for Friday, April 11, 2025

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 Antisemitism

Trump picks Yehuda Kaploun, a friend and Miami businessman, as antisemitism envoy

Philissa Cramer in JTA

President Donald Trump has appointed Miami businessman Yehuda Kaploun as the new special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism.

0 Politics Israel

The Controversial Company Betting Big on Israel

Amir Mizroch in Future of Jewish

Palantir's CTO, Shyam Sankar, emphasizes the urgency of revitalizing Western defense capabilities by learning from Israel's more fluid integration of military and civilian tech expertise.

0 Politics Culture

‘Next year in Gracie Mansion’: Where Jewish NYC mayoral candidates will do Seder

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

As the New York City mayoral race intensifies, Jewish candidates Brad Lander, Scott Stringer, and Whitney Tilson are vying for a potential future Passover Seder at Gracie Mansion, should they be elected.

0 Politics Education

Pro-Palestinian protests enriched Jewish life on my campus. Trump's actions will do the opposite.

Paul E. Nahme in Forward

Paul E. Nahme, a professor at Brown University, argues that while pro-Palestinian protests have led to challenging discourse about Jewish and Palestinian perspectives, they have ultimately enriched Jewish life on campus.

0 Politics Israel

Trump is about to talk to Iran, Israel’s sworn enemy. Here’s what you need to know.

Ben Sales in JTA

In a significant geopolitical move, Donald Trump announced that the United States would engage in direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program while sitting alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

0 Politics Culture

Scholars have told important Jewish stories with the NEH’s support. What happens to them now?

Pamela S. Nadell in JTA

The article argues against the defunding of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) by the U.S. administration, which has paradoxically positioned itself as a fighter against antisemitism.

0 Politics Leadership

Revelations of likely voter fraud spark call for consequences in World Zionist Congress election

Asaf Elia-Shalev in JTA

Allegations of widespread voter fraud in the World Zionist Congress election have surfaced, leading six slates encompassing diverse political and religious perspectives to demand the disqualification of two slates suspected of the malpractice.

0 Politics Israel

Huckabee Confirmed Without a Single Jewish Vote

Emes Ve-Emunah

In a Senate confirmation vote for former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as the U.S. ambassador to Israel, all Jewish Democratic senators voted against him, highlighting the political divide over support for Israel.

0 Politics Israel

Israeli reservists are discharged after hundreds call for release of hostages and end of war

Ben Sales in JTA

A group of nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists called for a government deal to release hostages held by Hamas in exchange for ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Colombia appoints allegedly fake anti-Zionist rabbi as director of religious affairs

Grace Gilson in Forward

Colombia's Jewish community is disconcerted by the appointment of Richard Gamboa Ben-Eleazar as the director of religious affairs in Colombia's Ministry of the Interior.

0 Politics Communities

GOP Rep. Randy Fine, the newest Jewish congressman, calls Rashida Tlaib a ‘terrorist’

Andrew Lapin in Forward

Randy Fine, a newly sworn-in Jewish congressman from Florida, has gained attention for his inflammatory remarks toward Muslim lawmakers, particularly targeting Palestinian-American Rep. Rashida Tlaib by labeling her a terrorist on a podcast.

0 Politics Israel

Freed hostage Liri Albag responds to backlash over Netanyahu criticism: ‘I fear what we have become’

Philissa Cramer in Forward

Liri Albag, an Israeli soldier recently freed from Hamas captivity, has faced significant online abuse from Benjamin Netanyahu supporters after criticizing the prime minister for her ordeal.

0 Politics Israel

Lawmakers, national security experts skeptical of Trump’s Iran diplomacy

Marc Rod in Jewish Insider

Lawmakers and national security experts express deep skepticism over the Trump administration's nuclear negotiations with Iran, doubting the possibility of achieving a deal that fully dismantles Iran's nuclear program.

0 Politics Ethics

'Pro-Palestine' is not a cause. It's a cult.

Lucy Tabrizi in Future of Jewish

Lucy Tabrizi recounts an encounter with a pro-Palestine activist, describing the intense vitriol and unreasoned arguments as evidence of a cult-like movement driven more by outrage than coherent activism.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Culture

How Coke’s Passover recipe sparked an antisemitic conspiracy theory

Benyamin Cohen in Forward

During Passover, Coca-Cola produces a version of their soda sweetened with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup to comply with Jewish dietary laws.

Culture ›

0 Culture Music

This Broadway Passover Parody from a Jewish 5th Grader Is Just So Good

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

A talented 5th grader from Maryland, Naomi Lanman, has caught the attention of the Jewish media with her impressive Passover song parody.

0 Culture Israel

How a Japanese Novelist Guided Me to My Soul’s Depths in Wartime

Sruli Fruchter in 18forty

Sruli Fruchter reflects on how Haruki Murakami's literature provided solace during his five months of Israeli army reserve duty amidst the Israel-Hamas War.

Science ›

0 Science Leadership

Will This Jewish Spaceman Point NASA Toward Mars?

Steven Mufson in Moment

Jared Isaacman, a Jewish billionaire and space enthusiast, is being considered as the next head of NASA, backed by figures like Elon Musk and former President Trump.

Holidays ›

0 Holidays Communities

Inviting a Stranger to My Seder Brought New Meaning to My Passover

Laurie Einstein Koszuta in Kveller

Laurie Einstein Koszuta recounts a transformative Passover experience when a chance encounter with a fellow shopper, Marilyn, led to an unexpected and meaningful seder.

0 Holidays Culture

Passover: The holiday of public relations

eJewishPhilanthropy

Passover is reimagined as not just a holiday of Jewish memory but also a strategic communications opportunity in Warren Cohen's narrative on Jewish storytelling and identity defense amid rising antisemitism.

Communities ›

0 Communities History

A Mourner’s Prayer in Morocco

InternsFall21 in Lilith

In an evocative personal narrative, the author recounts a journey to Morocco in 1998, where an unexpected encounter in Marrakesh's Jewish quarter fosters a profound spiritual connection through the recitation of Kaddish by a local rabbi.

Leadership ›

0 Leadership Ethics

The Jewish values of asking questions and being prepared for the answers

eJewishPhilanthropy

Jewish tradition places a high value on asking questions and being receptive to answers, which is a crucial skill reflected in both ancient narratives and modern organizational dynamics.

Ethics ›

0 Ethics Education

‘Diversability’ and the Four Sons

eJewishPhilanthropy

The discussion of the Four Sons in the Pesach Seder offers profound insights into diversity and the appreciation of varying abilities.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy Holidays

A Passover Interlude: The Difference between Freedom and Liberation: Reflections on Aaron Shmuel Tamares’ essay “Herut/Liberty” (1906)

Shaul Magid in Jewschool

Shaul Magid reflects on Aaron Shmuel Tamares' 1906 essay, where Tamares contrasts European notions of freedom with Jewish liberation through the Passover lens.

0 Philosophy Holidays

The Light at the End of the Night: Rav Hutner on the Pesach Seder and the Problem of Evil

Shmuel Lubin in Lehrhaus

Shmuel Lubin delves into Rabbi Yitzhak Hutner's interpretation of the Pesach Seder, focusing on how it addresses the problem of evil and human suffering.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Culture

This New Sitcom from the Makers of ‘Will & Grace’ Is Super Jewish and Utterly Delightful

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

"Mid-Century Modern," a new sitcom by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, the Jewish creators behind "Will & Grace," brings a warmly Jewish and queer perspective to TV comedy.

0 Television/Film Culture

Why Nick Jonas should not sing ‘Shiksa Goddess,’ the outdated song from ‘The Last Five Years’

Samuel Eli Shepherd in Forward

In the Broadway production of Jason Robert Brown's musical "The Last Five Years," Nick Jonas's performance of the song "Shiksa Goddess" has sparked controversy due to its outdated stereotypes and offensive language.

JL;DR

for Friday, April 11, 2025

Politics ›

Antisemitism ›

Culture ›

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Holidays ›

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Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

April 11's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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Politics ›

Antisemitism ›

Culture ›

Science ›

Holidays ›

Communities ›

Leadership ›

Ethics ›

Philosophy ›

Television/Film ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

April 11's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Friday, April 11, 2025