for Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Politics ›

0 Politics Culture

Israel’s arrest of Jerusalem’s booksellers is a grave, self-defeating error

Yona Shem-Tov in Forward

The arrest of Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna, Palestinian booksellers in Jerusalem, by Israeli police raises significant concerns about the suppression of intellectual and cultural voices that could foster understanding in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

0 Politics Culture

Prominent Israeli writers and US Jewish leaders rally behind east Jerusalem bookstore that was raided by police

Ben Sales in Forward

Prominent Israeli writers and American Jewish leaders are rallying behind the Educational Bookshop in East Jerusalem following a police raid that led to the house arrest of its owners, Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna, over alleged incitement charges, which were later downgraded.

0 Politics Israel

What They're Saying in Israel About Hamas and the Delicate Ceasefire

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu grapples with the challenges posed by Hamas' psychological warfare in the ongoing hostage crisis.

0 Politics Culture

A Heartfelt And Troubling Challenge To American Jews

Gary Rosenblatt in Between The Lines

Gary Rosenblatt reviews Joshua Leifer's controversial book, "Tablets Shattered: The End of an American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life," which critiques American Jewish communities, particularly their Zionist affiliations and the evolving societal values over the last century.

0 Politics Communities

A century-old Zionist group is being rebooted with a new motto: ‘Jews fight back’

Andrew Lapin in Forward

The article examines the revival of Betar, a century-old Zionist organization, being revived under the leadership of public relations executive Ronn Torossian.

0 Politics Antisemitism

A century-old Zionist group is being rebooted — and wants Jews to ‘fight back’ on the street

Andrew Lapin in JTA

A century-old Zionist group, Betar, has been reactivated by PR executive Ronn Torossian, focusing on confronting antisemitism with aggressive tactics rather than legal or educational responses.

0 Politics Israel

Netanyahu: ‘If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end’

Ben Sales in Forward

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will resume military operations in Gaza if Hamas fails to release all hostages by the upcoming Saturday noon deadline.

0 Politics Communities

Why many Jews in and around Park Slope are mobilizing to vote their City Council representative out of office

Joseph Strauss in JTA

Jewish residents and community leaders in Park Slope, Brooklyn, are mobilizing against their City Council representative, Shahana Hanif, due to dissatisfaction with her responses to anti-Jewish sentiment and past controversial stances.

0 Politics Education

Tariff Tussle: A Few Minutes with… Economist Timothy Fitzgerald

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Economist Timothy Fitzgerald, a former chief international economist for the Trump administration, shares insights into the administration's tariff strategies and goals with Mishpacha.

0 Politics Israel

Analysis | A Tale of Two Press Conferences

Nadine Epstein in Moment

Nadine Epstein reflects on the contrasting dynamics of two joint press conferences featuring former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in 2017 and the more recent in 2025.

0 Politics History

Don’t compare Trump's US to Nazi Germany. These three American moments are more apt

Jeffrey K. Salkin in Forward

Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin explores more nuanced historical comparisons for the political dynamics in the U.S. under Trump, recommending American scenarios over Nazi Germany.

0 Politics History

Who were the most (and least) Jewish presidents?

PJ Grisar in Forward

PJ Grisar offers an intriguing exploration of the Jewish connections and legacies of American presidents, rating them on a playful Jewishness scale.

0 Politics Israel

Hostages Now - Gaza Later

Emes Ve-Emunah

The piece conveys President Trump's staunch support for Israel following reports of extreme torture endured by hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

0 Politics Israel

B’Ivrit | Israeli Media Excited Over Trump’s Plan for Gaza

Nathan Guttman in Moment

Israeli media has shown notable enthusiasm for Donald Trump's proposal to take over Gaza, a plan involving the forced relocation of its Palestinian population.

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 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 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 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.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Ethics

In AI video, Jewish celebrities from Scarlett Johansson to Adam Sandler give Kanye the middle finger

Philissa Cramer in Forward

A controversial AI-generated video, created by Israeli entrepreneur Ori Bejerano, features AI renderings of Jewish celebrities like Adam Sandler and Scarlett Johansson donning T-shirts that denounce Kanye West's antisemitism.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Every antisemitic thing Kanye West has said (so far)

Mira Fox in Forward

Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, has continued to engage in antisemitic rhetoric across various platforms, intensifying his stance with each appearance.

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.

Communities ›

0 Communities Politics

How a hostage's brother became a hero in Israel

Aviya Kushner in Forward

Sharon Sharabi has emerged as a pivotal figure in Israel, advocating for the return of hostages following his brother Eli's release.

0 Communities Politics

The abuse of Israeli hostages shocks a ‘bring them home’ movement that feeds on hope

Andrew Silow-Carroll in Forward

The release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas continues to evoke strong emotions among Jewish communities worldwide, particularly after three male hostages were released in a gaunt and emaciated state, reminiscent of Holocaust imagery.

0 Communities Leadership

The Jewish Emergent Network: From emergence to evolution

eJewishPhilanthropy

The Jewish Emergent Network, launched in 2014 with organizations like IKAR and Kavana, has played a pivotal role in fostering innovative Jewish communities through entrepreneurial approaches deeply rooted in tradition.

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.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy Culture

The Metaphysical Balance Of The Universe

Mel Waldman in Lehrhaus

Mel Waldman reflects on his spiritual journey from devout faith in his youth to a period of disillusionment and eventual rediscovery of spirituality.

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.

Music ›

0 Music Culture

Critics say Kendrick Lamar was too loud and hard to understand — they said the same thing about Bob Dylan in Newport

Olivia Haynie in Forward

Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime performance, rife with political commentary, ignited controversy akin to Bob Dylan's electric transition at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

0 Music Culture

Tonight’s Canopy Sound

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

In the dynamic world of Jewish wedding music, the traditional and the contemporary blend seamlessly to create a magical atmosphere under the chuppah.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Culture

Natalie Portman to Star in New Lena Dunham Movie ‘Good Sex’

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Natalie Portman is set to star in the upcoming film "Good Sex," directed by Lena Dunham.

0 Television/Film Culture

From ‘Coffee Talk’ to ‘The Hanukkah Song,’ 36 standout Jewish moments from 50 years of ‘Saturday Night Live’

JTA

Saturday Night Live (SNL), since its inception by Lorne Michaels in 1975, has been a rich source of Jewish cultural moments in American television.

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.

Science ›

0 Science Sports

Fitness IQ: How Long Does It Take to Lose Fitness?

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr explores the effects of pausing an exercise routine on fitness levels, particularly focusing on how cardiovascular fitness and endurance are impacted over time when regular exercise ceases.

History ›

0 History Politics

Tefillos for the Turkish Sultan

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Under Ottoman rule, the Jewish community experienced a complex, yet relatively prosperous existence compared to other diaspora communities, enjoying legal and religious autonomy despite being dhimmis subject to specific taxes and restrictions.

Literature ›

0 Literature Communities

20 Questions for Ariella Schiller

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Ariella Schiller, a talented writer based in Yerushalayim, captivates readers with her compelling serials and insightful features in publications like Mishpacha.

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.

Education ›

0 Education Politics

How to Talk to Your Children About Being a Proud Zionist

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Joshua Hoffman provides guidance on how to discuss Zionism with children in today's complex socio-political climate.

Gender/Identity ›

0 Gender/Identity Politics

Jewish women, the vibe shift and how we step back into building a just world

eJewishPhilanthropy

Jewish women with progressive values are experiencing tension between supporting liberal causes and addressing antisemitism.

JL;DR

for Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Politics ›

Antisemitism ›

Communities ›

Philosophy ›

Music ›

Television/Film ›

Science ›

History ›

Literature ›

Education ›

Gender/Identity ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

February 12's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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Politics ›

Antisemitism ›

Communities ›

Philosophy ›

Music ›

Television/Film ›

Science ›

History ›

Literature ›

Education ›

Gender/Identity ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

February 12's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Wednesday, February 12, 2025