for Thursday, March 26, 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 »

History ›

0 History Antisemitism

50 years after the Dirty War, Argentinians remember the Jews who ‘disappeared’

Andrew Silow-Carroll in Forward

As Argentina commemorates the 50th anniversary of its 1976 military coup, attention is drawn to the disproportionately high number of Jewish individuals among the disappeared during the Dirty War—estimated at 1,900 Jews, significantly exceeding their population representation.

0 History Antisemitism

50 years after the Dirty War, Argentinians remember the Jews who ‘disappeared’

Juan Melamed in JTA

Fifty years after Argentina's Dirty War, attention is drawn to the disproportionately high number of Jews among the 30,000 disappeared, an issue being addressed by educational initiatives from Buenos Aires' AMIA Jewish community center.

0 History Jewish Law

Rediscovering Rebecca Gratz

Jeremy D. Popkin in Jewish Review of Books

Rebecca Gratz, an influential 19th-century American Jewish woman, is often remembered through the lens of legend and philanthropy.

0 History Jewish Law

Rediscovering Rebecca Gratz

Jeremy D. Popkin in Jewish Review of Books

Rebecca Gratz, often hailed as the foremost American Jewish woman of the 19th century, was instrumental in shaping Jewish communal and philanthropic institutions in Philadelphia.

0 History Jewish Law

Breaching the Walls of History

Dan Rabinowitz in Jewish Review of Books

Dan Rabinowitz explores the controversy sparked by Rabbi Michoel Sorotzkin's impassioned criticism of his report on the Brisker Rov's visit to the Strashun Library in Vilna.

0 History Holocaust

Breaching the Walls of History

Dan Rabinowitz in Jewish Review of Books

Dan Rabinowitz delves into the contentious reaction sparked by his research on the Strashun Library in Vilna, which drew criticism from the haredi community when published in Yated Neeman.

0 History Holocaust

Leap of Faith

Allan Arkush in Jewish Review of Books

Matti Friedman's new book explores the courageous yet ultimately tragic mission of Jewish parachutists, including Haviva Reick and Hannah Senesh, sent into Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II.

0 History Jewish Law

The Unbearable Lightness of Exile

Shai Secunda in Jewish Review of Books

David Kraemer's book, Embracing Exile: The Case for Jewish Diaspora, explores the positive aspects of the Jewish diaspora throughout history.

0 History Torah

Members of the Scribe

Ethan Schwartz in Jewish Review of Books

William M. Schniedewind's book, 'Members of the Scribe,' delves into the fascinating world of ancient biblical scribes, challenging traditional notions of authorship in biblical studies.

0 History Culture

Lost and Found and Random

Mira Balberg in Jewish Review of Books

Amos Oz's childhood fantasy of becoming a book highlights the fragility and miraculous survival of ancient texts, a theme explored in the Posen Library's comprehensive sourcebook edited by Carol Bakhos.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Culture

Fortnite tops ADL’s new ‘leaderboard’ ranking video games on antisemitism safeguards

Grace Gilson in Forward

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has launched its inaugural Online Gaming Leaderboard to assess how well online multiplayer games counter antisemitism and extremism.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Who is Hasan Piker, the left-wing streamer Brad Schneider says Democrats should reject

Grace Gilson in JTA

Illinois Democrat Rep. Brad Schneider has condemned popular streamer Hasan Piker, calling for Democrats to reject his presence due to Piker's controversial and antisemitic statements.

0 Antisemitism History

Vocabulary Lesson

Daniel B. Schwartz in Jewish Review of Books

Mark Mazower's book, "On Antisemitism: A Word in History," examines the evolution of the term antisemitism, more so than the phenomenon itself, from its 19th-century origins to contemporary debates linking anti-Zionism and antisemitism.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Vocabulary Lesson

Daniel B. Schwartz in Jewish Review of Books

Mark Mazower's book "On Antisemitism: A Word in History" explores the evolution of the term "antisemitism" and its uses from its inception in the late 19th century to modern political contexts, particularly focusing on criticism of Israel.

0 Antisemitism Communities

How teens have a real chance of fighting antisemitism

eJewishPhilanthropy

The fight against antisemitism is increasingly led by the younger generation, as teens leverage social media and community support to raise awareness and challenge bigotry.

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.

Politics ›

0 Politics Antisemitism

Mamdani voices concerns about synagogue buffer zone bill poised to pass NYC Council

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

The New York City Council is set to vote on a controversial bill creating protest buffer zones around synagogues, amid concerns over rising antisemitic hate crimes.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Who is Hasan Piker, the left-wing streamer accused of being an antisemite?

Grace Gilson in Forward

Rep. Brad Schneider has condemned left-wing streamer Hasan Piker for antisemitic remarks, urging Democrats to distance themselves from such controversial figures.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Growing Islamophobia is being overlooked — while drawing on an antisemitic framework

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward

Arno Rosenfeld discusses the rising Islamophobia in America, likening it to the historical framework of antisemitism.

0 Politics Israel

Gavin Newsom isn’t waffling on Israel — he’s voicing sensible ideas in an era of outrage

Rob Eshman in Forward

Gavin Newsom's comments regarding Israel and apartheid have been caught in a whirlwind of controversy, reflecting a broader societal tendency to focus on political scoring rather than genuine understanding.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Israel is gleefully copying Nazi imagery in the propaganda war with Iran

Joel Swanson in Forward

Joel Swanson explores the troubling use of antisemitic imagery by Israeli governmental figures to target political adversaries like Iran and others.

0 Politics Israel

These pro-Palestinian PACs are trying to beat AIPAC at its own game

Joseph Strauss in JTA

Pro-Palestinian political action committees (PACs) are emerging to challenge the influence of AIPAC in American elections by supporting progressive candidates who question U.S.-Israel policies.

0 Politics Israel

The Internal War Over America’s Iran Strategy

Vanessa Berg in Future of Jewish

The article explores the complex internal dynamics within both the Republican and Democratic parties in the United States concerning their strategies and stances on Iran, and how these internal politics influence broader foreign policy decisions.

0 Politics Israel

The Free Press in The Free Press

The article from The Free Press examines the paradox where Israel is achieving military and diplomatic successes despite declining popularity in the United States.

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.

Culture ›

0 Culture Language

Viola Davis Just Used This Yiddish Word In a Perfect Way

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Viola Davis recently expressed her appreciation for the Yiddish word "chutzpah," describing it as a positive trait in young people.

0 Culture Politics

One's Israeli and one's Palestinian — can these two restaurants coexist peacefully in the shadow of Columbia University?

Andrew Silverstein in Forward

The article explores the impending arrival of two new restaurants near Columbia University: the Palestinian cuisine-focused Hinds Hall Ayat and the Israeli street food spot Miznon.

0 Culture History

My Father’s Seders

Roya Hakakian in Jewish Review of Books

Roya Hakakian reflects on her father's role in leading family seders amidst the cultural chaos of their Iranian Jewish home during the years leading up to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

0 Culture History

Frogs, and Locusts, and Lice, Oh My!

Stuart Halpern in Jewish Review of Books

Steven Weitzman's book, "Disasters of Biblical Proportions: The Ten Plagues Then, Now, and at the End of the World," explores the varied interpretations and cultural depictions of the Biblical plagues throughout history.

Gender/Identity ›

0 Gender/Identity Jewish Law

Women have won the right to sit for Israel’s rabbinical exams. It’s a victory — but to what end?

Rabba Sara Hurwitz in JTA

Israeli women have won the right to sit for rabbinical exams, marking a significant step toward gender equality in religious leadership within Orthodoxy.

Education ›

0 Education Politics

Backers of Jewish charter school launch federal challenge in Oklahoma

Asaf Elia-Shalev in Forward

Supporters of a Jewish charter school in Oklahoma City have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state's prohibition on religious charter schools.

Communities ›

0 Communities Culture

For this unconventional Jewish organization, tradition takes a back seat to community

Noah Hirsch-Rechter in Forward

Judaism Unbound, an innovative Jewish organization, offers an alternative to traditional Jewish life by embracing digital platforms, attracting those who feel alienated by mainstream Jewish institutions.

0 Communities Jewish Law

How blood drives strengthen the communities that host them

eJewishPhilanthropy

Blood drives, often requiring donors to pause and recover after donating, serve as unique opportunities for community connection, as seen in those organized by the American Friends of Magen David Adom and Blood Centers of America.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Philosophy

Letters, Spring 2026

Jewish Review of Books

In a detailed exchange, Rabbi Yitz Greenberg critiques Seth Winberg's review of Daniel Ross Goodman's book, "Soloveitchik's Children," arguing that Winberg underappreciates Joseph B. Soloveitchik's broader theological impact and misinterpreted Goodman's claims about Soloveitchik's influence on his disciples' divergences from his views.

0 Jewish Law History

Yavne and its Sage: Menahem Kahana (1946–2025)

Yitz Landes in Jewish Review of Books

Menahem Kahana, a leading scholar in classical rabbinic literature, passed away on December 10, 2025.

0 Jewish Law History

Yavne and its Sage: Menahem Kahana (1946–2025)

Yitz Landes in Jewish Review of Books

Menahem Kahana, a leading scholar of classical rabbinic literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, made groundbreaking contributions to the study of halakhic midrashim, such as the Sifre on Numbers, dedicating decades to uncovering textual and historical insights through a philological approach.

0 Jewish Law History

Kaplan Unbound

Benjamin Weiner in Jewish Review of Books

Jenna Weissman Joselit provides a comprehensive and critical look at Mordecai Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism, in her new biography, "Kaplan Unbound."

0 Jewish Law History

Kaplan Unbound

Benjamin Weiner in Jewish Review of Books

Jenna Weissman Joselit delves into the life and legacy of Mordecai Kaplan, founder of Reconstructionism, in her new biography.

0 Jewish Law Philosophy

Tzav: The Uneasy Economics of Holiness

18Forty Staff in 18forty

Parshat Tzav delves into the uneasy marriage of economics and holiness by expanding on the Torah's guidance regarding the sustenance of Kohanim.

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.

Literature ›

0 Literature Culture

Updike and the Jews

Jesse Tisch in Jewish Review of Books

Jesse Tisch explores John Updike's engagement with Jewish identity and literature, primarily through his creation of the fictional character Henry Bech, a Jewish-American author.

0 Literature Jewish Law

Converted Energy

Julia Kornberg in Jewish Review of Books

Frances Wilson's biographical examination of Muriel Spark presents a complex portrait of the enigmatic writer, highlighting her contradictory spiritual identity and provocative life choices.

Art ›

0 Art Culture

Zim Zum

Eli Rubin in Jewish Review of Books

Barnett Newman's complex relationship with his Jewish identity and his career as an artist are explored in Amy Newman's comprehensive biography, which situates his life and work within a Jewish literary and cultural context.

Food ›

0 Food Culture

Preorder The Dessert Table!

Leah Koenig in Jewish Table

Leah Koenig celebrates the launch of her new cookbook, "The Dessert Table: 100 Joyful Jewish Sweets," which showcases diverse Jewish desserts from across the globe.

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.

JL;DR

for Thursday, March 26, 2026

History ›

Antisemitism ›

Politics ›

Culture ›

Gender/Identity ›

Education ›

Communities ›

Jewish Law ›

Literature ›

Art ›

Food ›

Ethics ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

March 26's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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History ›

Antisemitism ›

Politics ›

Culture ›

Gender/Identity ›

Education ›

Communities ›

Jewish Law ›

Literature ›

Art ›

Food ›

Ethics ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

March 26's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Thursday, March 26, 2026