JL;DR

Daily Podcasts Video Research

for Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Israel ›

0 Israel Politics

At a Jaffa community center and beyond, confusion, mourning and rage surface upon news of the Bibas family’s tragic fate

Deborah Danan in Forward

Following the tragic and conflicting reports about the Bibas family, notably Shiri and her children Kfir and Ariel, Israelis are left grappling with grief, rage, and uncertainty.

0 Israel Politics

Bibas Family: ‘Until We Have Certainty, Our Journey Isn’t Over’

Ben Sales in Kveller

The Bibas family has been at the forefront of a public and painful hostage crisis since their abduction by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

0 Israel Politics

Hamas official says bodies of Bibas family will return to Israel on Thursday

Ben Sales in JTA

Amidst a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a Hamas official has announced the forthcoming return of the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including the Bibas family, on Thursday.

Politics ›

0 Politics Israel

Alleged violations of Israel-Egypt peace treaty ring alarm bells in Israel

Lahav Harkov in Jewish Insider

Tensions between Israel and Egypt have surfaced recently regarding the military buildup in Sinai, seen as a potential violation of the 1979 peace treaty.

0 Politics Leadership

A Bridge Too Far?

Lee Smith in Tablet

The article delves into the controversies surrounding Elbridge (Bridge) Colby's nomination for a significant role in the Department of Defense under the Trump administration.

0 Politics Education

Military schools removed a book on Ruth Bader Ginsburg because of 'equity ideology'

Mira Fox in Forward

A children's picture book on Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been removed from U.S. military school libraries, alongside other books like "Freckleface Strawberry" and "Becoming Nicole," due to executive orders targeting gender and diversity discussions.

0 Politics Communities

More than 50 NY rabbis implore Eric Adams and Kathy Hochul to oppose mass deportations

Ben Sales in JTA

A coalition of over 50 rabbis and cantors from prominent New York synagogues has urged Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul to resist the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations.

0 Politics Israel

Trump wants to control the AP. I covered the Middle East for them — here's what he's got wrong

Dan Perry in Forward

Dan Perry, a former journalist with The Associated Press (AP), critiques former President Donald Trump's efforts to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and his broader attempts to influence AP's journalistic practices.

0 Politics Leadership

Dems in the Wilderness

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

The article explores the Democratic Party's current challenges as it navigates its "wilderness years" akin to Winston Churchill's time out of power.

0 Politics Israel

Those Left Behind

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Lishay Miran-Lavy and Tzvika Mor, with loved ones among Israeli hostages held by Hamas, provide poignant insights into their struggles and hopes amidst prolonged captivity.

0 Politics Israel

Middle East Reaching a Boiling Point

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

The geopolitical tension in the Middle East is intensifying as multiple significant developments converge for Israel.

0 Politics Communities

If Adams is out, Jumaane Williams would become acting NYC mayor. What will he mean for Jews?

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

Jumaane Williams, New York City's public advocate, could become the acting mayor if current Mayor Eric Adams resigns amid corruption allegations.

0 Politics Communities

Jewish groups compare Trump to Pharaoh, ask New York leaders to resist immigration order

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

A coalition of 70 rabbis and liberal Jewish groups have urged New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul to resist complying with President Donald Trump's recent mass deportation orders.

0 Politics Ethics

Christian nationalism is rising. So is the Christian resistance

Benyamin Cohen in Forward

Amanda Tyler, head of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, leads a growing movement within Christianity resisting the rise of Christian nationalism, a belief that the U.S. should be governed as a Christian nation.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Rep. Dan Goldman wants to set partisanship aside on House antisemitism task force

Marc Rod in Jewish Insider

Rep. Dan Goldman, recently appointed as co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, is focused on promoting cross-party collaboration to address rising antisemitism.

0 Politics Antisemitism

‘Modern-day Mein Kampf’: NYC Mayor Adams under fire for Hitler reference as calls for his resignation mount

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is under intense scrutiny after comparing political attacks against him to Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf."

0 Politics Israel

The Next 500 Days

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Joshua Hoffman explores potential future scenarios for Israel as it grapples with ongoing conflict involving Hamas and regional tensions, with the war reaching its 500th day.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Culture

Why ‘The Brutalist’ Is Brutal to Watch

Thomas de Monchaux in Tablet

The Brutalist, a film by Brady Corbet, follows the life of fictional Jewish Hungarian architect Lazlo Toth, played by Adrien Brody.

0 Television/Film Culture

The Best Jewish Moments From the SNL50 Reunion Special

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

The SNL50 Reunion Special celebrated 50 years of Saturday Night Live while highlighting its rich Jewish heritage.

0 Television/Film Politics

Film Review | No Other Land

Andy Freedman in Moment

"No Other Land," a documentary about the IDF's controversial evictions of Palestinian homes in the West Bank, surprises with an Oscar nomination despite its limited U.S. distribution.

Sports ›

0 Sports Culture

Tale of a Too-Brief Friendship

Jewdicious

Reflecting on the importance of friendship, Michael S. Lewis, a former orthopedic consultant for the Chicago Bulls, shares his poignant relationship with Brian Williams, who later changed his name to Bison Dele.

0 Sports Culture

Why a random Jewish college basketball coach is beefing with LeBron James

Louis Keene in Forward

The unusual feud between University of Wisconsin-Green Bay head coach Doug Gottlieb and NBA legend LeBron James revolves around Gottlieb's critique of LeBron's son, Bronny James, as not sufficiently skilled for his college basketball team's starting lineup.

Communities ›

0 Communities Culture

This is how Jewish trauma gets passed down.

Hana Raviyt Schank in Future of Jewish

Hana Raviyt Schank reflects on the intergenerational trauma experienced by Jewish families, particularly through the lens of evacuating her son from a war zone in Israel amidst rising tensions.

0 Communities Jewish Law

From the Depths

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Lena Troufanov's harrowing journey from a non-religious kibbutz resident to a woman of profound faith is chronicled in her story of endurance and spiritual transformation.

0 Communities History

Persia’s Plight; Lithuania’s Light

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

In 1871, a severe famine struck Persia, disproportionately affecting its Jewish population due to governmental neglect.

Literature ›

0 Literature Culture

Dara Horn Is Obsessed With Passover

Amy Klein in Hadassah

Dara Horn, a renowned author and voice against antisemitism, explores her lifelong fascination with Passover through a unique narrative approach in her new graphic novel, "One Little Goat: A Passover Catastrophe."

Holocaust ›

0 Holocaust Art

How seven siblings survived the Holocaust — and how the next generation is telling their story

Olivia Haynie in Forward

Beth Lane, inspired by her family's harrowing Holocaust survival story recorded by her late uncle Alfons Weber, has created a directorial debut film titled "UnBroken: Would You Hide Me?"

Education ›

0 Education Ethics

One Word, Different Worlds

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

ADHD is a complex and misunderstood condition, often coexisting with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, referred to as 'cousin conditions.'

0 Education Politics

Israel education: Meeting the challenges ahead

eJewishPhilanthropy

The article by Gilad Peled discusses the challenges facing Israel education in the wake of the events of October 7, 2023, and the importance of adapting educational narratives to reflect Israel's evolving complexities.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy Ethics

Will ChatGPT Replace Us?

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

The article explores the impact of AI technologies like ChatGPT on human expression, emphasizing the spiritual aspect of speech.

0 Philosophy History

The Healer of Midian

Joseph Helmreich in Lehrhaus

In the aftermath of Egypt's decline, a story unfolds between two enigmatic figures: an exiled healer practicing mysterious and ancient arts, and an old man, once a powerful ruler, seeking answers from the healer.

Culture ›

0 Culture Holidays

Time Travel, Missing Matzah and ‘One Little Goat’

Leah F. Finkelshteyn in Hadassah

Dara Horn's graphic novel "One Little Goat," targeted for readers aged 8 and up, intertwines elements of magic and Jewish tradition within a Passover narrative.

0 Culture Communities

Devorah Talia Gordon in Lehrhaus

In "Lost and Found," Devorah Talia Gordon delves into the complex emotions surrounding family, tradition, and loss, as narrated by a young woman named Mindy.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Politics

Daas Torah and Chilul HaShem

Emes Ve-Emunah

In a controversial discussion on Daas Torah and Chilul HaShem, the article examines the influence of Rav Dov Landau, a leading figure in the Lithuanian Yeshiva world, whose recent comments have drawn criticism.

Art ›

0 Art Holocaust

How MAD magazine, family ghosts and censorship made Art Spiegelman an anti-fascist artist

PJ Grisar in Forward

Art Spiegelman's journey as an artist, particularly illustrated through the new documentary 'Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse,' embodies a complex interplay of inherited trauma, anti-authoritarianism, and innovative artistry.

Music ›

0 Music Culture

After fighting cancer, klezmer legend Frank London is busier than ever before

Jon Kalish in JTA

Frank London, a seminal figure in Jewish music known for his work with The Klezmatics, has returned to the music scene with renewed fervor following a battle with myelofibrosis, a serious blood cancer.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Politics

The Jihadist Nurses Down Under

Julie Szego in Future of Jewish

Julie Szego addresses the disturbing rhetoric and actions of some Muslim nurses in Sydney, Australia, who expressed desires to harm Israeli patients.

0 Antisemitism Leadership

Jewish organizations must answer for this moment

eJewishPhilanthropy

Jewish organizations need an urgent overhaul as they face a critical moment in their mission to combat antisemitism, according to Joe Roberts, the executive director of the Jewish Federation of Tulsa.