JL;DR

Daily Podcasts Video Research

for Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Communities ›

0 Communities Philosophy

When a perfect storm drives donors

eJewishPhilanthropy

The American Technion Society (ATS) has seen an unexpected surge in planned donations from new donors, including children of Holocaust survivors and disillusioned Ivy League alumni, amid recent geopolitical and social upheavals affecting the Jewish community and Israel.

0 Communities Ethics

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Nati Weiss, after spending over 20 years in prison, now dedicates his life to helping troubled Jewish teens in Lakewood avoid the path he once took.

0 Communities History

Glimpses of Redemption

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Amidst the backdrop of war-torn Ukraine, Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch and Rebbetzin Elke Inna lead an inspiring mission to rekindle Jewish connections among elderly Jews scattered in Kyiv and surrounding rural villages.

0 Communities Education

A cure for Jewish communal burnout? Ancient Jewish wisdom

eJewishPhilanthropy

Amidst increasing antisemitism and societal polarization, Jewish communal professionals face burnout, threatening the infrastructure of Jewish life.

0 Communities Jewish Law

Building systems of care

eJewishPhilanthropy

Elisheva Thompson emphasizes the crucial role of robust organizational systems in supporting Jewish communal professionals.

0 Communities Ethics

Fund the talent, or forget the cause

eJewishPhilanthropy

In the Jewish nonprofit sector, there is a pressing need to address worker burnout and prioritize the well-being of employees.

Politics ›

0 Politics History

China uses WWII memory to project power in military parade and international diplomacy

Lahav Harkov in Jewish Insider

China's recent WWII victory parade underscores its strategic use of historical memory and Holocaust terminology to bolster nationalist sentiment and assert global power.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Jim Walden drops out of NYC mayoral race, urging others to unite against Mamdani’s ‘antisemitic obsessions’

Joseph Strauss in JTA

Jim Walden, a New York City mayoral candidate, has suspended his campaign and urged others to unite against frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, whom he accuses of antisemitic tendencies.

0 Politics Culture

Beverly Hills schools wanted to fly the Israeli flag – but not to support the Jewish state

Hannah Feuer in Forward

In Beverly Hills, a debate erupted over flying the Israeli flag during Jewish American Heritage Month, highlighting the complexities of its symbolism.

0 Politics History

The Upside of Down

Jewdicious

Michael Oren argues that despite the devastating toll of nearly 700 days of war on Israel, there have been positive outcomes that may ensure the country's future survival.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Trump lawyer who praised ‘Mein Kampf’ is now accusing Harvard of antisemitism, report says

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward

Michael Velchik, a Justice Department attorney with a controversial past surrounding his alleged admiration for Mein Kampf, is representing the Trump administration in its case against Harvard over claims of antisemitism.

0 Politics Culture

The Medium Is the Mockery

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, has adopted a strategy that mirrors Donald Trump's use of social media, memes, and mockery to gain attention and support among Democrats, positioning himself as a leading opponent of Trump.

0 Politics Science

Peace Without a Drought

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr's article in Mishpacha explores the intersection of geopolitics and water scarcity, highlighting how water management could be a key factor in resolving conflicts around the world.

0 Politics Israel

As the World Turns (Against Israel)

Emes Ve-Emunah

The article highlights the shifting dynamics of Israel's public relations challenges in the United States, as noted by former President Donald Trump, who acknowledges Israel's military strength but warns of its waning influence in Washington, particularly among younger Republicans and progressive lawmakers.

0 Politics History

International Association of Genocide Scholars says Israel’s war in Gaza constitutes genocide

Philissa Cramer in JTA

A recent resolution by the International Association of Genocide Scholars has labeled Israel's military actions in Gaza as genocide, adding a strong voice to the ongoing international debate over the conflict.

0 Politics Leadership

Jerry Nadler, Congress’ most senior Jewish member, says he will not seek reelection

Philissa Cramer in JTA

Jerrold Nadler, a prominent Jewish congressman from New York and the longest-serving Jewish member of Congress, announced he will not seek reelection, emphasizing the need for generational change in politics.

0 Politics Israel

Analysis: Nadler’s exit marks the end of an era for Jews in Congress. Will the next generation 'do better'?

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

The retirement of Rep. Jerry Nadler marks the conclusion of a significant era for Jewish political influence within New York and the broader U.S. Congress.

0 Politics Israel

Negotiations for next U.S.-Israel aid deal faces uphill battle with changing political tides

Gabby Deutch in Jewish Insider

As the expiration of the current U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which provides substantial military aid to Israel, approaches, negotiations for a new deal face significant challenges amidst changing political dynamics.

0 Politics History

The world’s ‘good Jews’ are history’s bad guys.

Future of Jewish

Dinah Bucholz explores the concept of "good Jews" throughout history, suggesting that those who distance themselves from Zionism and their Jewish heritage in pursuit of acceptance ultimately fail to be seen as heroes or maintain a Jewish lineage.

Israel ›

0 Israel Politics

Israel has every right to annex the West Bank.

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Joshua Hoffman's article argues that Israel has both moral and legal justifications for annexing the West Bank, rooted in a historical Jewish connection to the land and centuries of persecution culminating in the formation of Israel.

Culture ›

0 Culture Politics

Coldplay welcomed Israeli fans onstage ‘as equal humans.’ Why are some Jewish people mad?

Louis Keene in Forward

Coldplay's Chris Martin stirred controversy during a London concert when addressing Israeli fans in the audience, offering them equal recognition as humans alongside Palestinians.

0 Culture Education

Tales of a Hebrew School Dropout

Ivy Eisenberg in Kveller

Ivy Eisenberg shares her humorous journey from a child disappointed by not receiving a miniature Torah in Hebrew school to reclaiming Jewish learning as an adult.

0 Culture Politics

A Palestinian Coloring Book

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism

Natan Slifkin discusses a controversial Palestinian coloring book, emphasizing its unique approach of integrating flora and fauna significant to Palestinian identity.

0 Culture Gender/Identity

A New Graphic Novel Reimagines Surrogacy

Amy Klein in Hadassah

A new graphic novel, "A Tale of Two Surrogates: A Graphic Narrative on Assisted Reproduction," co-authored by Israeli anthropologist Elly Teman and American sociologist Zsuzsa Berend, moves beyond the typical sensationalized narratives of surrogacy to explore stories motivated by altruism.

Education ›

0 Education Culture

How being a public school student strengthened my Jewish identity

Renata Firestone in JTA

Renata Firestone reflects on how transitioning from a Jewish day school to a diverse public high school in New York enhanced her Jewish identity.

0 Education Leadership

Thinking differently to attract Jewish day school leaders to the profession

Jason Albin in JTA

Jewish day schools are pivotal to the continuity and vitality of Jewish life in North America, serving as centers of education, culture, and community leadership.

0 Education Ethics

Family First Inbox: Issue 959

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

The article discusses a trio of issues within the Jewish community, focusing on aspects of education, parenting, and behavioral discipline.

0 Education Culture

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Many parents face the challenge of early morning wake-ups and often resort to screens as a quick fix to buy some extra rest.

Leadership ›

0 Leadership Prayer

Silent Blessing

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

The story recounts a profound encounter with Rav Shalom Schwadron, a famous maggid from Yerushalayim, who, during a period of silence in Elul, communicated blessings without speaking.

0 Leadership Communities

Thanks but no thanks: What Jewish professionals really want

eJewishPhilanthropy

In "Thanks but no thanks: What Jewish professionals really want," leadership consultant Nahma Nadich articulates the crisis facing Jewish communal professionals, often overwhelmed by unsustainable work demands and blurred boundaries between personal and professional lives.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy Holidays

“Teshuvah Overwhelms Me”

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

The article addresses the common difficulty and overwhelming nature of embracing teshuvah, or repentance, during the Jewish month of Elul.

0 Philosophy Torah

To Walk in His Ways

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr's piece examines the profound Jewish concept of 'vhalachta bdrachav'—walking in God's ways, which extends beyond loving one's neighbor to embodying God's attributes, as expounded in 'Tomer Devorah' by Rav Moshe Cordevero.

0 Philosophy Jewish Law

Misunderstandings in Tzniut

Jack Cohen in Lehrhaus

Jack Cohen explores the often-misunderstood concept of tzniut (modesty) in Jewish thought, particularly within Modern Orthodox circles.

0 Philosophy Jewish Law

Dovid Bashevkin in Tablet

Dovid Bashevkin explores the enduring relevance of idolatry in a modern context while recounting his childhood memories of Avraham's iconoclastic tale.

Music ›

0 Music Communities

Songs in the Key of October 7

Rahel Musleah in Hadassah

Following the tragic events of October 7, 2023, at the Nova music festival, music has become a powerful medium of memorial and healing for grieving families in Israel.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Communities

October 7 Films Spotlight Terror and Resilience

Avi Dresner in Hadassah

Films like "The Children of October 7," "We Will Dance Again," "Holding Liat," and "A Letter to David" offer poignant narratives about the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.

0 Television/Film Culture

Nancy Spielberg Knows Unforgettable Footage

Avi Dresner in Hadassah

Nancy Spielberg, a Shabbat observant film producer and sister of Steven Spielberg, reflects on the impact of witnessing uncensored footage from the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Philosophy

Jewish trauma is making Jews weak and vulnerable.

Saul Goldman in Future of Jewish

The article by Saul Goldman critiques the notion that antisemitism can be attributed to mental illness, arguing that it is a manifestation of evil.

Torah ›

0 Torah Education

New Humash features Rabbi Sacks’ posthumously published translations

Lahav Harkov in Jewish Insider

Koren Publishers is releasing a posthumous edition of the Koren Shalem Humash featuring new translations and insights by the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.

Holidays ›

0 Holidays Communities

Where to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in New York City in 2025

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA

The article provides a comprehensive guide to celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in New York City in 2025, outlining various opportunities across different boroughs.

Holocaust ›

0 Holocaust Israel

Eli Sharabi: From Rock Bottom to Choosing Life

Ruth Marks Eglash in Hadassah

Eli Sharabi's memoir, "Hostage," recounts his harrowing 491-day captivity by Hamas in Gaza, starting from the brutal October 7, 2023 massacre at Kibbutz Beeri.