JL;DR

Daily Podcasts Video Research

for Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Politics ›

0 Politics Israel

With ceasefire deal teetering, Trump says Hamas must release all hostages or ‘all bets are off’

Ben Sales in Forward

Amid a delicate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, former President Donald Trump has warned that he expects all 76 hostages held by Hamas to be released by a specific deadline or the ceasefire terms may be abandoned.

0 Politics Antisemitism

New York City comptroller candidate courts anti-Israel support as he seeks higher office

Matthew Kassel in Jewish Insider

Justin Brannan, a New York City comptroller candidate, is courting far-left support as he moves to higher office, despite having built a reputation as a moderate Democrat supportive of Jewish causes.

0 Politics Israel

The good, the bad and the ugly of USAID’s Middle East funding

Gabby Deutch in Jewish Insider

USAID funding in the Middle East plays a crucial role in supporting projects that foster cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians, such as Project Rozana, which trains nurses from both communities.

0 Politics History

Andrew Roberts: The Historical Case for Trump’s Gaza Plan

Andrew Roberts in The Free Press

Andrew Roberts argues that historical precedents justify President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza following Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

0 Politics Music

On Super Bowl Sunday, Kendrick Lamar took on fascism, Kanye and Donald Trump

Mira Fox in Forward

Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show took a bold stance on race, authoritarianism, and antisemitism, featuring a performance that combined U.S. symbols with sharp critique.

0 Politics Israel

Trump’s Gaza plan is terrible. So why don’t the Democrats have anything better?

Rob Eshman in Forward

The article criticizes President Trump's controversial plan regarding Gaza and highlights a lack of robust alternative proposals from the Democrats.

0 Politics Leadership

Chairman of ‘Jewish Nobel’ Stan Polovets hails non-Jewish laureate’s extraordinary support for Israel and Jewish people

JTA Staff in JTA

The Genesis Prize this year has been awarded to Javier Milei, the President of Argentina, marking the first time this prestigious Jewish award has gone to a non-Jewish individual.

0 Politics Ethics

The Banality of Evil

Peter Beinart in The Beinart Notebook

Peter Beinart, in his New York Times bestselling book "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza," discusses the ethical realities facing Jews in light of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

0 Politics Culture

Israeli police raid Palestinian bookstores in east Jerusalem, drawing international concern

Deborah Danan in JTA

Israeli police conducted a raid at two branches of the Educational Bookshop in east Jerusalem, confiscating books and detaining two owners over allegations of incitement.

0 Politics Antisemitism

The Subtle Art of Gaza-Lighting

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Joshua Hoffman examines the psychological manipulation used in narratives surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, coining it "Gaza-lighting."

0 Politics Ethics

Some Israelis Have Lost It

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism

Natan Slifkin discusses the controversial and extremist rhetoric within Israeli society, particularly in response to ongoing conflicts with Hamas.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy Torah

A Torah Theodicy: The Very Goodness of Evil

Gavriel Lakser in Lehrhaus

Gavriel Lakser's exploration of theodicy in the Torah addresses the paradox of a benevolent and omnipotent God's creation of a world where evil exists.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism History

Canceled ... in Finland

Izabella Tabarovsky in Tablet

Izabella Tabarovsky discusses the cancellation of her speeches by two Finnish universities amidst a smear campaign labeling her as a pro-Israel extremist.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Jews must do better in the propaganda war.

Nachum Kaplan in Future of Jewish

Nachum Kaplan argues that Jewish communities globally must adopt a more aggressive strategy in countering contemporary antisemitism, particularly as it manifests in social media and public discourse.

Literature ›

0 Literature Holocaust

Dear Anne Frank

Nir Menussi in Future of Jewish

Anne Frank's diary, now one of the most widely read books about the Holocaust, provides an intimate portrait of Jewish suffering during Nazi occupation.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Culture

Live from New York, It’s the 10 Best Jewish Moments on SNL!

Rachel Rosenfield in Moment

In honor of Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary, Rachel Rosenfield presents a spotlight on the show's ten best Jewish-themed moments.

0 Television/Film History

A languid and arresting WWII movie — and then it goes haywire

Simi Horwitz in Forward

"The Fishing Place," directed by Rob Tregenza, is a complex and visually striking World War II film set in a Norwegian seaside village.

Communities ›

0 Communities Politics

Hostage Or Levy Finally Reunites With 3-Year-Old Son

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Or Levy, an Israeli father recently released after over 500 days of captivity by Hamas, has been reunited with his 3-year-old son Almog.

Education ›

0 Education Politics

A Supreme Court case could pave the way for publicly funded Jewish day schools

Asaf Elia-Shalev in JTA

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to hear St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond could significantly impact religious education funding, including for Jewish day schools.

Art ›

0 Art History

Queen Esther Goes Dutch: An Exhibition

Robert Goldblum in Hadassah

The Jewish Museum in Manhattan is hosting "The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt," an exhibition that explores the cultural impact of Queen Esther's story on 17th-century Dutch society.

Culture ›

0 Culture Sports

Did the weekly Torah portion predict the winner of the Super Bowl?

Benyamin Cohen in Forward

In a curious intersection of religion and sports, Benyamin Cohen's article explores how the Torah portion read during Super Bowl weekend seemed to foretell the Philadelphia Eagles' victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, playing on the symbolism that the Torah portion featured a reference to 'eagles' wings.

History ›

0 History Philosophy

The double life of Abraham, from freethinker to pure believer

PJ Grisar in Forward

Abraham: The First Jew by Anthony Julius offers a fresh perspective on the patriarch, presenting him as two distinct personas: a fearless freethinker and a pure believer.

Ethics ›

0 Ethics Communities

Why Are They Silent?

Emes Ve-Emunah

Lakewood, New Jersey, renowned for its significant Torah study community, faces scrutiny due to fraudulent activities among some of its members.

0 Ethics Leadership

Random kindness or real change?

eJewishPhilanthropy

Summers critiques the notion that successful philanthropy can emerge from random acts of kindness, arguing that nonprofits must operate with strategic intent to be impactful.

0 Ethics Education

The art of asking good questions

eJewishPhilanthropy

Examining the pivotal role of questioning within Jewish tradition and contemporary philanthropy, the article explores how rigorous inquiry has shaped both ancient rabbinic thought and modern philanthropic practices.

Music ›

0 Music Culture

'A Complete Unknown' has Dylan-mania sweeping the country — is that a good thing?

Seth Rogovoy in Forward

The release of the biopic "A Complete Unknown," starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, has reignited interest in the legendary songwriter's work, especially among younger audiences.

Holocaust ›

0 Holocaust History

Restitution project genealogists track down rightful heirs of Nazi-looted books

Lianne Kolirin in Jewish Insider

The Looted Books Project, a collaboration between JewishGen and the Leo Baeck Institute, focuses on returning Nazi-looted books to their rightful heirs.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Philosophy

Intention and Inquiry: A Halakhic Case for Ta’amei Ha-Mitzvot

Dovid Campbell in Lehrhaus

Dovid Campbell explores the concept of taamei ha-mitzvot (the reasons for the commandments) and their potential role in fulfilling the halakhic requirement of kavvanah (intention).