JL;DR

Daily Podcasts Video Research

for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Education ›

0 Education Jewish Law

How the next generation of rabbis is preparing for the age of A.I.

Louis Keene in Forward

Amidst the increasing integration of artificial intelligence into various sectors, rabbinical students in the U.S. are confronting the implications of AI on religious study and practice.

0 Education Jewish Law

Insulation Is Not Education

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr argues in Mishpacha Magazine that over-protective parents in the Torah-observant community often seek to insulate their children from slightly different ways of observance, fearing negative influences.

Culture ›

0 Culture Ethics

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr explores the cultural pressures within Jewish communities that lead to overspending on events and material goods, such as weddings and bar mitzvahs, which have evolved from luxuries to perceived necessities.

0 Culture Philosophy

How to Read a Map

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Maps of Jerusalem transcend their geographical purpose to become reflections of spiritual journeys, illustrating the evolving nature of Jewish identity and holiness.

0 Culture Ethics

The Taxi Driver’s Hashkafah

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr recounts a compelling story shared by her son-in-law about an encounter with a uniquely principled Israeli taxi driver, illustrating how faith and integrity guide his profession.

0 Culture Politics

26 conceivably believable pop culture predictions for 2026

PJ Grisar in Forward

PJ Grisar humorously predicts 26 pop culture trends and events for the year 2026, with a focus on Jewish elements in entertainment and media.

0 Culture Gender/Identity

Seven Feminist Pop Culture Highlights of 2025

Helene Meyers in Lilith

Helene Meyers highlights seven feminist cultural contributions of 2025 that inspire and support resilience amidst ongoing societal upheaval.

0 Culture Antisemitism

How Celebrities Celebrated Hanukkah 2025

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Jewish celebrities and their loved ones celebrated Hanukkah 2025 by expressing their Jewish pride and connection amidst global challenges, particularly in light of a tragic attack at Bondi Beach.

Politics ›

0 Politics Israel

What Almost Everyone Gets Wrong About Israel's Wars

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

The article by Joshua Hoffman critiques common misconceptions about Israel's ongoing conflicts, distinguishing between transactional wars, driven by material interests, and religious-civilizational wars, driven by ideological imperatives.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Ben Shapiro is mounting a last stand against right-wing antisemitism. It’s not going well.

Andrew Lapin in JTA

Ben Shapiro, a prominent Orthodox Jewish conservative commentator, has publicly condemned rising antisemitic sentiments within right-wing circles, labeling high-profile conservatives like Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Steve Bannon as purveyors of conspiracies and dishonesty.

0 Politics Leadership

Campaigning Against the Courts

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Political tension in Israel heats up as Prime Minister Netanyahu maneuvers through the judicial system while preparing for upcoming elections.

0 Politics Ethics

Vance says ‘religious liberty is a Christian concept.’ Where does that leave Jews?

Hannah Feuer in Forward

Vice President JD Vance's comments at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest sparked debate over the roots of religious liberty, which he claims is a Christian concept.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Looks Can Be Deceiving. Are They Here?

Emes Ve-Emunah

The article discusses concerns regarding the rising acceptability of left-wing antisemitism in American culture, exemplified by the election of New York City's first anti-Zionist mayor.

0 Politics Israel

Trump’s Syria strategy tested amid resurgence of ISIS in Damascus

Matthew Shea in Jewish Insider

The article discusses President Donald Trump's efforts to stabilize post-Assad Syria by normalizing relations with the new Syrian government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

0 Politics Israel

Pentagon plan to reorganize military could undermine U.S.-Israel security, experts warn

Matthew Shea in Jewish Insider

The Pentagon's proposed reorganization plan under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth aims to consolidate U.S. military commands, potentially reallocating resources from the Middle East and integrating Central Command (CENTCOM) into a larger U.S. International Command.

0 Politics Israel

Netanyahu’s nominee to lead Mossad is his close advisor and an IDF general who fought the system

Lahav Harkov in Jewish Insider

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nomination of Maj.

0 Politics Antisemitism

'Anti-Zionism' has become the most acceptable form of hate.

Andrea Tovah in Future of Jewish

Andrea Tovah, a social worker and clinician, discusses the prevalence of anti-Zionism as a mainstream form of hate, arguing that it has become an accepted ideology that targets Jews and Israelis.

0 Politics Culture

The Good, the Bad, and the Bizarre

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism

Natan Slifkin reflects on a tense protest outside an event opposing special IDF programs for charedim.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Politics

The Lessons of Bondi Beach

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr's article addresses the increasing isolation and danger faced by Jews worldwide in the wake of the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel.

0 Antisemitism Leadership

Just before Hanukkah attack, Jewish mayor of Bondi Beach region had been praised for fighting antisemitism

Andrew Lapin in JTA

In the wake of a tragic Hanukkah mass shooting in Australia, Mayor Will Nemesh of Waverley, a Jewish community leader, has been recognized for his efforts to fight antisemitism.

0 Antisemitism Culture

A dark deal is sacrificing Jews in Australia and across the West.

Nadav Eyal in Future of Jewish

Nadav Eyal highlights the alarming rise of antisemitism in Australia and broader Western societies, using the story of Ed Halmagyi's Avners Bakery in Sydney as a case study.

0 Antisemitism Education

Pennsylvania principal to be fired over antisemitic voicemail: ‘They control the banks’

Grace Gilson in Forward

Philip Leddy, a Pennsylvania elementary school principal, is facing termination after making antisemitic comments in a voicemail to a Jewish parent.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Bondi gunmen condemned ‘Zionist’ actions prior to attack and threw bombs that failed to detonate, police say

Grace Gilson in JTA

The Bondi Beach attack involved two gunmen, Naveed and Sajid Akram, who opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, resulting in 15 deaths.

Music ›

0 Music Culture

Layered Shifts of Life

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Composer Chayala Neuhaus continues to evolve her musical journey with the release of 'Miracles 4', featuring songs that resonate with themes of faith, perseverance, and the layered experiences of Jewish life.

0 Music History

How hundreds of forgotten klezmer tunes have been rescued from oblivion

Jon Kalish in Forward

An extensive collection of over 1,000 historic klezmer tunes, long dormant in Kyiv's Vernadsky National Library, has been revitalized by the Klezmer Institute through the Kiselgof-Makonovetsky Digital Manuscript Project.

Communities ›

0 Communities Torah

The Moment: Issue 1092

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

In "The Moment: Issue 1092," Cindy Scarr shares captivating stories highlighting Jewish identity, resilience, and the power of prayer.

0 Communities Ethics

Inbox: Issue 1092

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

The article offers a range of perspectives from engaged Jewish community members on contemporary issues within Jewish life.

0 Communities Education

How culture shapes community: 10 practices from The Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life

eJewishPhilanthropy

In a detailed recount of the formation and evolution of The Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life, the author shares ten foundational practices that shaped the organization over two decades.

0 Communities Holocaust

The unseen bereaved: Why it will take us all for Israel to recover

eJewishPhilanthropy

The founder of OneFamily, Marc Belzberg, highlights the increased demand for support in Israel following the emotional devastation caused by the events of October 7, 2023.

0 Communities History

Warsaw Jewish cemetery director fired amid clash over who controls the preservation of Poland’s Jewish past

Shira Li Bartov in JTA

Witold Wrzosinski, director of Warsaw's Jewish cemetery, has been dismissed amidst a controversy over the control of restoration projects, which he claims often exclude local Jewish input.

Language ›

0 Language Culture

The Exciting Yiddish Word We Should All Use More

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

The Yiddish word "plotz", stemming from "platsn" meaning to crack or burst, offers a vibrant way to express both positive and negative emotions.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy Israel

A Zionist giving agenda for 2026

eJewishPhilanthropy

In a bold vision for philanthropic engagement in 2026, Gil Troy argues for a strategic reorientation of Jewish and Zionist giving.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Culture

My Tzitzis Fill Me With Jewish Pride—Here’s Why

Dovid Campbell in 18forty

Dovid Campbell reflects on the significance of tzitzis, illustrating how this Jewish garment balances Jewish particularism and universal values.

Food ›

0 Food Culture

Chewy Almond Gelt Cookies

Leah Koenig in Jewish Table

Leah Koenig shares a delightful recipe for Chewy Almond Gelt Cookies, a creative solution for leftover Hanukkah chocolate gelt, using almond flour, sugar, and egg to create a versatile cookie base.

Art ›

0 Art History

An activist Jewish artist who used his work to fight fascism

Cathryn J. Prince in Forward

Arthur Szyk, a Polish-born Jewish artist, used his artwork as a powerful form of activism against fascism and bigotry.