With each week, Israelis’ post-October 7 pledge to avoid politics weakens. We face many searing, complex decisions demanding robust debate. Actually, we just need to avoid returning to the politics of October 6. Perhaps we learned some lessons from the insane divisiveness and demonization that …
The Jerusalem Post
Idan Amedi for Prime Minister of Israel
Last week’s explosion that killed six combat engineers also wounded the singer-songwriter Idan Amedi. The 35-year-old married Fauda star and father of two could have avoided combat, having served honorably when younger. Or, he could have joined other entertainers in the holy work of morale-boosting – …
Terror attacks depress Israel, but don’t demoralize – opinion
“Lilush, chayim sheli” (my life), a typical Israeli mom, Michal Ben Nun texted on Friday, adding a heart emoji. “Tishti mayim karim” (make sure to drink cold water). By Shabbat, that mother plummeted from worrying about her 19-year-old daughter dehydrating to mourning her. We ended …
J Street isn’t as pro-Israel, pro-peace as it claims to be – opinion
Dear president of a J Street U chapter, We met recently when I spoke at your synagogue. As our conversation was personal, I won’t mention your name, university or shul. Still, allow me to respond in this forum because the exchange was productive and illuminating. First, …
Will US Jewry’s love of Israel stand the test of time? – opinion
I wanted to write a history-oriented column celebrating 75 years of friendship between the American Jewish community and Israel since May 14, 1948. We should say “God bless America” for its generosity, and “God bless American Jewry” for decades of political, financial and moral support. But …
Israel’s mature majority is saving democracy – opinion
Here we are, after Israel’s 75th birthday , and… we’re still here! And here we are, not just still a democracy, but an impressive and stable one. We’ve endured months of protests, without billions of dollars of George-Floyd-riot damage, no January-6th-type trashing of government buildings, and …
Benjamin Netanyahu is the worst enemy of Israel’s prime minister – opinion
Jews just started reading the Torah’s third book, Vayikra (Leviticus). Although the book’s first word, “Vayikra,” majestically means “and God called,” it ends with a miniaturized aleph. This anomaly teaches that sometimes leaders should loudly and strongly project but sometimes, they should withdraw, be restrained or …
Celebrating 75 years of Theodor Herzl’s Zionist idea – opinion
Seventy-five years later, videos of the UN’s November 29 vote still give goosebumps. The Soviet Union… yes! The United Kingdom… abstains. The United States… yes! The 33-to-10 majority triggers Jewish horas worldwide – even as Arab attacks begin. While celebrating this mind-blowing milestone next Tuesday, …
The Israel we know is not the Israel Thomas Friedman knows – opinion
Thomas Friedman’s much-forwarded New York Times lament for Israel’s soul – “The Israel We Knew is Gone” – has demoralized the Jewish world. Feeding off the disgust many share for Itamar Ben-Gvir’s bigotry, Friedman has gone too far — again. I’m upset with him – and …
The New Jew Hatred
Last year, at University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, a pro-Palestinian student threw a rock at Jews standing by Hillel, the Jewish students’ organization. At the University of Oregon Hillel, vandals left an illiterate, hate-filled, message: “Free Palestina You genocidal rasist f…ks.” At an unnamed college, one …