for Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Welcome, visitor! Here's a digest of what's been published in Jewish media over the last day. JL;DR members have access to summaries of everything plus our full archive. Donate & start reading »

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Antisemitism

The answer to antisemitism is more Judaism.

Rabbi Steven Abraham in Future of Jewish

Rabbi Steven Abraham reflects on the lessons following a violent attack on Temple Israel in Michigan, urging that Judaism's response to antisemitism be one of increased visibility and pride, rather than retreat.

0 Jewish Law History

Meiri, Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik, and the Yerushalmi

Michael Broyde in Lehrhaus

Michael Broyde reflects on his time as a student of Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik, highlighting their study of the Talmud Yerushalmi.

Culture ›

0 Culture Jewish Law

This LoveShackFancy Family Bat Mitzvah Featured a Custom Torah Cover and Tallit

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Rebecca Hessel Cohen, founder of the popular fashion brand LoveShackFancy, crafted a whimsical and vibrant bat mitzvah celebration for her daughter, Scarlett, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

0 Culture Jewish Law

Alicia Jo Rabins on Biblical Women and Memoir

Eleanor J. Bader in Lilith

Alicia Jo Rabins, a multifaceted creative and scholar, uses her memoir "When We're Born We Forget Everything" to explore reconnections with spiritual and biblical history amidst modern struggles.

0 Culture Ethics

Family First Inbox: Issue 986

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Readers of Mishpacha Magazine’s ‘Family First’ sections explore sensitive topics around personal struggles and societal expectations.

0 Culture Jewish Law

Don’t Pass Over the Chance

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr emphasizes the unique potential of Passover Seders for fostering personal growth and building connections, especially with those who might not share similar Jewish beliefs or practices.

0 Culture Education

Ideas Make a Difference

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Jonathan Haidt's book, "The Anxious Generation," exemplifies the profound impact ideas can have on society, inciting significant policy changes around the globe.

0 Culture Education

I’m tutoring my mom for her bat mitzvah. It’s a joy to learn and grow together.

Zack Leitner in JTA

Zack Leitner shares his unique experience of tutoring his mother for her bat mitzvah, showcasing the deep personal and intergenerational connections fostered through shared Jewish learning.

Politics ›

0 Politics Antisemitism

Trump’s counterterrorism director resigns over Iran, blasting ‘war manufactured by Israel’

Andrew Lapin in JTA

Joe Kent, the director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, has stepped down, voicing concerns over the Iran war and alleging that Israel and its American lobby manipulated the U.S. into the conflict.

0 Politics Israel

Israelis and Americans deserve to know why they are still at war

Dan Perry in Forward

As conflict with Iran escalates, both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump have failed to articulate clear objectives for their citizens, fostering mistrust and suspicion in both countries.

0 Politics Antisemitism

German antisemitism commissioner quits far‑left party over anti-Israel resolution

Toby Axelrod in JTA

Andreas Büttner, the antisemitism commissioner for Brandenburg in Germany, resigned from the far-left Die Linke party following a resolution condemning Israel passed by the party's youth delegation in Lower Saxony.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Joe Kent, Trump official with white supremacist ties, resigns over Iran war and blames Israel

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward

Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned amid controversy over his claims that Israel had manipulated President Trump into the current U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.

0 Politics Culture

Gaza looms over St. Patrick’s Day in NYC, as Mamdani praises Ireland’s pro-Palestinian president

New York Jewish Week Staff in JTA

Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked his first St. Patrick's Day in office by highlighting connections between Irish and Palestinian struggles, hosting Ireland's former president Mary Robinson to discuss her pro-Palestinian stance.

0 Politics Israel

Left-wing media want the Islamic dictatorship to win.

Vanessa Berg in Future of Jewish

Vanessa Berg criticizes left-wing media for allegedly supporting Iranian narratives against Israel, arguing that outlets like CNN and The New York Times undermine Israel while downplaying Iran's aggressive actions.

0 Politics Israel

Is Netanyahu dead? Has Tel Aviv been flattened? AI videos are dominating the Iran war.

Grace Gilson in Forward

Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, misinformation and AI-generated deepfakes have proliferated, causing confusion and fueling conspiracy theories.

0 Politics Israel

As philanthropists gather in San Diego, Israel’s first responders face a growing trauma epidemic

eJewishPhilanthropy

In San Diego, Jewish philanthropists gathered to discuss Israel's future, focusing on the growing trauma epidemic affecting Israeli first responders and soldiers.

0 Politics Israel

Is Netanyahu dead? Has Tel Aviv been flattened? AI videos are dominating the Iran war.

JTA

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the center of a misinformation storm after Iranian state media circulated false claims of his death, prompting him to produce videos disproving the rumors.

0 Politics Antisemitism

A Murder Brings the Left One Step Closer to Power in France

Marc Weitzmann in Tablet

Marc Weitzmann explores the turbulent and contentious political landscape in France, focusing on the rise of the far-left and far-right extremism in Lyon, France.

0 Politics Communities

As war wages in Iran, Justice Dept. reaches ceasefire with Tehran-backed network in Manhattan

Will Bredderman in Jewish Insider

In a confidential settlement with significant implications, the U.S. Justice Department dismantled the Alavi Foundation, a New York-based organization alleged to have ties with the Iranian government and involved in activities against American and Israeli interests.

0 Politics Israel

Illinois primary pits Jewish candidate with deep Israel ties against AIPAC spending

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

Daniel Biss, the Jewish mayor of Evanston, Illinois, and a congressional candidate, finds himself embroiled in a contentious primary, facing nearly $6 million in attack ads from an AIPAC-aligned super PAC.

0 Politics Israel

What to know about AIPAC’s role in Illinois’ primaries, where it boosted a candidate who accused Israel of genocide

Andrew Lapin in JTA

The article examines AIPAC's financial influence during Illinois congressional primaries, highlighting its support for candidates with diverse views on Israel, including those critical of its policies.

0 Politics Israel

Report: Israeli group quietly organized charter flights evacuating Palestinians from Gaza

Grace Gilson in JTA

An investigation by the Associated Press reveals that the Israeli right-wing organization Ad Kan, led by activist Gilad Ach, organized charter flights for the evacuation of Palestinians from Gaza to countries like Indonesia and South Africa.

Communities ›

0 Communities Education

The Queen of Gateshead Seminary

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Rebbetzin Chaya Gitta Miller reflects on her late husband, Rabbi Mordechai Miller ztzl, and the significant impact he made in Gateshead, UK, through the Gateshead Seminary.

0 Communities Education

The Moment: Issue 1104

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

The article highlights two compelling narratives.

0 Communities Politics

A government takeover could save a struggling Brooklyn hospital — while unsettling the Orthodox Jewish community it serves

Hannah Feuer in Forward

The future of Maimonides Medical Center, a vital healthcare institution for Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish community, hangs in the balance as the city steps in to manage its financial distress.

Torah ›

0 Torah Philosophy

Parshas Vayikra: 5786

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr reflects on Parshas Vayikra and the nuances in its language, emphasizing the small alef in "Vayikra" as a reminder of divine intervention in everyday life.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Politics

Dueling letters from Jewish groups dispute prevalence of antisemitism at UCLA

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward

A contentious debate has erupted at UCLA regarding claims of antisemitism, with over 100 Jewish faculty members disputing a lawsuit by the Trump administration alleging that the university fosters a hostile environment for Jewish employees.

History ›

0 History Holocaust

An astonishing history of wartime Berlin that reads like a thriller

Julia M. Klein in Forward

Ian Buruma's book, "Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939-1945," delivers a gripping cultural and social history of Berlin during WWII, highlighting the moral complexities faced by those living under the Nazi regime.

Ethics ›

0 Ethics Holidays

Certainly It Falls

Leah Koenig in Jewish Table

Leah Koenig reflects on the darkness and light that nations experience, especially during times of conflict and moral crisis.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Antisemitism

Louis Theroux's Netflix documentary on the manosphere takes a detour into antisemitism

Mira Fox in Forward

In a new Netflix documentary, Louis Theroux delves into the misogynistic "manosphere," where extremist online personalities promote traditional gender roles and often fringe beliefs, sometimes veering into antisemitism.

Sports ›

0 Sports Culture

In a first, NBA game features 3 Israelis — Deni Avdija, Danny Wolf and Ben Saraf

Gabe Friedman in JTA

The Barclays Center in Brooklyn was abuzz with excitement as it hosted a historic NBA game featuring three Israeli players: Deni Avdija, Danny Wolf, and Ben Saraf.

Holocaust ›

0 Holocaust Education

German school named for Albanian who saved Jews sends students to Tirana for Holocaust remembrance

Larry Luxner in JTA

In a poignant commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day, students from a Berlin high school, named after Albanian rescuer Refik Veseli, visited Tirana, Albania.

Israel ›

0 Israel Politics

Jews everywhere are missing the point about Israel.

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Joshua Hoffman argues that Jews worldwide may be overlooking Israel's broader role in protecting Jewish communities globally, particularly through intelligence operations by the Mossad.

Leadership ›

0 Leadership Communities

The moment for systemic change: Andrés Spokoiny’s address to JFN 2025

eJewishPhilanthropy

Andrés Spokoiny delivers a compelling call for systemic change within Jewish philanthropy, focusing on how unfreezing moments, like crises, present unique opportunities for transformation.

0 Leadership Philosophy

A window for systemic change: Andrés Spokoiny’s address to JFN 2026

eJewishPhilanthropy

Andrés Spokoiny, in his address to JFN 2026, advocates for leveraging periods of societal "unfreezing" to effect systemic change within the Jewish community and beyond.

JL;DR

for Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Jewish Law ›

Culture ›

Politics ›

Communities ›

Torah ›

Antisemitism ›

History ›

Ethics ›

Television/Film ›

Sports ›

Holocaust ›

Israel ›

Leadership ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

March 18's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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Jewish Law ›

Culture ›

Politics ›

Communities ›

Torah ›

Antisemitism ›

History ›

Ethics ›

Television/Film ›

Sports ›

Holocaust ›

Israel ›

Leadership ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

March 18's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Wednesday, March 18, 2026