for Thursday, March 5, 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 »

Israel ›

0 Israel Culture

Shower, shelter, swipe: Israel’s ‘startup nation’ meets Iran war with a wave of apps

Philissa Cramer in JTA

During the ongoing conflict with Iran, Israeli civilians have increasingly relied on smartphones for safety and social interactions.

Leadership ›

0 Leadership Education

Andrea Weiss, trailblazing Reform rabbi who merged scholarship and activism, dies at 60

Grace Gilson in JTA

Rabbi Andrea Weiss was a pioneering figure in the Reform Jewish movement, recognized as the first woman to ordain rabbis in this tradition.

0 Leadership Jewish Law

The rabbis we need now

eJewishPhilanthropy

As the Jewish landscape evolves, traditional roles of rabbis are shifting to meet the needs of a post-congregational era.

Music ›

0 Music Culture

Jewish Music Legend Neil Sedaka Was a Mensch and an Amazing Grandfather

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Neil Sedaka, the Jewish music legend known for hits like "Calendar Girl" and "Laughter in the Rain," passed away at 86.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Communities

Jewish artist expelled from Argentinian street fair after dispute over Palestinian flag: ‘Zionists out’

Juan Melamed in JTA

A Jewish artist named Karina was forced to leave a street fair in Buenos Aires amid aggressive chants from fellow vendors after she requested the removal of a Palestinian flag, citing its support for terrorism.

0 Antisemitism Politics

How Germany’s unusual approach to fighting antisemitism is ensnaring Jews who are critical of Israel

Shira Li Bartov in JTA

Germany's efforts to combat antisemitism have recently attracted criticism for how they handle pro-Palestinian demonstrations, even when led by Jews critical of Israeli policies.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Berlin groups received $3M to fight antisemitism. What happened to that money?

Shira Bartov in Forward

The Berlin branch of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is under investigation for allegedly misallocating $3 million meant to combat antisemitism.

0 Antisemitism Communities

Toronto synagogue hit by gunfire hours after Purim event

Joseph Strauss in JTA

Temple Emanu-El, a Reform synagogue in Toronto, was targeted by gunfire shortly after hosting a Purim event, with no injuries reported despite 20 shots fired.

Culture ›

0 Culture Jewish Law

Pink’s Daughter Willow Wears Jewish Star Necklace During ‘Kelly Clarkson Show’ Performance

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Pink's daughter, Willow Sage Hart, showed off her Jewish pride by wearing a Star of David necklace during a performance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

0 Culture Television/Film

Why the loudest Jewish celebrity voices are not always the most influential

Benyamin Cohen in Forward

The article explores the influence of Jewish celebrities in promoting Jewish solidarity and cultural awareness.

0 Culture History

Life Making Sense

Carol Ann Schwartz in Hadassah

The article explores the intertwining of joy and sorrow in Jewish history and tradition, exemplified through holidays like Purim, Passover, and Yom Hashoah.

0 Culture Holidays

Preserving My Grandfather’s Passover Legacy

Jessica Marill in Hadassah

Jessica Marill reflects on preserving her grandfather's Passover legacy after his passing in 2017.

Politics ›

0 Politics Israel

Israelis Approach New Iran War With Uncertainty and Anticipation

Uriel Heilman in Hadassah

Israelis are navigating a mix of anticipation and fear as they face the long-awaited conflict with Iran, which began on February 28 with the strike on Iran’s Supreme Leader.

0 Politics Israel

Rep. Dan Goldman facing blowback over wife’s social media posts criticizing pro-Palestinian activists

New York Jewish Week Staff in JTA

Rep. Dan Goldman is facing criticism over social media posts by his wife, Corinne Levy Goldman, which attacked Palestinians and pro-Palestinian Jews.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Pastor who embraced Farrakhan wins Texas Dem primary, as Nazi-gun enthusiast advances to GOP runoff

Andrew Lapin in Forward

Rev. Frederick Haynes III, a pastor known for praising Louis Farrakhan and criticizing Israel, won the Democratic primary for Texas's 30th district.

0 Politics Antisemitism

A new war revives some old tropes about Jewish and Israeli influence

Andrew Silow-Carroll in JTA

Old narratives accusing Israel and Jewish influence of controlling American foreign policy have resurfaced amid a recent U.S.-Israel assault on Iran.

0 Politics Communities

The left won't let Iranians be grateful for the end of Khamenei's reign

Nadav Ziv in Forward

In this opinion piece, Nadav Ziv discusses the reactions to the recent death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei following a U.S.-Israeli military campaign.

0 Politics Israel

Why The War Needed To Happen Now

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism

Natan Slifkin articulates the strategic necessity of the current military confrontation with Iran, highlighting the escalating threat from Iran's missile capabilities.

0 Politics History

The West's Ultimate Misunderstanding of the Middle East

Nachum Kaplan in Future of Jewish

Nachum Kaplan's essay argues that Western misunderstandings of the Middle East stem from a fundamental difference in temporal perspective.

0 Politics Israel

The Global Left's War on Israel and the United States

Vanessa Berg in Future of Jewish

Vanessa Berg critiques the global Left for its purported ideological bias against Israel and the United States, arguing it overlooks the threats posed by authoritarian regimes, particularly Iran.

0 Politics Israel

Supreme Court ruling clears Goldman–Lander showdown for NYC congressional seat

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling has set the stage for a significant Democratic primary battle in New York's 10th Congressional District between two prominent Jewish politicians, Rep. Dan Goldman and former City Comptroller Brad Lander.

Holidays ›

0 Holidays Culture

A war-weary Jerusalem marks Purim one day after the rest of the world, a tradition born in what is now Iran

Grace Gilson in Forward

Jerusalem marked Shushan Purim amid the strains of conflict, as sirens signaling incoming missile attacks from Iran coincided with the holiday.

0 Holidays Israel

A war-weary Jerusalem marks Purim one day after the rest of the world, a tradition born in what is now Iran

Theia Chatelle in JTA

In the midst of a tense geopolitical climate with Iran and amidst air raid alerts, Jerusalem celebrates Shushan Purim, a day after the global observance of Purim.

Communities ›

0 Communities Culture

Public advocate and JCRC tour Upper West Side in hamentashen crawl

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA

New York City's Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and JCRC CEO Mark Treyger celebrated Purim by touring kosher bakeries on the Upper West Side in a hamentashen crawl, aiming to uplift Jewish businesses outside of times of crisis.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Politics

Tensions in Israel loom large in these Oscar-nominated shorts

Olivia Haynie in Forward

Oscar-nominated short films, "Butchers Stain" and "Children No More: Were and Are Gone," poignantly highlight the persistent societal rifts in Israel following the conflict with Hamas.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy Culture

Purim’s two heroines and the politics of moral choice

eJewishPhilanthropy

Andrew Rehfeld provides a reflective take on the celebration of Purim, distinguishing between the characters of Vashti and Esther as models for moral and political behavior.

Education ›

0 Education Antisemitism

Want to counter antisemitism in K-12 education? Fund like a Qatari

eJewishPhilanthropy

Addressing the rising antisemitism in K-12 education requires a strategic shift in Jewish philanthropy, taking lessons from how Qatar has successfully embedded its ideologies into American educational institutions.

0 Education Culture

Jewish Education Should Have ‘Shoulds’

Sapir

Jewish education in North America is evolving through both traditional and innovative approaches.

JL;DR

for Thursday, March 5, 2026

Israel ›

Leadership ›

Music ›

Antisemitism ›

Culture ›

Politics ›

Holidays ›

Communities ›

Television/Film ›

Philosophy ›

Education ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

March 5's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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Israel ›

Leadership ›

Music ›

Antisemitism ›

Culture ›

Politics ›

Holidays ›

Communities ›

Television/Film ›

Philosophy ›

Education ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

March 5's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Thursday, March 5, 2026