JL;DR

Daily Podcasts Video Research

for Saturday, June 27, 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 »

Communities ›

0 Communities Culture

'We Cannot Stop Being the Voice for Those Who No Longer Have One.'

The Cholent in The Cholent

In Seattle, a Jewish funeral facility in Seward Park suffered extensive damage from a fire, affecting its ability to perform the tahara ritual, pivotal in Jewish burial traditions.

0 Communities Israel

Hadassah Birth Rates Skyrocket Amid Wars

Wendy Elliman in Hadassah

Wendy Elliman highlights a remarkable surge in birth rates at Hadassah Medical Organization in Israel, emphasizing a rise from 14,000 births in 2022 to around 19,000 annually by 2025.

Israel ›

0 Israel Politics

What is Zionism? The answer changes everything.

Eitan Chitayat in Future of Jewish

Eitan Chitayat discusses the essence of Zionism as the Jewish people's movement for self-determination in their ancestral homeland, Israel.

Education ›

0 Education Politics

Texas creates required reading list that includes Anne Frank and the Bible

JTA

In a significant and controversial move, the Texas State Board of Education approved a statewide mandatory reading list for K-12 public school students, which includes Anne Frank's diary, Elie Wiesel's "Night," and various Bible passages.

0 Education Communities

Jewish day school enrollment is rising across denominations

Grace Gilson in JTA

Jewish day schools across all denominations are experiencing a rise in enrollment, reversing decades of decline for non-Orthodox institutions.

0 Education Antisemitism

Massachusetts principal under fire for apologizing for antisemitism discussion

Andrew Lapin in JTA

The principal of a Boston-area middle school, Dr. Johnny Cole, faced criticism after sending a poorly worded apology regarding a lesson on modern antisemitism.

Politics ›

0 Politics Antisemitism

Tennessee GOP leaders denounce ‘No wars for Jews’ mailers bearing Young Republicans name

Andrew Lapin in JTA

In Maury County, Tennessee, thousands of homes received controversial mailers promoting antisemitic and white nationalist ideas, sparking outrage among local GOP leaders.

0 Politics Antisemitism

German far-right leader appears to make ‘Hitler salute’ in photo as party surges

Shira Li Bartov in JTA

A controversy has arisen in Germany after a photo surfaced showing Martin Reichardt, a lawmaker from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, appearing to make a Nazi salute.

0 Politics Israel

Why teens like me feel politically homeless in the debates over Israel

Aaron Schwartz in JTA

Aaron Schwartz, a teen journalist, explores his evolving views on Israel and Zionism amidst growing political polarization.

0 Politics Communities

Emboldened democratic socialists are targeting Hakeem Jeffries. Jewish leaders are rushing to his defense.

Joseph Strauss in JTA

Democratic socialists in New York are increasingly setting their sights on House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a pro-Israel Democratic figure, leading to vocal support from Jewish leaders in defense of his stance.

0 Politics Communities

700+ US rabbis sign letter urging Mamdani to apologize for calling AIPAC ‘monsters’

Grace Gilson in JTA

Over 700 U.S. rabbis and cantors have signed a letter urging New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to apologize for labeling AIPAC as "monsters" during a recent rally.

0 Politics Ethics

The Key Difference Between Jewish Extremists and Islamists

Alan Mairson in Future of Jewish

Alan Mairson's essay contrasts Jewish and Islamist extremists by focusing on their respective geopolitical ambitions.

0 Politics Culture

Turkey, a Turkey, and Turkeys

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism

Natan Slifkin critiques the recent political dynamics involving Trump's perceived oscillation in foreign policy, particularly regarding Turkey, and the Israeli charedi community's response to military draft enforcement.

0 Politics Antisemitism

The Last Jewish American

Jewdicious

A fictional narrative set in 2033 explores the rise of populism in American politics and the resulting plight of Jewish Americans.

0 Politics Israel

Will Colorado’s primaries be the far-left insurgency’s next big wins?

Marc Rod in Jewish Insider

The article discusses the challenges faced by Democratic incumbents in Colorado's primary elections, highlighting progressive candidates associated with the Democratic Socialists of America and their platforms.

0 Politics Antisemitism

NY gubernatorial candidate says Brad Lander would be a ‘camp guard’ for Nazis if he could

Joseph Strauss in JTA

In a controversial statement, Bruce Blakeman, a Jewish Republican gubernatorial candidate for New York, criticized fellow Jewish politician Brad Lander, accusing him of being akin to a Nazi camp guard.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Culture

The Jewish Writer Behind So Many of Your Favorite Thrillers

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Harlan Coben, a prolific Jewish author known for his bestselling thrillers, has created a substantial body of work that has been adapted into numerous popular television shows on Netflix.

History ›

0 History Politics

A Jewish hero’s elevation to the French Panthéon uncorks simmering divisions over who wears the mantle of resistance

Shira Li Bartov in JTA

The elevation of Marc Bloch, a Jewish French scholar and WWII resistance fighter, to France's Panthéon has ignited debate about historical memory in France, especially who can claim a legacy of resistance.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Communities

Why I Hate Labels and Why We Need Them

Emes Ve-Emunah

Although the author expresses a strong dislike for labels due to their divisive nature within the Jewish community, they acknowledge the necessity of labels in identifying and understanding the diverse beliefs and practices within Judaism.

0 Jewish Law History

0.2% of the world. 100% of the obsession.

Tali Aynalem in Future of Jewish

Tali Aynalem explores the paradoxical phenomenon of the global obsession with Jews, who constitute only 0.2% of the world population, yet command outsized attention and discourse.

Holocaust ›

0 Holocaust Education

Austria once denied its Nazi past. Now it sends young people abroad to confront it.

Stewart Ain in JTA

In a significant effort to confront its Nazi past, Austria, which long portrayed itself as a victim rather than a perpetrator in World War II, established the Austrian Service Abroad program in 1998.

Literature ›

0 Literature Culture

Book Review: ‘Porcupines’

Robert Nagler Miller in Hadassah

Fran Fabriczki's debut novel "Porcupines" uses the metaphor of a porcupine's quills to explore themes of intimacy, identity, and displacement within a Jewish framework.

Torah ›

0 Torah Gender/Identity

Haftarat Parshat Balak: ‘I sent Miriam’

eJewishPhilanthropy

The article explores the intertwining themes of Parshat Balak and its haftarah, the prophecy of Micha, emphasizing the notion that Jewish destiny is divinely determined.

Culture ›

0 Culture Leadership

Past, present and future tents

eJewishPhilanthropy

Jonathan Cannon, in his reflection on the Torah portion Balak, explores the symbolic role of tents in Jewish tradition and community.