May 18The Underground Zionist Movements of Pre-State IsraelBy Omer Hortig On April 25, Israel celebrated its 75th independence day, or Yom Ha’atzmaut in Hebrew, with celebrations and televised events despite recent social unrest. Declared a nation in 1948 against the backdrop of the Holocaust and an Arab invasion aimed at its eradication, Israel has persevered and prospered…10 min read10 min read
May 18Israel’s First LifelineBy Anton Riehle Anti-Israel thought leaders often argue that if it weren’t for the United States’ support, Israel would cease to exist. And indeed, this argument isn’t without merit. The flow of approximately 3.3 billion USD of military aid annually over the course of 10 years remains instrumental in keeping…4 min read4 min read
May 18Public Unrest Palpable in IsraelBy Jake Bengelsdorf This March, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Israel. While in the Holy Land, I saw Israel firsthand in its most precarious political climate in recent memory. The major issue for the country is a proposed bill which would overhaul the current judiciary system to allow…4 min read4 min read
Apr 10Israel’s First Anti-Zionist GovernmentBy Hadley Kauvar If we define Zionism as the Jewish national movement to establish, develop and protect a Jewish country in the Land of Israel, and anti-Zionism as opposition to such aims, then we may be witness to Israel’s first anti-Zionist government. …6 min read6 min read
Apr 10Israeli Society DividedBy Yarden Morad During the push for judicial reform legislation over twelve weeks, many commentators and observers have mentioned that a larger divide in Israeli society is now apparent. After all, the judicial revolution is just the means to implement the desired policy goals of the right. …3 min read3 min read
Apr 10Is Democracy Alive and Well in the Holy Land?By Benjamin Meppen On the weekend of March 26, 2023, hundreds of thousands of Israelis poured out onto the streets of Tel Aviv, demanding that PM Netanyahu and his coalition government halt their attempt at overhauling the judicial system. These protests have been going on for 11 weeks, crescendoing in…4 min read4 min read
Mar 21Abu Dhabi’s New Synagogue Signals a Changing RegionBy Omer Hortig On March 1, the Persian Gulf’s first purpose-built synagogue opened to the public as part of the United Arab Emirates’ new highly publicized multi-faith complex. Abu Dhabi’s “Abrahamic Family House” includes houses of worship from each of the monotheistic Abrahamic faiths: the Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque, His Holiness…5 min read5 min read
Mar 21The Birth of Israeli BaseballBy A TIJ Writer Israel is not a country known for its team sports. The most popular sport in the state is probably soccer, yet the country isn’t particularly good at it, only producing a few good footballers here and there. Basketball is another team activity frequently played by Israelis…4 min read4 min read
Mar 21From Tigray to SinaiBy Anton Riehle In Parshat Yitro, in the Book of Exodus, Moses is summoned to Mount Sinai and it is proclaimed: “And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. Now mount Sinai was altogether on…4 min read4 min read
Feb 20Coalition of the CorruptBy Hadley Kauvar As Israel’s 37th government prepares to neuter and politicize the judiciary, it is worth mentioning the primary actors in this benighted coalition that makes the Olmert government (which included a prime minister and finance minister convicted of corruption and a justice minister convicted of sexual assault) seem…8 min read8 min read
