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Food

A baklava cheesecake recipe has won a prestigious contest and will be featured in a charity cookbook for Chai Cancer Care.

Antisemitism

Prosecutors are seeking to drop hate crimes charges against Maxwell Friedman, also known as Malaika, who allegedly assaulted an Israeli student on Columbia University's campus during a dispute over Israeli hostage posters.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez discussed antisemitism with Jewish activists, acknowledging its dangers but also criticizing the weaponization of the term by political actors.
The increasing anti-Israel sentiment amidst Pride events is causing safety concerns for LGBTQ+ Jews, with fears of harassment and violence due to the recent conflict in Gaza.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez emphasized in a livestream that antisemitism undermines both American and progressive values, acknowledging that some criticisms of Israel can cross into antisemitism.
The text discusses how certain instances of hatred and threats towards Jews are downplayed or excused based on who is making these threats.
A survey conducted by the American Jewish Committee revealed that since October 7, over 40% of American Jews have felt unsafe wearing Jewish symbols in public, with a quarter choosing not to disclose their Jewish identity.

Israel

The article argues against rewarding Palestinian terror with a state, highlighting how recent events have eroded support for a two-state solution in Israel.
Residents of northern Israel, facing ongoing threats and instability from Hezbollah in Lebanon, visited Washington, D.C. to highlight their displacement and the looming danger on Israel's northern border.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum recently released a special Shavuot cookbook featuring 75 recipes, each accompanied by a photo and a description of a hostage, some deceased and some still in captivity.
Israeli hostages Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv were recently freed from captivity in Gaza in an Israeli military operation that resulted in casualties.
Benny Gantz, a key figure in the Israeli war cabinet, has resigned, leading to speculation on whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will survive politically.
Israeli media coverage of a recent hostage rescue operation in Gaza has captivated the nation, with TV anchors shedding tears of joy on air and newspapers featuring celebratory headlines and images of the freed hostages reuniting with their families.
Israeli battlefield commanders, like Micha Shtiebel of the Alexandroni Brigade, have been resorting to soliciting donated gear from a network of civilian volunteers due to delays and shortages in the IDF's supply chain, particularly during the recent deployment to Gaza.
The article follows Alma Doron, an 18-year-old Israeli navigating life during wartime, where the fear of missile attacks has impacted her daily routines and mental health.
The text discusses the conflation of "Israeli" with "Jewish Israeli" in public discourse, highlighting that the term often excludes Palestinian citizens and non-citizen Palestinians under Israeli control.
Over a dramatic weekend in Israel, the IDF successfully rescued four hostages in Gaza, generating euphoria followed by mourning for a fallen officer.
The essay discusses the issue of equating hatred of Jews with Nazism, focusing on the anti-Semitic nature of hating Zionists and Israel.

Holidays

The Book of Ruth is often seen as a tale of loyalty and selflessness, focusing on Ruth's dedication to her mother-in-law Naomi and the eventual lineage of King David.
The author describes their journey through grief after their mother's death, reflecting on their relationship with her and their struggle to write following her passing.
The text discusses the Mishnah tractate Bikkurim, focusing on Chapter 3's visual description of the Shavuot procession and the communal journey to the Temple to offer first fruits.

Communities

Tzvi, a 25-year-old filmmaker from a Haredi community in Brooklyn, drew inspiration for his first feature, "Killer of Men," from the gritty backdrop of Sheepshead Bay.
The piece discusses the importance of addressing Jewish poverty within the community, highlighting efforts to collect data on the issue and make progress towards understanding and combatting it.
The Chazon Ish, a towering figure in Torah Judaism, left a lasting impact on Bnei Brak and beyond, with many followers known as Chazon Ishniks who strictly adhere to his rulings.
Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, a prominent figure in Chabad-Lubavitch and vice chairman of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, passed away at 74, leaving a significant legacy in expanding Chabad's global outreach through establishing Chabad Houses worldwide, including on over 230 campuses through the Chabad on Campus International Foundation.
Kesher Israel Congregation, a prominent Modern Orthodox synagogue in Washington, D.C., is embarking on a substantial renovation and expansion project for its building, which has not been updated since 1931.

Television/Film

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles faced criticism from Jewish Hollywood figures for its exhibit on Jewish founders in Hollywood, with some figures portrayed negatively.

Politics

The essay discusses growing concerns among some Jewish individuals who feel the need to prepare for potential threats, such as antisemitism.
In Northern Virginia's 10th District, a Democratic congressional primary between Jewish candidates Eileen Filler-Corn and Dan Helmer underscores the growing Jewish population in the area.
In the recent French election for the European Parliament, the far-right Rassemblement National led by Marine Le Pen won, but the surprising resurgence of the Socialist Party, nearly securing second place, marked a significant shift in French politics.
The article discusses the media's complicity in perpetuating biased narratives regarding the recent events in Gaza, particularly focusing on Hamas's strategy of using civilians as human shields and sacrificing them for their own gain.
Benny Gantz's departure from the coalition government has raised questions about the future of Israeli politics, particularly regarding the decisions to be made in the aftermath of the recent conflict and potential conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
The article discusses the current state of racism and anti-Israel sentiment in South Africa, particularly within the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party.

History

This text recounts a group of tourists, including some Jewish people, reciting the Kaddish prayer for Bella Terner, a Polish Jewish woman who settled in Cuba in the 1930s and was buried there.
The text explores the theme of broken dolls as a metaphor for personal and societal struggles, focusing on the history of doll hospitals founded by Jewish immigrants in the US at the turn of the 20th century and in modern times.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas is framed as a larger battle representing the Muslim Brotherhood versus the Western world, with Israel positioned on the side of the West.

Torah

Jewish tradition encourages staying up all night studying Torah on Shavuot to rectify the mistake of the ancient Israelites oversleeping when receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai.
Mordechai Hager, founder and CEO of Regah Ventures, shared insights on Torah, business, and personal anecdotes with the interviewer.

Culture

"What Do I Do With All This Heritage?" is a new play by The Braid, a Jewish theater company in Los Angeles, celebrating Asian American Jews and their complex identities.
The article discusses the evolution and challenges faced by Reform Judaism, particularly in the context of assimilation and changing attitudes towards Jewish practice.

Art

Lisa and Chris Van Allsburg have established Forgotten Judaica to revive ceremonial Jewish artifacts after being inspired by synagogue visits in Europe.
The article discusses the challenge of illustrating the Book of Ruth, focusing not on the plot but on the theme of redemption.

Editors' Note

Welcome to JL;DR!
by Matt Sienkiewicz

Top Topics in Jewish Media

for June 4–June 11

  1. Hamas
  2. Jewish Community
  3. Gaza
  4. Benjamin Netanyahu
  5. Shavuot
  6. Holocaust
  7. Hostages
  8. Jewish Cuisine
  9. Israeli Palestinian Conflict
  10. Jewish Identity

June 11's Short Reads

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