JL;DR

Daily Podcasts Video Research

for Friday, April 18, 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 »

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Communities

Chicago man charged with hate crime for attack of two Jewish DePaul students

Grace Gilson in Forward

Following a violent incident last November, Adam Erkan has been charged with a hate crime for attacking two Jewish students at DePaul University, Chicago.

Culture ›

0 Culture Politics

In the ashes of the governor’s mansion, clues to a mystery about Josh Shapiro’s Passover Seder

Louis Keene in Forward

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stands at the center of a curious mystery after a fire in his mansion revealed burnt remnants of a Haggadah featuring "Hatikvah," the Israeli national anthem.

0 Culture Education

MomentLive! Turns Five

Suzanne Borden in Moment

MomentLive!, an initiative by the magazine \emph{Moment}, commemorates its fifth anniversary.

Politics ›

0 Politics Israel

Itamar Ben-Gvir is coming to America, with stops at Yale and in New York City already set

Andrew Lapin in Forward

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's first trip to the United States has ignited controversy among American Jewish communities, reflecting his polarizing reputation due to extreme views.

0 Politics Culture

The Elephant in the Mosque

Daniel Saunders in Future of Jewish

Daniel Saunders' guest essay critiques Baroness Sayeeda Warsi's book, which claims pervasive Islamophobia in the West leveraging a comparison with David Baddiel's work on antisemitism.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Shapiro recites Priestly Blessing given to him by fire chaplain after Passover arson

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward

Following an arson attack on the governor's mansion over Passover, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has found solace in his faith, particularly the Priestly Blessing from the Harrisburg Fire Department chaplain.

0 Politics Israel

Israel just threw another wrench in the peace process — and possibly doomed the last hostages

Dan Perry in Forward

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent demand for Hamas to fully disarm before a ceasefire throws a wrench into the already fraught peace process.

0 Politics Israel

El Salvador’s president, Trump’s new deportation partner, has a strange history with Jews and Israel

Andrew Lapin in JTA

Nayib Bukele, El Salvador's president, is a controversial figure with a complex relationship with Jewish and Israeli issues.

0 Politics Israel

Brad Sherman’s primary challenger Jake Rakov stays in step with him on Israel policy

Marc Rod in Jewish Insider

Jake Rakov, a former staffer for Congressman Brad Sherman, is challenging his old boss for a Los Angeles congressional seat, while maintaining similar pro-Israel stances.

0 Politics Israel

Israel boxed in as Trump blocks Iran attack and pursues deal

Lahav Harkov in Jewish Insider

Israel is once again in a complex diplomatic bind as the Trump administration engages in nuclear talks with Iran, echoing past tensions during the Obama era.

0 Politics Israel

US claims Mohsen Mahdawi’s activism could ‘potentially undermine’ prospect of peace in Gaza

Grace Gilson in Forward

The arrest and potential deportation of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, a pro-Palestinian activist, has sparked significant controversy.

0 Politics Education

What Jewish university presidents say: Trump is exploiting campus antisemitism, not fighting it

Nora Berman in Forward

Several Jewish university presidents, including those from Harvard, Princeton, and MIT, are resisting the Trump administration's policies on campus antisemitism, which they argue are an exploitation rather than a solution.

Literature ›

0 Literature History

What is ‘Zionism without Zion?’ New history asks, but can’t answer

Olivia Haynie in Forward

Rachel Cockerell's debut novel, "Melting Point," is an archival exploration into her family's involvement in early Zionism and the Galveston Movement, which aimed to provide Eastern European Jews refuge in Texas.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Culture

Shari Lewis Made the Best Passover Special Ever

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Revisiting Shari Lewis' 1996 PBS Passover special, the article argues for its excellence as a children's holiday program.

0 Television/Film Culture

In the new Fantastic Four trailer, a glimpse of Yancy Street’s Yiddishkeit

PJ Grisar in Forward

In the newly released trailer for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," viewers catch glimpses of the Jewish essence of Yancy Street, showcasing hints of Ben Grimm's heritage as a golem-like hero on New York's fictitious Lower East Side.

Communities ›

0 Communities Culture

These 16 Jewish businesses are redefining Orchard Street for a new era

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA

Orchard Street in New York City's Lower East Side has long been a focal point for Jewish life.

0 Communities Antisemitism

How small-town Jewish teens like me stay connected in the Bible Belt

Emily Florsheim in JTA

Emily Florsheim shares her journey of maintaining Jewish identity while relocating among small Bible Belt towns due to her father's job.

0 Communities Leadership

We Must Not Forsake Small Town Jewish Life

Rachel Isaacs in Moment

Rachel Isaacs reflects on her experience revitalizing Jewish life in the small town of Waterville, Maine, where she serves as a rabbi and is the founder of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life.

Holidays ›

0 Holidays Communities

Passover retreats don’t have to be a spiritual and communal exodus

Rabbi Yosie Levine in JTA

Rabbi Yosie Levine reflects on the growing trend of Passover retreats, where many Jewish families choose to spend the holiday in vacation-like settings instead of the traditional home Seder.

Music ›

0 Music Culture

Battling cancer, famed Jewish conductor Michael Tilson Thomas prepares for his last concert

Penny Schwartz in JTA

Michael Tilson Thomas, legendary Jewish conductor and music director laureate of the San Francisco Symphony, is set to conduct his last concert at the age of 80, following the return of his aggressive brain cancer.

Education ›

0 Education Politics

Is This the End of Wokeism?

Emes Ve-Emunah

In this opinion piece, the author critiques the perceived shift in American academia towards progressive, or 'woke,' ideologies, using Harvard University as a focal point.

Gender/Identity ›

0 Gender/Identity Jewish Law

The Shidduch Crisis and Hypocrisy

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism

Natan Slifkin critiques the charedi community's response to the shidduch crisis of single older girls by highlighting the inconsistency of their approach compared to their stance on IDF service.

Leadership ›

0 Leadership Culture

Noa Argamani, ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt among over a dozen Jews on 2025 TIME 100 list

Grace Gilson in Forward

Noa Argamani, a former Israeli hostage and activist for hostage release, and Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, have been named among Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2025.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Politics

Reform Judaism has betrayed the Jewish People.

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

In this passionate critique, Joshua Hoffman argues that Reform Judaism has strayed from its core principles, prioritizing progressive politics over Jewish solidarity and safety.