Jewish Holidays

Why Israel’s Next Government Gives Me Hope

Why Israel’s Next Government Gives Me Hope jstern June 15, 2021

On Sunday, Israel’s Knesset narrowly voted in Israel’s 36th government with Naftali Bennett as the nation’s 13th prime minister, unseating the incumbant Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Ethical Conundrum of a Jewish and Democratic State

The Ethical Conundrum of a Jewish and Democratic State jstern June 8, 2021

Israel

When the State of Israel was established in 1948, its secular founders envisioned a nation that would be both Jewish and attuned to the values of liberal democracy. They were confident that a country with an overwhelming Jewish majority could maintain a Jewish character and ensure civic equality for all its inhabitants.

An Appeal from an Israeli Harvard Student

An Appeal from an Israeli Harvard Student jstern June 1, 2021

Israel

When my dream came true, and I was accepted to a PhD program at Harvard, I expected to struggle at times as a Zionist and former IDF officer.

Guide to the Complex

Guide to the Complex urjadmin May 25, 2021

Israel

hands trying to tie cats cradle with string

Much of the rhetoric coming out of an American understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian interrelationship seriously lacks nuance. Nuance is cavalierly sacrificed on the altar of the soundbite and the hashtag. Those who preach liberal politics and tolerance based on their American experience seem unwilling to understand the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

When Your Family Is in Need, You Show Up

When Your Family Is in Need, You Show Up jstern May 25, 2021

Israel and her Neighbors

I thought the email was spam. “We are putting a small group of New York

We Hold All of these Truths

We Hold All of these Truths urjadmin May 20, 2021

Israel and her Neighbors

The current wave of violence in Israel and Gaza is a heartbreaking human tragedy. The loss of innocent life (including that of children) rends the heart, destruction of homes and endemic fear defy the peace and security in which every human being deserves to live.

Choosing Vision Over Victimhood

Choosing Vision Over Victimhood jstern May 19, 2021

Israel and her Neighbors

he current violent events in Israel have a strong tinge of déjà vu for me. However, over the past two decades, I’ve had the time to envision what a Jewish state might look like.

Choosing Life: An Israeli Wedding Story

Choosing Life: An Israeli Wedding Story jstern May 19, 2021

Weddings

Shira & Ron, two young industrial engineers, approached me this past March, when Israel took its first steps out of the pandemic

Resources for Understanding the Current Israeli-Palestinian Crisis

Resources for Understanding the Current Israeli-Palestinian Crisis urjadmin May 19, 2021

Israel Peace and Security

While some see this conflict in only stark black and white terms, it is intensely complex. To help navigate this complexity, we offer this resource guide, including material that may be helpful in laying out the context and nuances of this latest round of violence between Hamas and Israel.

For the Return of Peace

As an Israeli-American, I hold sorrow and fear for both my nations, and all the earth. This is a prayer for G-d to restore peace and justice to our world. The photo, which I took from Israel last fall, is a peaceful sunset over Gaza.

Why Israel’s Next Government Gives Me Hope

The Ethical Conundrum of a Jewish and Democratic State

An Appeal from an Israeli Harvard Student

Guide to the Complex

When Your Family Is in Need, You Show Up

We Hold All of these Truths

Choosing Vision Over Victimhood

Choosing Life: An Israeli Wedding Story

Resources for Understanding the Current Israeli-Palestinian Crisis

For the Return of Peace

For the Return of Peace

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