JL;DR

Daily Podcasts Video Research

for Saturday, March 21, 2026

Welcome, visitor! Here's a digest of what's been published in Jewish media over the last day. JL;DR members have access to summaries of everything plus our full archive. Donate & start reading »

Politics ›

0 Politics History

How Decades of Death Threats Backfired on the Islamic Republic

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

The fraught relationship between Israel and Iran has evolved through several phases, starting from strong diplomatic ties before the 1979 Iranian Revolution to an intense rivalry characterized by proxy conflicts and threats of war.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Gaza protest slogans amounted to ‘racial slurs’ toward Jews, Trump administration alleges in new Harvard lawsuit

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, claiming that the institution permitted an antisemitic environment on campus by being too lenient with student protests advocating for Palestinian issues.

0 Politics Israel

Germany pulls support for Israel in ICJ genocide case, battling its own accusations of aiding Israel

Shira Li Bartov in JTA

Amidst growing international legal contention, Germany has withdrawn its support for Israel in a genocide case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

0 Politics Israel

Palestinianism can't survive without the Iranian regime.

Nachum Kaplan in Future of Jewish

Nachum Kaplan's essay examines the dependency of the Palestinian nationalist movement on the Iranian regime, positing that the diminishing power of Iran could lead to a profound identity crisis for the cause.

0 Politics Culture

Court ruling reviving VOA sparks cautious hope for expanded Iran coverage

Matthew Kassel in Jewish Insider

The recent court ruling overturning efforts to drastically reduce the Voice of America's (VOA) staff may allow the organization to enhance its Persian-language coverage, particularly vital amidst the ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions and internet restrictions in Iran.

Literature ›

0 Literature Israel

REVIEW: ‘Dog’ by Yishay Ishi Ron

Alan D. Abbey in Hadassah

Yishay Ishi Ron's novel "Dog," translated by Yardenne Greenspan, is a poignant exploration of trauma, addiction, and the search for redemption set against the backdrop of an Israeli setting laden with the psychological scars of military service.

0 Literature Gender/Identity

We need to talk about New Jersey's Jewish master of literature. No, not that one

Talya Zax in Forward

This piece contrasts the literary legacies of two New Jersey-born American Jewish writers, Philip Roth and Judy Blume.

Communities ›

0 Communities Politics

Fighting for Freedom

The Cholent in The Cholent

Dalia Ziada, an Egyptian activist and scholar, discusses her journey from viewing Israel as an adversary to advocating for dialogue and understanding between Jewish and Muslim communities.

0 Communities Politics

Progressive Jewish group unveils plan to combat hate in NYC — without policing

Joseph Strauss in JTA

Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), a progressive Jewish group, has released a comprehensive plan to combat antisemitic violence in New York City without relying on traditional policing measures.

0 Communities Culture

The first and second Jewish mayors of Providence, Rhode Island, just had a shared bar mitzvah

Grace Gilson in JTA

Providence, Rhode Island witnessed an unusual communal and personal celebration as sitting Mayor Brett Smiley and former Mayor David Cicilline participated in a shared adult bar mitzvah ceremony at Temple Beth-El.

0 Communities Politics

Israel’s next national mission must be the North

eJewishPhilanthropy

Michal Cohen, CEO of the Rashi Foundation, emphasizes the critical need for focused development in northern Israel, especially in light of recent conflicts.

0 Communities Culture

Where do I belong? Making space for adults without children in the Jewish community

eJewishPhilanthropy

Jewish communities often emphasize family-centric programming, which can inadvertently marginalize adults without children, particularly those aged 30-50.

Culture ›

0 Culture Holidays

Passover Is Officially In Its HomeGoods Era

Rabbi Yael Buechler in Kveller

Passover decorations have finally entered the mainstream retail space at HomeGoods, offering a range of both charming and quirky items that celebrate the Jewish holiday in fresh ways.

0 Culture Politics

The Rise of the News Avoiders. Plus . . .

The Free Press in The Free Press

This edition of 'The Front Page' from The Free Press explores the emerging trend of individuals opting out of the incessant 24-hour news cycle, identifying as 'News Avoiders.'

0 Culture Television/Film

‘Jew-FK Jr.’: Meet the Connecticut dad and children’s book author who won a JFK Jr. lookalike contest

Grace Gilson in JTA

Andrew Ginsburg, a 46-year-old father from Southport, Connecticut, who has frequently been compared to John F. Kennedy Jr., embraced the resemblance by winning a JFK Jr. lookalike contest in New York.

Food ›

0 Food Culture

Move over Thomas Edison, this deli savant is the Garden State's newest inventor

Sam Lin-Sommer in Forward

Jason Stahl, an inventive deli operator in Jersey City, has brought a modern twist to Jewish culinary traditions through his business, Hank Schwartz’s Delicatessen and Appetizing.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Politics

We must rewrite the rulebook for fighting antisemitism — or conspiracists like Joe Kent will win the narrative wars

Emily Tamkin in Forward

Emily Tamkin argues for the need to open up honest conversations about Israel and its influence in American politics to combat the spread of antisemitic conspiracy theories, like those propagated by Joe Kent.

0 Antisemitism Education

In antisemitism settlement, UC Berkeley agrees bans on Zionists ‘can violate university rules’

Andrew Lapin in JTA

UC Berkeley has reached a settlement in an antisemitism lawsuit, agreeing that bans on Zionists can be a violation of university rules and that any such bylaws must be rescinded.

0 Antisemitism History

There's a strange connection between antisemitism and failure.

Vanessa Berg in Future of Jewish

Vanessa Berg's essay explores the recurrent link between societal failure and the rise of antisemitism.

Education ›

0 Education Antisemitism

Report on declining Jewish enrollment at Harvard raises alarm and sparks debate

Haley Cohen in Jewish Insider

Jewish enrollment at Harvard University has declined to its lowest level since the pre-World War II era, evoking concerns and debates about the role of admission policies and campus culture.