Dec 5, 2022The Midterms’ Impact on IsraelBy Nate Sirotovitch This year’s American midterm elections, held on November 8, saw the Republican Party gain control of the House of Representatives but fail to reach a majority in the Senate. While a “red wave” was expected, many Republicans did not perform as expected. Additionally, several self-described “progressives” won…4 min read4 min read
Dec 5, 2022Right Wing Attitudes Toward the Israeli MediaBy Yarden Morad Throughout the Western world, we are living through a time of resurgence for populist movements and autocratic leaders. In almost every western nation, a populist candidate has won a recent election or has been a major contender for power. …8 min read8 min read
Dec 5, 2022Triumphant Netanyahu Moves Forward with Creating a GovernmentBy Omer Hortig Following the recent November elections in Israel, former Prime Minister and current Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu appears poised to stage a comeback to the top job. Netanyahu’s dramatic return comes after his Likud party and other members of his bloc won a majority 65 out of 120…4 min read4 min read
Nov 7, 2022Who is a Jew in Israel?By Aaron Baron In 1958, Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion sent a letter to 51 Jewish scholars to ask for their opinions on the standards that Israel should use to define Jewish identity. Of the 46 answers Ben-Gurion received, 38 concluded that a Jew is a person born to…4 min read4 min read
Nov 7, 2022The ultra-Orthodox Community & the Rest of Israel — A BreakdownBy Benjamin Meppen Neighborhoods like Mea Shearim in Jerusalem epitomize the traditional way of life that still exists in Israel today. Ultra-Orthodox families pack Mea Shearim cobblestone streets everyday, living a more devoutly religious life than just about anybody else on earth. Since Israel’s inception some sects of ultra-Orthodox Jews…5 min read5 min read
Nov 7, 2022The Abraham Accords — Two Years InBy a TIJ Writer For as long as it has been a state, Israel has been diplomatically isolated. A Jewish island in a sea of Muslim nations was always going to have issues, especially since many in the region view Israel as a Western colonial imposition. Immediately after the 1947…8 min read8 min read
Oct 17, 2022Israeli Political Campaigning Heats Up as November Election LoomsBy Omer Hortig In the leadup to the November 1st elections in Israel, new polling suggests that if the election was held today, the Likud-led “National Coalition” would win a majority of 61 seats in the Israeli Parliament, or Knesset. In all likelihood, this would usher in former Prime Minister…5 min read5 min read
Oct 17, 2022The Russian Language in IsraelBy Nate Sirotovitch Israel is a very diverse country, and is home to many religions, languages, and ethnic groups. While Jews are the majority in the country, comprising around 75%, around a fifth of its population identifies as Arab. Additionally, groups like the Druze, Assyrians, Circassians, and Armenians are a…4 min read4 min read
Oct 17, 2022The Rise of the Israeli Far RightBy Yarden Morad One of the main stories of the upcoming Israeli elections on November 1st is the rise of the Israeli far right, and especially of Itamar Ben-Gvir’s “Otzma Yehudit’’ (Jewish Power) party. In Ben-Gvir’s words, the party believes in expulsion of Arab lawmakers from parliament and from the…9 min read9 min read
Oct 17, 2022Israel Education in America’s Jewish Institutions — a BreakdownBy Benji Meppen Israel education, whether cultural, historical, or political, has long been a constant in the halls and in the classrooms of American Jewish institutions. As of late, it has sparked a conversation of its need, its purpose, and of its moral and political viability. …5 min read5 min read
