for Wednesday, March 25, 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 »

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law History

Romania’s secret police trailed a Jewish photographer. Decades later, their files have become a film.

Philissa Cramer in Forward

Edward Serotta, an American Jewish photojournalist, was secretly surveilled by Romania's notorious secret police, the Securitate, during the 1980s due to his background and work.

0 Jewish Law Holidays

The Ozempic Seder: Navigating Weight-Loss Medicine on Pesach

Dr. Sharon Grossman in Jewish Action

With the increasing use of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Jewish individuals face unique challenges during Pesach, a holiday deeply centered around dietary practices.

0 Jewish Law Holidays

The Halachos of Chol HaMoed: Is It Actually “Chol”?

Rabbi Ezra Sarna in Jewish Action

Rabbi Ezra Sarna delves into the complex halachot governing Chol HaMoed, challenging the common assumption that it is akin to regular weekdays.

Politics ›

0 Politics Israel

Avraham Burg, longtime fixture of Israeli left, meets Tucker Carlson on his own turf

Andrew Lapin in Forward

Avraham Burg, a prominent figure of the Israeli left and former interim president, recently engaged in a surprising conversation with Tucker Carlson, a right-wing American pundit.

0 Politics Jewish Law

Meet Karin Prien, the woman who could become Germany’s first Jewish president

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA

Karin Prien, a prominent German politician with Jewish ancestry, is considered a frontrunner for Germany's federal presidency in 2027.

0 Politics Israel

CA Gov. Newsom says he regrets apartheid comment, ‘reveres’ Israel in new interview

Louis Keene in Forward

California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed regret over using the term "apartheid" to describe the situation in Israel, a comment which had previously caused backlash among Jewish leaders.

0 Politics Israel

Settler Violence and Their Apologists

Emes Ve-Emunah

Addressing the rise in extremist violence among settlers in the West Bank, the article highlights recent attacks by settlers on Palestinian communities, criticizing apologists who downplay the issue's severity.

0 Politics Israel

The End of the Old Middle East

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Joshua Hoffman analyzes a transformative shift in the Middle East marked by increasing unity between Israel and Arab states against Iran, catalyzed by both diplomatic efforts like the Abraham Accords and escalating military threats.

0 Politics Israel

The Iran war was always about 100 miles of water.

Vanessa Berg in Future of Jewish

Vanessa Berg's essay delves into the geopolitical significance of the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting it as a critical maritime corridor that shapes the U.S.-Iran conflict beyond the conventional narratives of nuclear threats and military tensions.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Leadership

King Charles named patron of British Jewish security nonprofit following ambulance attack

Grace Gilson in Forward

King Charles III has become the first patron of the Community Security Trust (CST), the UK’s leading antisemitism watchdog, following an arson attack involving ambulances owned by a Jewish volunteer emergency service in north London.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Who is the new ‘terror group’ claiming responsibility for antisemitic attacks in Europe?

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA

A new group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), has emerged, claiming responsibility for a spate of antisemitic and anti-Western attacks across Europe that have not resulted in injuries, including incidents in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Sheriff who responded to Temple Israel attack faces online backlash

Grace Gilson in JTA

Sheriff Mike Bouchard, who led the response to an antisemitic attack at Temple Israel in Detroit, faces severe backlash online after announcing the arrest of a man responsible for an antisemitic meme portraying him with Jewish features.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Man who punched Israeli tourist convicted of a hate crime

New York Jewish Week Staff in JTA

Yehia Amin has been convicted of a hate crime after attacking a 23-year-old Israeli tourist in Times Square, amidst a surge of tension following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks against Israel.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Catholic Church urges clergy to address 'misleading statements' about Jews by far-right influencers

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a memorandum urging Catholic clergy to address misinformation propagated by far-right influencers regarding the Church's stance on Jews and Israel.

Ethics ›

0 Ethics Politics

The Corrupted Moral Logic of Modern War

Lucy in Future of Jewish

Lucy Tabrizi's guest essay discusses the moral complexities and challenges of judging acts of war and terrorism, particularly focusing on the intent behind actions.

0 Ethics Jewish Law

The Algorithm That Couldn’t See: AI Ethics and the Halakhic Discipline of Perception

Joseph Feiler in Lehrhaus

Joseph Feiler explores the intersection of AI ethics and Jewish thought by examining how halakhah, or Jewish law, trains perception, an element missing in AI ethics today.

Education ›

0 Education Culture

How our Yiddish group uses the Forverts podcast

Judith E. Liskin-Gasparro in Forward

The Iowa City Yiddish Group, originally formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been utilizing the "Yiddish with Rukhl" podcasts from the Forverts to enhance their Yiddish language skills.

Culture ›

0 Culture Holidays

18 Passover Songs for Kids

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Passover offers a rich tapestry of songs that engage both children and adults, enhancing the holiday's storytelling and traditions.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film History

Romania’s secret police trailed a Jewish photographer. Decades later, their files have become a film.

Toby Axelrod in JTA

The short documentary "Plan Contraplan/Shot Reverse Shot," directed by Radu Jude and historian Adrian Cioflnc, explores the obsessive surveillance of Jewish-American photojournalist Edward Serotta by Romania's Securitate during the 1980s.

0 Television/Film Antisemitism

Roald Dahl’s monstrous views have a seat at the table today

PJ Grisar in Forward

The play "Giant," now on Broadway, explores an imagined confrontation between Roald Dahl and his publishers following Dahl's antisemitic comments in a 1983 review of the book "God Cried," which critiqued the 1982 Lebanon War.

History ›

0 History Culture

In 3 centuries of Southern Jewish life in the Big Easy, no easy way to be Jewish

PJ Grisar in Forward

Nicholas Lemann's memoir, "Returning: A Search for Home Across Three Centuries," explores his family's history as assimilated Jews in the American South, contrasting their aristocratic lifestyle with their Jewish roots.

0 History Ethics

We're forgetting the lessons of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire

Cathryn J. Prince in Forward

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 remains a critical reminder of the need for strong labor laws, yet the hard-won protections it inspired are currently being eroded in the US.

Leadership ›

0 Leadership Israel

Strengthening Israel means strengthening its leaders

eJewishPhilanthropy

The article explores the critical role of leadership mentorship in fortifying Israel's nonprofit sector, emphasizing that executive mentorship can enhance organizational stability and resilience.

0 Leadership Jewish Law

Choosing simplicity over sophistication: the ‘Moneyball Judaism Scorecard’

eJewishPhilanthropy

In the rapidly evolving landscape of nonprofit and Jewish organizations, effectiveness often hides behind layers of jargon and overly complex metrics.

Communities ›

0 Communities Politics

From WhatsApp chats to City Hall, a new Jewish activism is born

Gabby Deutch in Jewish Insider

Gabby Deutch's article explores the rise of a new form of Jewish activism that emerged from grassroots efforts following significant events such as the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and the Gaza war.

0 Communities Israel

'Verbal sparring' at a conference for religious Jews breaking from Israel orthodoxy? That's not what I experienced

Josh Cahan in Forward

Josh Cahan provides a firsthand account of the recent Smol Emuni conference at Bnai Jeshurun in Manhattan, challenging the characterization by the Forward of the event as contentious.

JL;DR

for Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Jewish Law ›

Politics ›

Antisemitism ›

Ethics ›

Education ›

Culture ›

Television/Film ›

History ›

Leadership ›

Communities ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

March 25's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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Jewish Law ›

Politics ›

Antisemitism ›

Ethics ›

Education ›

Culture ›

Television/Film ›

History ›

Leadership ›

Communities ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

March 25's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Wednesday, March 25, 2026