liberty" book series

Mandel is the editor of the "Heroes of Liberty" series, a line of children's biographies featuring conservative figures. The books are marketed as an alternative to mainstream children's publishing, deliberately omitting content on topics like [LGBTQ](/source/LGBTQ) identities that might conflict with conservative values.[16]

In January 2022, a [Facebook](/source/Facebook) advertising account for the series was temporarily banned for violating "Low Quality or Disruptive Content" policies, a move Facebook later called a "mistake." The ban drew criticism from conservative commentators and politicians, including Senator [Ted Cruz](/source/Ted_Cruz).[17][18] Mandel has accused the [Scholastic Corporation](/source/Scholastic_Corporation) of indoctrinating children by distributing books with themes of race, sexuality, and [anti-Americanism](/source/Anti-Americanism) through school book fairs.[19]

### Political activism and school board campaign

Mandel has been involved in local education politics. In November 2023, she was a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the [Montgomery County school board](/source/Montgomery_County_Public_Schools_(Maryland)), alleging she was improperly barred from a school board meeting as a member of the media.[20]

In February 2024, she filed to run for the 4th district seat on the Montgomery County Board of Education.[21] Her platform emphasized refocusing on academics, reinstating school resource officers, and allowing homeschooled children access to public school extracurricular activities.[22] She pledged to recuse herself from matters related to her pending lawsuit if elected.[23] In the May 2024 primary, she received 23.4% of the vote, placing third and not advancing.[24]

## Political views

Mandel's commentary aligns with mainstream [American conservatism](/source/American_conservatism), emphasizing limited government, traditional family structures, and skepticism of progressive social policies.

On U.S. refugee policy, she expressed concern in 2015 about the resettlement of [Syrian refugees](/source/Refugees_of_the_Syrian_civil_war) in [Highland Park](/source/Highland_Park%2C_New_Jersey), New Jersey, arguing that inadequate support could lead to radicalization.[25][26] In 2021, however, she criticized the [Biden administration](/source/Biden_administration) for what she perceived as a slow and disorganized effort to resettle [refugees from Afghanistan](/source/Afghan_refugees).[27]

## Personal life

Mandel, born to a [Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) mother and a [Jewish](/source/Jews) father, underwent an [Orthodox conversion](/source/Orthodox_Judaism) under Rabbi [Barry Freundel](/source/Barry_Freundel) in 2011 to secure universally recognized Jewish status.[4][2] She has stated that she left [Reform Judaism](/source/Reform_Judaism), which she grew up in, due to its alignment with liberal politics.[28]

In 2014, she learned Freundel had secretly filmed her and other women during conversion rituals.[4][29] In response, she wrote a widely shared "Convert Bill of Rights" and served on a [Rabbinical Council of America](/source/Rabbinical_Council_of_America) (RCA) committee reviewing conversion procedures.[30] Disillusioned by what she saw as the RCA's reluctance to implement substantive reforms, she resigned from the committee and temporarily withdrew from Orthodox institutions before later joining a synagogue in [Kemp Mill](/source/Kemp_Mill%2C_Maryland), Maryland.[5][28] Her advocacy led to her inclusion in [*The* *Forward*](/source/The_Forward)'s "Forward 50" list in 2015.[31]

She is married to commentator [Seth Mandel](/source/Seth_Mandel), and they have six children.[32]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-twitteroftheweek_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-twitteroftheweek_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-twitteroftheweek_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-twitteroftheweek_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-twitteroftheweek_1-4) ["Twitter Personality of the Week #17: 10 Questions for Bethany Shondark Murphy (@bethanyshondark)"](https://glenlasbury.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/twitter-personality-of-the-week-17-10-questions-for-bethany-shondark-murphy-bethanyshondark/). December 6, 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Rutgersalum_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Rutgersalum_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Rutgersalum_2-2) Reed, Esther (April 6, 2016). ["Rutgers Hillel honors legacy, leaders, rising stars at gala"](http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/outreach/caring-communities/2016/06/02/legacy-leaders-rising-stars-honored/85289768/). *My Central Jersey*. Retrieved August 9, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["The 50 Jews everyone should follow on Twitter"](https://www.jta.org/2019/01/03/culture/50-jews-to-follow-on-twitter). [Jewish Telegraphic Agency](/source/Jewish_Telegraphic_Agency). January 3, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Washingtonian_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Washingtonian_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Washingtonian_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Washingtonian_4-3) Jaffe, Harry (January 3, 2016). ["The Devastating Story of Washington's Peeping-Tom Rabbi"](https://washingtonian.com/2016/01/03/washington-dc-peeping-rabbi-barry-freundel-voyeurism-case/). *[Washingtonian](/source/Washingtonian_(magazine))*. Retrieved August 9, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_5-3) Kampeas, Ron (July 9, 2020). ["Bethany Mandel will not be canceled"](https://www.jta.org/2020/07/09/politics/bethany-mandel-will-not-be-canceled). [Jewish Telegraphic Agency](/source/Jewish_Telegraphic_Agency). Retrieved July 9, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Tweet by Bethany Mandel"](https://twitter.com/bethanyshondark/status/243171279862108161). Retrieved March 21, 2023 – via Twitter.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Mandel, Bethany (December 28, 2012). ["Remembering My Mom: Vera J. Murphy 1956–2002"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170811054928/https://bethanyshondark.com/2012/12/28/remembering-my-mom-vera-j-murphy-1956-2002/). *Kosher Girl in a Bacon World*. Archived from [the original](https://bethanyshondark.com/2012/12/28/remembering-my-mom-vera-j-murphy-1956-2002/) on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Mandel, Bethany (September 13, 2012). ["Seven Years Later"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170811054926/https://bethanyshondark.com/2012/09/13/seven-years-later/). *Kosher Girl in a Bacon World*. Archived from [the original](https://bethanyshondark.com/2012/09/13/seven-years-later/) on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Mandel, Bethany S. (August 1, 2017). ["My dad committed suicide in 2009, addicted to opioid painkillers. I don't talk about him much, here or in real life"](https://twitter.com/bethanyshondark/status/892440193810255872). *@bethanyshondark*. Retrieved August 9, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-JewishWeek_10-0)** ["Bethany Mandel, 27"](https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/bethany-mandel-27/). *Jewish Week*. Retrieved August 9, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NBCnews_11-0)** Mandel, Bethany (April 19, 2018). ["Tammy Duckworth's Senate vote with a baby in tow is a model of accommodation for working mothers"](https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/tammy-duckworth-s-senate-vote-baby-tow-model-accommodation-working-ncna867611). *[NBC Think](/source/NBC_Think)*. I have balanced full-time, stay-at-home motherhood alongside a writing career for almost five years (and I'm not unique in that). I have brought my children to interviews, to speaking engagements and on work trips. I've nursed a baby during a live video interview that began later than anticipated (which would otherwise have fallen during a nap time), I've bounced a baby in a baby carrier while giving testimony in open court. In the background of almost every single work-related call is the sound of children laughing, arguing and, sometimes, both.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Shapero, Julia (March 15, 2023). ["Conservative author Bethany Mandel struggles to come up with definition of 'woke'"](https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/3901688-conservative-author-bethany-mandel-struggles-to-come-up-with-definition-of-woke/). *The Hill*. Retrieved December 15, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Thakker, Prem; Otten, Tori (November 1, 2022). ["A Viral Moment on the Definition of "Woke" Reveals All You Need to Know About the Right's Attacks"](https://newrepublic.com/post/171184/bethany-mandel-viral-moment-definition-woke). *The New Republic*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0028-6583](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0028-6583). Retrieved December 15, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:2_14-0)** Mandel, Bethany (March 17, 2023). ["I was asked to define woke. My humiliation went viral"](https://www.newsweek.com/define-woke-bethany-mandel-conservative-book-1788538). *Newsweek*. Retrieved December 15, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["'You can call me a grandma killer,' opponent of lockdown says, and social media obliges"](https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2020/05/you-can-call-me-a-grandma-killer-opponent-of-lockdown-says-and-social-media-obliges.html). *[The Star-Ledger](/source/The_Star-Ledger)*. May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NYT_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NYT_16-1) Hounshell, Blake; Askarinam, Leah (February 3, 2022). ["'Daddy, What's an Originalist?'"](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/us/politics/bethany-mandel-conservative-childrens-books.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved February 3, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Contreras, Russell (February 9, 2022). ["Conservative children's book startup release works on John Wayne, Amy Coney Barrett"](https://www.axios.com/children-books-focusing-on-conservative-icons-6a945b7f-13b5-495b-8f66-4e96166e705c.html). *[Axios](/source/Axios_(website))*. Retrieved February 9, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Barrabi, Thomas (January 4, 2022). ["Facebook restores conservative book publisher's account after 'error'"](https://nypost.com/2022/01/04/facebook-reinstates-conservative-heroes-of-liberty-account/). *[The New York Post](/source/The_New_York_Post)*. Retrieved February 17, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** O'Neil, Tyler (February 13, 2022). ["Conservative publisher Heroes of Liberty takes aim at the Scholastic 'Woketopus'"](https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/conservative-heroes-liberty-scholastic-woketopus). *[Fox Business](/source/Fox_Business)*. Retrieved February 17, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Konieczny, Rachel (November 14, 2023). ["Pair sue over denied access to Montgomery County school board meeting on LGBTQ-themed books"](https://thedailyrecord.com/2023/11/14/pair-sue-after-being-denied-access-to-montgomery-co-school-board-meeting-on-lgbtq-themed-books/). *Maryland Daily Record*. Retrieved February 13, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Pollak, Suzanne (February 10, 2024). ["At Filing Deadline, Here Are the School Board Candidates"](https://www.mymcmedia.org/at-filing-deadline-here-are-the-school-board-candidates/). *Montgomery Community Media*. Retrieved February 13, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Issues"](https://www.bethany4boe.com/issues). *Bethany Mandel*. Retrieved February 13, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["FAQ"](https://www.bethany4boe.com/faq). *Bethany Mandel*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Unofficial 2024 Presidential Primary Election Results for Montgomery County"](https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2024/primary_results/gen_results_2024_by_county_16.html). Retrieved June 12, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Yi, Karen (November 23, 2015). ["NJ religious leaders: We must accept Syrian refugees"](https://www.app.com/story/news/world/2015/11/23/religious-leaders-we-must-accept-syrian-refugees/76109348/). *[Asbury Park Press](/source/Asbury_Park_Press)*. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/archive/Id2qQ) from the original on May 12, 2026. Retrieved November 19, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Amaral, Brian (November 24, 2015). ["Highland Park clergy press for 'open doors' to refugees"](https://www.nj.com/middlesex/2015/11/syrian_refugees_frank_pallone_highland_park_event.html). *[NJ.com](/source/NJ.com)*. Retrieved November 19, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Mandel, Bethany (September 2, 2021). ["Opinion: When Biden dropped the ball in Afghanistan, America showed up"](https://www.deseret.com/2021/9/2/22654400/the-swamp-of-washington-showed-its-best-colors-getting-people-out-of-afghanistan). *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. Retrieved November 19, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_28-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_28-1) ["Bethany S. Mandel: Jews without Community"](https://18forty.org/podcasts/bethany-s-mandel/). *18Forty* (Podcast). Retrieved November 16, 2020.[*[time needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#Sound_recordings)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** Heilman, Uriel (October 21, 2014). ["Converts say Freundel's abuse of power extended beyond mikvah peeping"](https://www.jta.org/2014/10/21/news-opinion/united-states/freundels-abuse-of-power-extended-beyond-mikvah-peeping-1). Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved August 9, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_30-0)** ["RCA sets panel to review conversion process in wake of Freundel scandal"](https://www.jta.org/2014/10/29/news-opinion/united-states/rca-forms-committee-to-review-conversion-process-in-wake-of-freundel-scandal). *[Jewish Telegraphic Agency](/source/Jewish_Telegraphic_Agency)*. October 29, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Forward50_31-0)** ["Bethany Mandel"](http://forward.com/series/forward-50/2015/bethany-mandel/). *The Forward*. Retrieved August 9, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:4_32-0)** Graham, Jennifer (October 27, 2021). ["Meet the couple out to convince you to have more kids"](https://www.deseret.com/2021/10/27/22716444/meet-bethany-and-seth-mandel-the-d-c-power-couple-out-to-popularize-big-family-conservative-liberal). *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. Retrieved November 18, 2021.

## External links

- [Substack blog: The Mom Wars](https://themomwars.substack.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bethany Mandel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethany_Mandel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethany_Mandel?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.