JL;DR

Daily Podcasts Video Research

for Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Communities ›

0 Communities Education

Matan Torah and Beyond // Reflections and insights from the Munkatcher Rebbe

Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter in Ami

In this engaging reflection, Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter shares insights from his conversation with the Munkatcher Rebbe on the occasion of Yom Tov and in light of his grandfather's yahrtzeit.

0 Communities Jewish Law

Endless Night // Exploring the Arctic Circle and Its Mysteries

Binny Binet in Ami

Binny Binet shares his journey to Svalbard during the polar nights, where the sun doesn't rise for months.

0 Communities Antisemitism

‘Sarah, we will continue your mission’: DC Jewish museum shooting victim mourned at Kansas City funeral

Philissa Cramer in Forward

The funeral for Sarah Milgrim, an Israeli embassy employee killed in a shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., was marked by reflections on her life dedicated to diplomacy and peacebuilding.

0 Communities Ethics

Lonely Among Friends

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr explores the paradox of loneliness within a bustling Orthodox Jewish community, highlighting how social roles, like that of a rebbetzin, can isolate despite being surrounded by people.

0 Communities Culture

Family First Inbox: Issue 945

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Mishpacha Magazine's Family First Inbox in Issue 945 features a diverse array of topics ranging from postpartum depression to gardening, Lag B'omer celebrations, and community dynamics in carpools.

0 Communities Culture

Leaving the Fold but Staying Observant

Emes Ve-Emunah

Many Charedim in Israel are choosing to maintain religious observance while leaving the insular ultra-Orthodox lifestyle due to sociological rather than intellectual reasons.

0 Communities Holocaust

My Jewish family is proof that hope is worth mustering after terror cuts young lives short

Claire E. Sufrin in JTA

Claire E. Sufrin reflects on the personal and collective grief experienced due to the tragedy of losing young lives to terrorism, drawing from her own family history and her marriage to Michael, whose previous fiancée, Marla Bennett, was killed in a 2002 bombing.

0 Communities Antisemitism

Let’s stop the infighting: A call for unity

Contributing Author in eJewishPhilanthropy

In light of the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents across multiple fronts, this piece emphasizes the importance of unity within the Jewish community.

Politics ›

0 Politics Jewish Law

Going Mainstream

Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter in Ami

Seth Barrett Tillman, an Orthodox Jewish legal scholar based in Ireland, has risen to prominence due to his unconventional interpretations of the U.S. Constitution that have been utilized in defending Donald Trump.

0 Politics Communities

A Prince of a Candidate // New York’s young’ns have a better choice

Avi Shafran in Ami

The New York mayoral race is gearing up with a variety of candidates vying for attention among Jewish voters.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Latest Lawler challenger says antisemitism helped motivate his congressional bid, accuses Republicans of weaponization

Marc Rod in Jewish Insider

Mike Sacks, a former political journalist and Democratic candidate for New York's 17th Congressional District, seeks to unseat Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, driven by concerns over rising antisemitism and what he views as its politicization by Republicans.

0 Politics Communities

Gottheimer’s path to the governor’s mansion runs through New Jersey’s Jewish community

Marc Rod in Jewish Insider

U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer is leveraging his strong connections with New Jersey's Jewish community to bolster his gubernatorial campaign in the Democratic primary.

0 Politics Education

Ethnic studies compromise opens door to broader antisemitism legislation in California

Asaf Elia-Shalev in Forward

California has made progress on addressing antisemitism within its educational system, following a long-standing debate over ethnic studies curricula that some feared unfairly depicted Jews or singled out Israel.

0 Politics Education

In California, Jewish leaders swap ethnic studies battle for fighting antisemitism in schools — with allies

Asaf Elia-Shalev in JTA

In California, Jewish leaders have shifted their focus from disputing a controversial ethnic studies curriculum to collaborating with racial and ethnic caucuses on tackling antisemitism in schools.

0 Politics Jewish Law

What’s Next for Jewish Solidarity Organizing with Palestine in the Face of Trump?

Harlow Raye in New Voices

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), formed in 1996 and now a leading group in the Jewish solidarity movement with Palestine, recently held a National Member Meeting in Baltimore.

0 Politics History

Good Immigrants, Bad Immigrants

Tom Gjelten in Moment

The article discusses the historical and contemporary debates about immigration policies in the U.S., drawing parallels between past and present sentiments.

0 Politics Israel

Netanyahu is at a crossroads: Endless war, or peace?

Dan Perry in Forward

Amidst escalating conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a critical choice: continue the war with Hamas for political gain, or pursue a path to peace that requires significant political risks such as fracturing his coalition.

0 Politics Communities

Exclusive: Jewish voters prefer Cuomo, with Mamdani in second place for New York Mayor, new poll shows

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

In the upcoming New York City mayoral election, Andrew Cuomo leads with 31% support among Jewish voters, followed by Zohran Mamdani at 20% and Brad Lander at 18%, as per a recent Honan Strategy Group poll.

0 Politics Israel

German chancellor issues rare public criticism of Israel, saying Gaza war ‘can no longer be justified’

Philissa Cramer in JTA

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has issued a rare public criticism of Israel, focusing on the humanitarian impact of the Gaza war.

0 Politics Ethics

When Loyalty To Country Conflicts With Morality

Gary Rosenblatt in Between The Lines

Gary Rosenblatt discusses the complex moral and ethical dilemmas facing American Jews when their loyalty to the United States and Israel conflicts with their Jewish values.

0 Politics Antisemitism

'Free Palestine' is a call for terrorism, not a cry for justice.

Samuel J. Hyde in Future of Jewish

Samuel J. Hyde argues that the phrase "Free Palestine," often seen as a call for justice, has become a veiled endorsement of terrorism against Jews.

Leadership ›

0 Leadership Communities

Rabbi Moshe Weiss // HRW Legacy LLC

Nesanel Gantz in Ami

Rabbi Moshe Weiss embodies the profound balance between a life of Torah study and professional success.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Philosophy

A Mathematical Reevaluation of the Prohibition on Counting Jews

Mark Glass in Lehrhaus

Mark Glass delves into the halachic and mathematical complexities of the prohibition against directly counting Jews, tracing its roots and interpretations across various Jewish texts.

0 Jewish Law Communities

Hearing His Voice

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr discusses the resilience and appeal of Torah Judaism in contrast to the decline of heterodox Jewish movements and traditional American Christianity.

0 Jewish Law Communities

Help Me Join Your Nation

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr narrates the transformation of Loretta Walker, who grew up unaware of Jews, into a passionate seeker of Judaism, culminating in her conversion journey.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism History

Antisemitic podcaster Stew Peters barred from hotel hosting veterans’ reunion after backlash

Louis Keene in Forward

Antisemitic podcaster and Holocaust denier Stew Peters was barred from the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel after being invited by the USS Liberty Veterans Association to speak at their upcoming reunion.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Antisemitism must be studied as a serious mental illness.

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Joshua Hoffman argues that antisemitism should be classified as a mental illness due to its irrational and enduring nature.

Holidays ›

0 Holidays Culture

Here’s how New York is celebrating Shavuot in 2025

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA

New York City's Jewish community is set to celebrate Shavuot 2025 with a variety of vibrant activities ranging from educational events to festive gatherings.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Politics

Amy Schumer Is Helping Develop an Exciting Israeli Rom-Com

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Amy Schumer is collaborating with Israeli actor Yadin Gellman on a new romantic comedy titled "Now More Than Ever."

0 Television/Film Holocaust

Marcel Ophuls, French Jewish director of ‘The Sorrow and the Pity,’ dies at 97

Andrew Lapin in JTA

Acclaimed French Jewish filmmaker Marcel Ophuls, known for his probing documentaries on historical guilt, has died at 97.

0 Television/Film Culture

The Spiritual Heart of ‘Sinners’

Maggie Phillips in Tablet

"Sinners," an audacious film set in the Jim Crow South, combines music, horror, and period drama with a sincere exploration of spirituality, particularly focusing on hoodoo, a Black American spiritual tradition.

Torah ›

0 Torah Holidays

The Gift of Torah

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr explores how Shavuos represents not only a time to commemorate receiving the Torah (Kabbalas HaTorah) but also a period to reflect on internalizing its lessons.

Education ›

0 Education Jewish Law

Bridge Across Time

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Rav Mendel Kaplan's memory and teachings continue to resonate deeply with his former students, even four decades after his passing.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy Prayer

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr reflects on the internal and external challenges of maintaining religious practices, highlighting a personal anecdote of davening on a plane and linking it to the teachings of Rav Yosef Yoizel Horowitz, the Alter of Novardok.

Culture ›

0 Culture Communities

Seeker’s Choice

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Ephraim Nachman shares his unique spiritual journey from being a Muslim to a member of the Chassidic community in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

0 Culture Gender/Identity

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr, a mechaneches in a frum neighborhood, critiques the increasing trend of high school girls spending nights driving aimlessly in order to socialize, arguing it detracts from family time and could affect future marital and maternal roles.

0 Culture Holidays

No fighting on the day before Shavuot!

Miriam Udel in Forward

Miriam Udel explores the tale from Zina Rabinowitz's 1958 collection, examining a conflict between cousins Raphael and Michael over the dual aspects of Shavuot.

0 Culture Philosophy

Shabbes is Punk

InternsFall21 in Lilith

Highlighting the counter-cultural resonance of Shabbat, the article explores how this ancient Jewish practice offers a modern form of rebellion against technological saturation and social isolation.

0 Culture Antisemitism

Jews aren’t allowed to be angry, but we are.

Benjamin Kerstein in Future of Jewish

Benjamin Kerstein's essay explores the complex emotions of Jewish anger and rage, particularly in response to antisemitism and historical injustices such as the Holocaust.

0 Culture Jewish Law

"You're Just A Charedi-Basher!"

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism

Natan Slifkin addresses accusations from his detractors who label him a 'charedi-basher' for his critiques of charedi society.

Food ›

0 Food Holidays

Greek Yogurt Scoops with Honey, Tahini, and Cinnamon Pecans

Leah Koenig in Jewish Table

Leah Koenig presents a delightful recipe for Greek yogurt scoops topped with honey, tahini, and cinnamon pecans, perfect for Shavuot's dairy-centric traditions.

0 Food Culture

Fish Tacos with Cabbage-Lime Slaw and Pico de Gallo

Sharona in Mishpacha

Sharona presents a delicious and cost-effective recipe for creating fish tacos that capture the essence of Southern California cuisine at home.

Israel ›

0 Israel Politics

Israel can’t compete in checkbook diplomacy. These tech leaders have other ideas

Gabby Deutch in Jewish Insider

As the US focuses on major economic deals with Gulf nations during President Trump's Middle East visits, Israeli tech leaders see an opportunity to elevate Israel's position through innovation and technology rather than competing directly in checkbook diplomacy.