for Thursday, May 1, 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 »

Israel ›

0 Israel Politics

Israel at 77: Cause For Alarm — And Optimism

Gary Rosenblatt in Between The Lines

As Israel marks its 77th Independence Day, it finds itself at a crossroads, facing both significant external and internal challenges while also celebrating remarkable achievements.

0 Israel Jewish Law

Is it too Premature to Sing? The Song at the Sea and the Modern-Day Miracle of Medinat Yisrael

Shimshon HaKohen Nadel in Lehrhaus

Shimshon HaKohen Nadel explores the appropriate time to celebrate the establishment of the State of Israel in light of Jewish tradition, particularly focusing on the recitation of Hallel on Yom Ha'atzmaut.

0 Israel Science

Israeli environmentalist Alon Tal: This war is no excuse for neglecting the environment

JTA Staff in JTA

Alon Tal, a leading Israeli environmentalist and academic, emphasizes that current geopolitical tensions should not deter environmental commitments in Israel.

0 Israel History

77 Things You Might Not Know About Israel

Future of Jewish

Israel is a vibrant mix of historical significance, cultural diversity, and military ingenuity, offering a wealth of lesser-known yet fascinating facts.

Politics ›

0 Politics Education

As Supreme Court considers religious charter schools, Justice Kagan speculates about publicly funded yeshivas

Asaf Elia-Shalev in JTA

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan raised concerns during a hearing on a case regarding the establishment of the first religious public charter school in Oklahoma, questioning whether this could lead states like New York to fully fund yeshivas that lack secular education in subjects like English and math.

0 Politics Communities

A Jewish city attorney is going after pro-Palestinian protesters. Her Oct. 7 tweets are making it complicated.

Louis Keene in Forward

Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto faces a legal and ideological challenge as she pursues charges against members of IfNotNow, a Jewish group advocating for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Hamas conflict.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Senate committee approves amendment to Antisemitism Awareness Act stating criticism of Israeli government isn’t antisemitic

Grace Gilson in JTA

A Senate committee approved an amendment to the Antisemitism Awareness Act clarifying that criticizing the Israeli government is not antisemitic.

0 Politics Communities

David Horowitz, ’60s radical turned right-wing firebrand and critic of Islam, dies at 86

Andrew Silow-Carroll in JTA

David Horowitz, who rose to prominence as a radical left-wing activist during the 1960s and later became a prominent right-wing commentator and critic of Islam, has died at 86.

0 Politics Israel

The Trump administration is primed to give a gigantic gift to extremists in the West Bank

Dan Perry in Forward

The proposed elimination of the U.S. security coordinator position for the West Bank and Gaza by the Trump administration, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is criticized as a dangerous move that could destabilize the region.

0 Politics Israel

Time for the Left to Abandon the 2-State Solution

Emes Ve-Emunah

The article argues against the viability of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting the deep-rooted antisemitism within Palestinian society as perpetuated by Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Mayor Adams aims to run on an ‘EndAntiSemitism’ ballot line

Lisa Keys in JTA

New York City Mayor Eric Adams plans to run for re-election with an 'EndAntiSemitism' ballot line, appealing to the city's Orthodox Jewish voters and countering his rival, Andrew Cuomo, who also emphasizes combating antisemitism in his campaign.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Progressive Jewish groups oppose Antisemitism Awareness Act ahead of Senate vote

Grace Gilson in JTA

The Antisemitism Awareness Act is facing opposition from 10 progressive Jewish organizations ahead of an upcoming Senate committee vote.

0 Politics Ethics

The Disconnect

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism

Natan Slifkin underscores the emotional intensity and sacrifices commemorated on Yom HaZikaron, contrasting this with the contentious issue of Charedi participation in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

0 Politics Communities

USAID funding was a golden cage

eJewishPhilanthropy

The closure of USAID has had a devastating impact on global humanitarian aid, abruptly ending vital programs and exposing the vulnerabilities of relying on a single funding source.

0 Politics Culture

Right-wing activists attack Israeli-Palestinian memorial event at Reform synagogue in Israel

Ben Sales in JTA

A violent protest erupted outside a Reform synagogue in Raanana, Israel, where right-wing activists attacked attendees of a joint Israeli-Palestinian memorial ceremony.

0 Politics Holocaust

Trump fires Doug Emhoff from Holocaust Memorial Council

Grace Gilson in JTA

Former second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, known for his significant role in combating antisemitism within the Biden administration, was abruptly removed by Former President Donald Trump from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, along with other key figures.

Culture ›

0 Culture Ethics

Idina Menzel Dishes on ‘Redwood’ and Jewish Ethics

Curt Schleier in Hadassah

Idina Menzel stars in the Broadway musical Redwood, which integrates Jewish ethical principles and personal healing through its narrative.

0 Culture Ethics

What a lion, a rabbi, and a dog taught me about grief

Benyamin Cohen in Forward

Benyamin Cohen reflects on the profound impact of losing a pet, drawing parallels between traditional Jewish mourning practices and the grief of losing an animal companion.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Ethics

More than a billion people hate Jews. Here’s what that does to us.

Liah Greenfeld in Future of Jewish

Liah Greenfeld's essay examines the psychological impact of pervasive antisemitism on Jews worldwide, highlighting the massive scale of antisemitic sentiment—exceeding a billion individuals according to estimates—and its profound effects on Jewish identity and mental health.

0 Antisemitism History

Pro-Nazi singer sells out Zagreb arena as Croatia’s collaborationist past sheds its taboo

Larry Luxner in JTA

Pro-Nazi sentiments are resurfacing in Croatia, as evidenced by the popularity of Marko Perkovic, a singer with Nazi affiliations, who recently sold out a large arena.

0 Antisemitism Education

When Mom Was a Jewish Columbia Student

Valerie Gerstein in Hadassah

Valerie Gerstein, a Jewish graduate student at Columbia University, recounts her experiences in the nonprofit management master's program amidst rising antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment on campus.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Bill Cassidy leans in to fight antisemitism as chair of key Senate committee

Emily Jacobs in Jewish Insider

Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana and chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, is pushing key legislation to combat antisemitism on college campuses in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel.

Music ›

0 Music Antisemitism

Kehlani responds to Cornell concert cancellation: ‘I am not antisemitic’

Grace Gilson in Forward

R&B artist Kehlani addressed accusations of antisemitism following the cancellation of her Cornell concert due to her pro-Palestinian activism.

0 Music Culture

Why ‘Tamid Ohev Oti’ Became an Unofficial Israeli Anthem

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

In the wake of the tumultuous events of October 7, 2024, a song originally titled 'Tamid Ohev Oti' has unexpectedly emerged as an anthem of hope and resilience in Israel.

0 Music Culture

After decades of waiting, we’re finally getting a Bob Dylan-Barbra Streisand duet

PJ Grisar in Forward

Legendary Jewish musicians Bob Dylan and Barbra Streisand are finally set to collaborate, decades after preliminary talks and mutual admiration began in the 1970s.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy History

In this Hegelian age, we should be talking about Herzl, not Trump

Robert Zaretsky in Forward

In exploring the philosophical concepts of Hegelianism and how they relate to contemporary figures like Donald Trump, Robert Zaretsky posits that rather than focusing on Hegelian world-historical individuals, we should consider individuals like Theodor Herzl in understanding modern challenges.

0 Philosophy Politics

How philanthropy can accelerate innovation in mental health

eJewishPhilanthropy

Israel's current mental health crisis, exacerbated by ongoing conflict, demands both immediate trauma care and innovative solutions for the future.

Communities ›

0 Communities Philosophy

Jewish Unity Without Uniformity

Ashira Boxman in Hadassah

Reflecting on the massive March for Israel held in Washington, D.C., Ashira Boxman draws parallels to the biblical moment at Mount Sinai, emphasizing Jewish unity amidst diversity.

0 Communities Education

This Jewish teen is raising awareness about the cancer gene that killed his father

Henry Zizmor in JTA

Seventeen-year-old Hayden Becker is dedicating himself to raising awareness in the Jewish community about the BRCA gene mutation, which significantly increases cancer risk and has a higher prevalence among Ashkenazi Jews.

0 Communities Politics

The secret cost of Israel's wars ravaged my family. It's only getting worse

Yael Braudo-Bahat in Forward

Yom HaZikaron offers a poignant moment for reflecting on the unseen toll of Israel's military engagements, particularly the psychological impact of ongoing conflict.

0 Communities Culture

Reflections of a soldier after returning home (a wartime diary)

יאיר בן מנחם in Forward

In this reflective piece, Israeli soldier Yair Ben Menachem shares his experiences and emotions upon returning home after wartime service.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Culture

Sasson Gabay Dishes on Season Three of ‘Tehran’

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Sasson Gabay, the renowned Israeli actor, offered insights into his role in the third season of the spy thriller 'Tehran,' where he plays an Iranian Jew working with the Mossad.

Torah ›

0 Torah Politics

Is Religious Zionism Obsolete?: Thoughts on Israel Independence Day based on Rav Shagar’s Sermon “Land and Exile: The Religious Community and the Pursuit of Peace” (1997)

Shaul Magid in Jewschool

Shaul Magid analyzes Rav Shagar's 1997 Yom Ha'atzmaut sermon to examine the state of Religious Zionism in a contemporary context, especially after the October 7 conflicts.

Education ›

0 Education Jewish Law

For teens by teens, the ‘Daf Punk’ podcast delivers a daily dose of Talmud

Maytal Exler-Kaunfer in JTA

Talia Beck and Jordana Bruckheimer, high school seniors from North Shore Hebrew Academy, have pioneered a new horizon for teen engagement with the Talmud through their podcast Daf Punk.

Art ›

0 Art Jewish Law

How a Lower East Side Jew conquered the multiverse

PJ Grisar in Forward

Jack Kirby, a prodigious comic artist from the Lower East Side, is celebrated in the retrospective exhibition, "Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity" at the Skirball Cultural Center.

Holidays ›

0 Holidays Culture

Songs of the fallen set the tone for Yom HaZikaron in Israel

Lahav Harkov in Jewish Insider

Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, is profoundly marked by music honoring those killed in wars and terrorist acts.

0 Holidays Israel

The Most Intense Minute in Israel

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, presents a profound moment of collective silence across the nation to honor those who have sacrificed their lives for the Jewish state.

JL;DR

for Thursday, May 1, 2025

Israel ›

Politics ›

Culture ›

Antisemitism ›

Music ›

Philosophy ›

Communities ›

Television/Film ›

Torah ›

Education ›

Art ›

Holidays ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

May 1's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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Israel ›

Politics ›

Culture ›

Antisemitism ›

Music ›

Philosophy ›

Communities ›

Television/Film ›

Torah ›

Education ›

Art ›

Holidays ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

May 1's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Thursday, May 1, 2025