יום שבת, ד׳ אב תשפ״וSaturday, July 18, 2026
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A lecturer defending Israel isn’t seen as an opponent to be debated but a blasphemer to be silenced or prevented from speaking in the first place, even violently, if necessary.
By Ruthie Blum
Predictably, the tragedy has become yet another bone of political and cultural contention, since the people involved are charedim. Never mind that disasters of all kinds have occurred in both licensed and unlicensed daycare centers, in various socioeconomic areas with no particular religious affiliation.
By giving Turkey a formal executive role in the reconstruction of Gaza, the Trump administration is effectively laundering a major Hamas political patron.
The Birmingham Muslim community lobbied hard to have the match cancelled and all Israelis banned from the city. The police sought the input and opinion of the Muslim community and claimed to have pursued the same process with the Jewish community. This last point too was a complete lie. The Jews were never consulted.
The idea of the book is to show exactly how to identify and then run a business in the field of your dreams. I show readers, based on my own experience as an entrepreneur, how they can master the mindsets and skill sets of successful small businesspeople.
There is no ambiguity here. No mistranslation. No context that softens the meaning. This is not the rhetoric of a partner for peace or the language of a movement committed to a peaceful future. It is a declaration of intent – one that mirrors, almost perfectly, the genocidal aims openly proclaimed by Hamas.
In addition, as several commentators have pointed out, Nassau County’s political geography offered a natural launching pad for building coalitions across different constituencies, located as it is adjacent to the five boroughs and sitting at the intersection of urban and suburban New York – exactly what a Republican needs to compete statewide in a heavily Democratic state.
The New York Post Editorial board argued that with Mamdani in office, the city desperately needs some steady hands at the top, framing Menin as a necessary alternative to avoid the Council becoming a rubber stamp organization for the far-left agenda.
Instead of establishing a state commission of inquiry under the existing legal framework, one in which the president of the Supreme Court appoints the commissioners and defines their independence, the government has opted for a politically constituted body.
Like their Cold War predecessors who were stunned by the sudden Soviet crackup, the liberal intellectual class is imprisoned by a narrative that rules out the possibility of Islamist regime change.
For decades, Venezuela served as a strategic hub for China, Russia, Cuba and perhaps most significantly for Iran. Thus, the removal of Maduro effectively disrupted this axis of aggressors in the Americas in practical ways.
Everyone is elderly, and most have gray hair, but their eyes shine, especially when they speak of their past.
Yet, even as she railed against the demonstrators, she was careful not to say anything about the substance of their message – which was decidedly anti-Israel – only about the manner in which they chose to deliver it.
There is an even more remarkable – and troubling – fact than the election of a 34-year-old radical left-wing Assemblyman with no executive experience to manage America’s greatest city. According to exit polls, Mamdani, an avatar of the far-left Democratic Socialists of America, received roughly one-third of the Jewish vote.
The issue at hand – Israel’s recognition of Somaliland – was itself revealing. Rather than treating Israel as a sovereign state exercising normal diplomatic judgment, the United Nations inexplicably escalated the matter into an emergency session, underscoring the very double standard Bruce later chose to address.
Unfailingly gracious and respectful, his understated demeanor, balance, and unassuming brilliance made him the ideal mentor, and in fact, he guided the many who saw him as a role model.
By Nathan Lewin
Hundreds will – or should – write about the astounding accomplishments of Julie Berman during his life.
Thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of generations, and with some caveats, a realistic conduct of its affairs, the Jewish state today stands as the military and economic superior of all its rivals, and therefore as a worthwhile and powerful ally in the eyes of those of its neighbors not hostile to it for religious or ideological reasons.
rue to form, Maduro blamed what he termed “the extremist right” for the unrest that swept the country. He accused these groups of being supported by international Zionism.
Question! Are these the sort of rules that had the kind of urgent negative impact that would prompt a new mayor to act to get rid of them immediately upon taking office? Seems unlikely. In fact, they seem to be directed at real and growing problems faced by Jewish New Yorkers.
Their aim isn’t to reduce Israel from the size of New Jersey to that of Rhode Island, say, but to cut the state out of the Middle East entirely.
While I do not know what is truly the biggest issue facing Klal Yisrael – what about the intermarriage and apathy consuming the majority of American Jews, the crisis between charedim and the rest of Israeli society, or the frightening rise of antisemitism on both the right and the left? – one cannot deny the corrosive impact of this financial culture.
Plainly, he now has some measure of deniability as to claims of antisemitism. Yet we remain persuaded that he is still committed to a reinvention of New York in an Islamic image.
In my view, far too many valuable resources and an extensive amount of energy were spent in generating votes for the American portion of the World Zionist Congress elections. And I say this as a delegate to a previous congress.
Now that our grandson is three, it’s easier – not totally possible, but easier – to imagine him as the beneficiary of our legacy. Often, though, it is impossible to imagine myself as the guardian of a legacy since I am still processing the legacy that has been left to me.
Following the June conflict, Iran emerged strategically paralyzed with its own military capacity – and that of Hamas and Hezbollah – at greater risk from Israeli military action than at any time in memory.
Many American rabbis and other leaders at the time encouraged people to pray for Israel, to pay for Israel, and even to make aliyah, but relatively few did more than preaching, praying, and donating.
When one commits murder, the killer realizes that he has sinned and he can do teshuvah. But when someone causes another person to be embarrassed, he often doesn’t realize he has done anything wrong. He may never do teshuvah and will die guilty of this sin.
The EU–Israel Association Agreement of 2000 cast the Jewish state as a close political and economic counterpart. Over time, EU institutions subordinated that relationship to backing the Palestinian cause.
By bolstering Israel’s ability to defend itself, the U.S. enhances overall regional stability and reduces the likelihood of larger conflicts that would demand direct American military intervention.
A celebrity video that reassures – and misleads – New York’s Jewish community.
The Bondi Beach shooting was the worst terror attack in Australia’s history, and it was also the deadliest terror attack against Jews since October 7. Still, for those who have been studying the sharp rise of antisemitism in Australia over the last two years, the attack wasn’t entirely shocking.
Israel successfully lobbied to exclude Turkey from a Doha summit discussing the proposed multinational force for Gaza. Israeli leadership also is reportedly very determined to prevent Turkish military boots on the ground, viewing Ankara as a hostile force.
Just as we gradually educate our children in bite-size pieces of knowledge and wisdom as they develop through life and before they come of age, so too did G-d bring this holy light into this lower realm before its time.
The problem, many argue, is the need to go beyond platitudinous sentiment and take decisive action against the root cause: the incitement of hate against Jews.
It is far too soon to truly process or respond to such a heinous crime. But anyone with a sensitive soul cannot avoid the question that rises unbidden in the heart. How do we light candles, gather with family, sing songs of gratitude, spin the dreidel, and eat latkes in the shadow of such devastating loss and tragedy?
Tomorrow, I am going to a shiva here in Jerusalem... I am going soon with my daughter-in-law who is related to them. Yet at this particular shiva… we all are... Their son was one of those massacred in the Bondi Beach attack. And I have to tell you that I am more than angry that this shiva and the other fifteen are happening. I am in fact furious.
It is worthy of note that specific individuals, such as a UNRWA school principal who was identified as a politburo member and a Hamas commander in Lebanon who was identified as an UNRWA employee.
By Aryeh Werth
Surveillance footage captured by aircraft showed the suspects unloading materials from vehicles and arranging bomb-making components on folding tables beneath a tent.
By Avi Ciment
After parents spend hundreds of thousands of hard-earned dollars, a large number of our kids don’t really believe the Torah is the written word of G-d. Schools don’t teach it. They either assume that kids already believe it, or more than likely, it doesn’t fit into their curriculum.
Halachic authorities caution against overburdening mourners, and many contemporary guides acknowledge the legitimacy of firm visiting hours or limited access based on the mourner’s needs. Yet even these measures do not always suffice.
As we look back over the past 50 years, we feel enriched that the Almighty has given us this opportunity to provide something that has proven to be so successful and so influential.
While this is surely an issue for Israelis to decide, we are also constrained to note that we think the pardon proponents have the better argument. A nation’s stability and strategic necessity must take precedence over what is largely esoteric conjecture about respect for the rule of law.
In recent years, antisemitism and anti-Zionism have increased dramatically, as has the debate about which side is more antisemitic: the Left (Liberal Progressive Democrats) or the right (Ultra-Nationalist Republicans).
Hungary is one of Israel’s closest allies in Europe. It consistently supports Israel’s right to use force in Gaza, regularly blocks or dilutes EU and UN statements critical of Israeli actions, and has initiated a withdrawal from the ICC after its obscene attempt to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. When the pullout is completed, Hungary will be the first EU country to have left the Israel-bashing kangaroo court.
One of the overarching themes in Sefer Bereishis is sibling rivalry. The outcome of each successive conflict propels the narrative forward, shaping our destiny through events that are sometimes confusing and surprising – especially since the reason why the Torah doesn’t begin with mitzvos and laws is so that we can learn from the actions of our forefathers.
The prevailing opinion among legal experts is that, as mayor, Mamdani would lack the authority to order an arrest and any attempt to do so would be a legal and practical impossibility. The principal arguments against his authority are straightforward.
What was sold in the late 1970s and ‘80s as “playing the Islam card” – treating Islamist insurgents as potential partners and aligning with them to weaken the Soviet Union – produced a recurring cycle of blowback that neither the U.S. nor its allies have been able to escape.
These groups openly seek to build a “south Lebanon-style resistance model” in Southern Syria, creating a second front of conflict aimed directly at Israeli population centers.
Yitzchak was not universally loved – but he was respected. He was not a trickster or fugitive; he was prosperous, assertive, blessed, and openly acknowledged as such by his neighbors.
The federal rules of criminal procedure explicitly state that after a federal grand jury votes a “true bill” of indictment, it “shall be signed by the attorney for the government.” But the thing is, this signature is a ministerial act that ensures the authenticity of the document and the government’s intention to proceed with the prosecution based upon the grand jury’s finding.
A key challenge for our community is finding more people in various fields who are willing to chip in. If more attorneys and others would step up, they would end up leading a much more fulfilling life. Countless hours can lead to countless lives being saved.
Our public square has shifted to social media platforms built to amplify outrage, not accuracy. TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X reward emotional impact over context, speed over verification, and frictionless sharing over reflection.
Although not widely known, there is very little a NYC mayor can do respecting most of them in terms of new programming and tax revenues without specific authorization from the NYS government.
For the Orthodox Jew, Thanksgiving presents a rare opportunity. It is not a religious holiday. It does not ask us to compromise halacha or identity. Instead, it calls us to practice something Jews know almost intuitively: gratitude (hakarat ha-tov).
The Har Hazeitim Visitor Center is a 25-million-shekel project with the goal of drawing as many people as possible to the site – students, tourists, soldiers, and people of all ages and backgrounds.
By Alan Zeitlin
I think people see who I am and what I stand for, and I hope it gives others the confidence to serve.
Predictably, Mamdani’s statement became the subject of intense scrutiny with critics alleging that his response was weak and equivocal – saying only that he “discouraged” the language the protesters used rather than unequivocally condemning it as the antisemitic incitement that it was.
The central engine behind this effort is Iran, the only UN member whose leaders declare openly that another member state must be wiped out.
Then there is the potential for enhancing Israeli security, which continues to be a key objective for U.S. policy in the Middle East.
Our isolation stems from the unique responsibility we have been given in this world.
By Aaron Oppenheim and Yosef Baker
In your pocket or purse, you may be carrying the modern descendant of that ancient Jewish coin, still copper-colored, still the smallest denomination, still somehow essential despite all logic.
By Shlomo Greenwald with Ziona Greenwald
My first and foremost priority as an elected official is to deliver for my Constituents, which means fighting against Mamdani’s radical policies – but it also means working with him on a wide variety of local non-partisan issues, such as quality of life.
I always feel sorry for Jews I know and like when I see them trying to disprove or convince people on social media that Israel did not commit genocide in Gaza or starve Palestinian babies. This is a fruitless exercise. There is simply no point at all in trying to offer rational arguments to an irrational mind.
It is still not clear where exactly the Saudi deal fits in but it plainly needs some oversight.
Every map needs margins. The halachic imagination admits this with elegant honesty. It names the unknown – safek, doubt – and gives it rules of its own.
Kazakhstan’s joining the Accords has real benefits for Israel. And it is the same for the U.S. which reportedly anticipates that current bilateral trade and other cooperation amongst the three nations will be substantially enhanced.
The idea that religion is a personal choice that can be separated from every other identity marker in your life is a fundamentally non-Jewish way of seeing the world.
Requiring an end to all city contracts with companies doing business with Israel and to institute other BDS (Boycott, Divestment Sanction) policies would likely make the city’s investment climate highly uncertain.
By Alan Zeitlin
They were sure Trump’s political career was done after 2020, and his improbable return to the White House felt like an impossible betrayal by voters. With Mamdani positioning himself as an anti-Trump candidate, they felt that a vote for Mamdani was a vote against Trump and this could be a beginning of a reversal.
He is an unabashed anti-capitalist who will be the chief executive of the city that is the center of the nation’s financial industry – and for generations has symbolized Jewish success and civic influence.
To be sure, Hamas and Hezbollah justify their political power and arsenals as necessary for defending against Israel. But as we all know, their weapons and desire for “a state within a state” have generally been the triggers of the violent confrontations with Israel.
Any doubt about the direction of Democratic Party discourse has been removed by the current New York City mayoral campaign in which Mamdani has been largely embraced by the Democratic establishment, despite his vocal antisemitic stands, not to mention his Marxist economic program.
Repeating a falsehood again and again doesn’t make it true.
Mamdani will have to face reality even before the get-go. Hopefully Mamdani will abandon ideology and embrace things as they actually exist and not how he would wish them to be.
For a nation its size, Israel’s medical innovation is breathtaking – and deeply moral in its reach, extending humanitarian aid and expertise to developing countries, disaster zones, and conflict areas worldwide.
In fact, Vance’s performance even drew the ire of Jewish conservatives who, increasingly of late, have been warning of rising antisemitism on the right.
In the U.S., both the Orthodox Union and the Agudath Israel of America put out statements that sounded defiant, even somewhat hopeful notes.
Mamdani has never managed a business, run a municipal or state agency, or held a position that demanded accountability for budgets, payrolls, or public safety. His resume reads more like that of a campus activist than a leader.
By Alan Zeitlin
People test the waters to see what they can get away with in the world of public opinion. Be sure there are bots praising both Carlson and Fuentes. But there are real people also, posting antisemitic things.
Nichum aveilim is indeed a mitzvah, but it is not like eating matzah or shaking a lulav, where the mitzvah is fulfilled through contact with an object.
Issues like antisemitism, contempt for law enforcement and disrespect for the rule of law, promotion of racial politics and delegitimizing American traditions, history and achievement thus undermining the glue that keeps us together as a country.
By Rabbi Shlomo Brody and Rabbi Aaron Glatt
The National Council on Disability published a study that detailed the dangers of assisted suicide laws to people with disabilities. It found that safeguards in these laws are ineffective and often fail to protect patients.
As The Wall Street Journal reported, as Israeli troops pulled back to facilitate the deal’s freeing the living hostages still held in Gaza, Hamas surged security forces in behind them – a public assertion of authority intended to make clear the group remains the enclave’s governing power.
New York City will be facing enormous governmental, fiscal and social challenges in the next four years and we believe that the former governor, who to be sure, brings a lot of baggage to his candidacy, is without question still the best suited among the three major candidates to get his arms around them.
What stood out for my mother, as relayed to me, was how difficult it was for Gretel to heal from the assault on her integrity and character by a Nazi regime that discriminated against her because of their unbridled hatred for Jews.
July 17, 2026 
