for Saturday, May 31, 2025

Antisemitism ›

From Washington, DC, to Washington State

The Cholent in The Cholent

A recent op-ed addresses the persistent issue of antisemitism rooted in political discourse, highlighted by a tragic event where a young Jewish couple was killed in Washington, D.C. The article argues that acts of violence against Jews often get downplayed or contextualized within current geopolitical tensions, which inadvertently shifts blame onto the victims.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Take it from us, antisemitism envoys for Trump and Biden: The fight against Jew-hatred must not be politicized

JTA

In the aftermath of a tragic antisemitic hate crime near the White House, the authors, who served as antisemitism envoys under both Trump and Biden, emphasize the urgent need for a non-partisan approach to combat Jew-hatred.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Israeli embassy staffers shooting or Capital Jewish Museum murders? To some, a few words can make a big difference.

Andrew Silow-Carroll in JTA

The recent tragic shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., where two Israeli embassy employees were killed, has sparked a contentious debate over the nature of the attack.

0 Antisemitism Education

How donors can prevent their university gifts from funding antisemitism

eJewishPhilanthropy

Concerned about rising antisemitism on American campuses, donors are seeking ways to ensure their university contributions do not support discrimination against Jewish students.

Politics ›

0 Politics Israel

Israel doesn’t need a better image. It needs to win.

Yonatan Daon in Future of Jewish

Yonatan Daon critiques Israel's focus on Hasbara, or public diplomacy, arguing that Israel's real challenge lies in asserting clear moral and military positions rather than simply working to improve its global image.

0 Politics History

Poland votes for its next president, with Polish-Jewish history on the ballot

Shira Li Bartov in JTA

Poland's presidential election pits Rafał Trzaskowski, a liberal-centrist, against Karol Nawrocki, a right-wing historian promoting a nationalist view of Polish history, particularly regarding Poland's role in the Holocaust.

0 Politics Holocaust

Poland votes for its next president, with Polish-Jewish history on the ballot

Shira Li Bartov in JTA

Poland's presidential election pits liberal-centrist Rafał Trzaskowski against right-winger Karol Nawrocki, with significant implications for Poland's engagement with the EU, democratic norms, and historical narratives.

0 Politics Education

Texas may soon require schools to post the Ten Commandments. Meet the Jewish lawmaker fighting back.

Hannah Feuer in Forward

Texas State Rep. Jon Rosenthal, the only Jewish member of the state's legislature, actively opposes a new bill mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, viewing it as a threat to the separation of church and state.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Elise Stefanik says Harvard pro-Palestinian activist should lose federally-funded scholarship

Grace Gilson in Forward

Rep. Elise Stefanik criticizes the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation and urges it to revoke a scholarship granted to Harvard student Eva Frazier.

0 Politics Ethics

After the DC shooting, both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups are failing

David N. Myers in Forward

In the wake of the tragic shooting of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim at the Capital Jewish Museum, David N. Myers calls for introspection within both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups.

0 Politics Education

MIT disciplines student commencement speaker who condemned school’s ties to Israel as ‘complicit in genocide’

Andrew Lapin in JTA

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) disciplined senior class president Megha Vemuri after she deviated from her approved commencement speech, using the platform to criticize MIT's ties with Israel, which she accused of committing genocide in Gaza.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Trump appoints Paul Ingrassia, staffer linked to Nick Fuentes and Andrew Tate, to senior federal watchdog role

Andrew Lapin in JTA

Paul Ingrassia, a right-wing attorney with connections to controversial figures Nick Fuentes and Andrew Tate, has been appointed by former President Donald Trump as head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

0 Politics Israel

How Congress became impotent on foreign policy

Matthew Kassel in Jewish Insider

The effectiveness of traditional pro-Israel advocacy within U.S. Congress has diminished due to the increasing consolidation of foreign policy powers by the executive branch, particularly under the Trump administration.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Will Jewish voters decide the NYC mayoral election?

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

In the upcoming New York City mayoral election, Jewish voters are poised to play a critical role amid heightened concerns over rising antisemitism.

0 Politics Israel

An Israeli Journalist Reports from the Gulf

Nathan Guttman in Moment

Nathan Guttman, an Israeli journalist and senior fellow at the Moment Institute, reflects on his rare experience reporting from the Gulf states during President Trump’s visit.

0 Politics Israel

Israel announces biggest West Bank settlement expansion in decades

Ben Sales in Forward

Israel has declared the most significant expansion of West Bank settlements in decades, unveiling plans for 22 new settlements, partially legitimate existing outposts, under the leadership of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Culture ›

0 Culture Politics

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke criticizes Netanyahu, Hamas and pressure on artists to opine on Gaza

Philissa Cramer in JTA

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has broken his silence regarding the Israeli-Gaza conflict by expressing his frustrations over the pressure to comment on the situation.

0 Culture Politics

‘Humans of New York’ features a Jewish anti-Zionist member of Neturei Karta. The comments section erupts.

Ben Sales in JTA

Humans of New York (HONY), a popular social media project, recently featured a group of Neturei Karta anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews, inciting a turbulent response.

0 Culture Antisemitism

My Favorite Jewish Conspiracies (And Why I'm Proud of Every One)

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Joshua Hoffman humorously and critically examines popular Jewish conspiracy theories, suggesting they are often misunderstood as criticisms when, in fact, they highlight Jewish resilience and achievement.

Music ›

0 Music Culture

Why you’re hearing 'Hatikvah' everywhere — or are you?

Olivia Haynie in Forward

"Caught by the Tides" is a film gaining attention for featuring a melody reminiscent of Israel's national anthem, "Hatikvah," though it's actually a performance of Czech composer Bedřich Smetana's "The Moldau."

Food ›

0 Food Culture

An Ode to Israeli Cheese

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Israeli cheese offers a unique culinary experience, celebrated for its distinct taste and quality stemming from Israel's advanced dairy industry.

Torah ›

0 Torah Literature

The Return of Ruth

Stuart Halpern in Jewish Review of Books

Stuart Halpern explores the complex concept of 'return' in the Book of Ruth, focusing on the word "shuv," which typically implies a return to a previous place or state.

Communities ›

0 Communities Culture

At this pro-Palestinian cafe, you can practice your Hebrew and imagine you're in Mauritania

Lauren Hakimi in Forward

Barzakh Café in Brooklyn, owned by Mauritanian dissident El Atigh Abba, is a unique space blending cultural and political dialogues, particularly for liberal Jews with Mizrahi roots who find an uncommon mix of Mizrahi traditions and pro-Palestinian values there.

0 Communities Jewish Law

Is Seeing - Believing?

Emes Ve-Emunah

The article reflects on the perceived unity displayed during the Daf Yomi Siyum HaShas, organized by Agudath Israel, noting the participation and celebration across different Orthodox Jewish communities.

0 Communities Politics

Those Penguins and Those Kids from Gaza: “Man is Wolf to Man”

guestpost in Jewschool

Set against the backdrop of the Seeds of Peace Camp and later ventures, this narrative weaves a personal story of friendship and cross-cultural bonding between the narrator, an American connected with the Seeds of Peace program, and Mohammed, a Palestinian professor from Gaza.

0 Communities Antisemitism

On the northwest side of Chicago, my old Jewish neighborhood may soon live on in infamy

Ron Grossman in Forward

Ron Grossman reflects on his upbringing in Albany Park, Chicago, a neighborhood with a rich Jewish past now marked by diverse ethnicities and changing identities.

0 Communities Culture

From outsider to ancestor: Ruth’s path and our Jewish future

Contributing Author in eJewishPhilanthropy

The narrative of the Book of Ruth, particularly relevant as Shavuot approaches, explores themes of loyalty, identity, and belonging, posing poignant questions about Jewish community and identity today.

Education ›

0 Education Politics

The End of the Marty Peretz Era - At a controversial event at the Center for Jewish History, Trump donor Bill Ackman held his own against an exhausted brand of liberalism.

David Klion in Jewish Currents

The gathering at the Center for Jewish History served as a reflection on the shifting dynamics of American Jewish liberalism with regard to education and free speech, particularly in the context of antisemitism and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

History ›

0 History Politics

How Churchill’s Successor Gave Stalin the MiG

Dan Zamansky in Tablet

The article explores Clement Attlee's tenure as British Prime Minister post-World War II, focusing on his controversial decision to sell advanced Rolls-Royce jet engines to the Soviet Union.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Education

‘The challenge attracted me’: Julio Frenk brings the fight against campus antisemitism to UCLA

Gabby Deutch in Jewish Insider

Julio Frenk, former president of the University of Miami and current chancellor of UCLA, is taking a strong stand against campus antisemitism.

Art ›

0 Art Gender/Identity

Go Forth O Daughters: Reclaiming the Yiddish “Women’s Bible” in Art

Guest Contributor in Lilith

Artist Danielle Alhassid's "Go Forth O Daughters" is an innovative art project exploring the Tsenerene, the Yiddish Women's Bible, integrating historical texts and modern stop-motion animation.

JL;DR

for Saturday, May 31, 2025

Antisemitism ›

Politics ›

Culture ›

Music ›

Food ›

Torah ›

Communities ›

Education ›

History ›

Jewish Law ›

Art ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

May 31's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

navigate_before navigate_next for Saturday, May 31, 2025

Antisemitism ›

Politics ›

Culture ›

Music ›

Food ›

Torah ›

Communities ›

Education ›

History ›

Jewish Law ›

Art ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

May 31's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Saturday, May 31, 2025