Squeezed from Both Sides

After a week in which Democrats nominated a slate of antizionists to Congress in a troika of New York City House races, it would be tempting to think that their party is now the greater threat to Israel and to the Jewish community in this country. But we were simultaneously reminded by Vice President JD […]

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Happy Unrequited Birthday, America!

Happy 250th, America! What a gangbuster quarter-millennium of a resume you have assembled. Much to be proud of, and, yet . . . far too few Americans are lining up to blow out the candles. A revolutionary war brought independence from the British Empire, self-governance and the adoption of natural law. A war with Mexico […]

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The Antisemitism We Keep Missing

Poetica Coffee, a Brooklyn café, promises anyone who walks through its door “unconditional dignity.” Not as a customer and not as a transaction, the website explains, but as someone who arrived and deserves to be welcomed. Recently the same business posted a photograph of Rep. Dan Goldman, who had stopped in for a coffee, and […]

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America is Different

In the introduction to his book “American Judaism,” Jonathan Sarna shares the following anecdote: “When I first became interested in American Jewish history, I mentioned my interest to a scholar at a distinguished rabbinical seminary, and he was absolutely appalled. “American Jewish history,” he growled, “I’ll tell you all that you need to know about […]

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Spirituality, Religious Moral Precepts and Artificial Intelligence

Religious intelligence is based on two obscureingredients,one of which is spirituality, a religious feeling that does not makeany sense,contrasting with religious moral precepts that can be justified by theirexpedience,a far more rational rationale for them than fear of punishment for theirdisobedience.I hope that God does not object to this poem’s message, takingoffenseto my comparison of […]

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There Would Be No America Without Jerusalem

Late last week, Vice President JD Vance expressed frustration with Israel, accusing Israeli cabinet ministers of “very personally attacking” President Trump instead of simply criticizing the memorandum of understanding he negotiated with Iran. Around the same time, President Trump asserted that without America there would be no Israel. Within hours, Ambassador Mike Huckabee offered a […]

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