Normalization of Hate and Violence Against Jews Surging Worldwide BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – VOICES – STORIES Raping girls for being Jewish, killing Israeli Olympic athletes and bombing a Jewish community center provide vicious evidence of hate-driven, high-profile attacks around the world against Jews. The 1972 Munich Olympics and the 1994 Buenos Aires […]
by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, PhD Prior to the October 7th murder of 1,200 individuals and the kidnapping of 250 by Hamas, this issue was part of a dispassionate debate. Opposing the existence of only one among 200-plus nation-states, the only Jewish state, while shocking, was only theoretical. But once given the opportunity to demonstrate the […]
Israel is not a right-wing “ethno-national state”; it is, rather, the Middle East’s best example of a liberal democracy! by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, PhD Israel’s enemies accuse the country of being an anti-democratic “ethno-national” state, an obstacle to advancing the dream of one unified world community. These accusers falsely equate Israel’s government with right-wing coalitions […]
This week marked 9 months since October 7th. Nine months of war. Nine months during which 120 of our brothers and sisters have been held hostage in Gaza. Nine months of deep crisis. The Hebrew word for “crisis” is מַשְׁבֵּר / mashber* and can take on additional meanings. Thus wrote Moshe Ibn Ezra (11th century […]
Anti-Israel Activists Attempt to Hijack American Education System BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – VOICES – STORIES Anti-Jewish hatred is becoming so prevalent and accepted in American education that deans at a prestigious American university thought they could joke about it without repercussions. They boldly made light of antisemitism during a discussion about antisemitism. If not […]
by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, PhD Israel is subjected to a “double standard” more severe than that applied to any other nation-state. Actually, the manner in which Israel is “judged” is far beyond “double”; it intentionally frames unachievable behavior. As noted by journalist Haviv Rettig Gur, in a podcast for Times of Israel, the magnitude of […]
Numbers Chapter 18 is the main Torah source of the concept of gifts to the Priesthood as understood by the Rabbis. Midrashim offer different explanations: Yalkut Shimoni understands that the Priests received them as reward for Aaron’s efforts to save the Israelites from the sin of the golden calf. Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer understands the gifts […]
July 4: Celebrate American Values and Reject Terror, Antisemitism BACKGROUND – TALKING POINTS – ACTIONS – STORIES We celebrate July 4 to honor the core American values of freedom, democracy and equality that have built and shaped our nation. The Jewish community has been an integral part of the American fabric since before the Revolutionary […]
by Rabbi Alan Silverstein, PhD Among the false accusations leveled against the IDF is that of imposing “collective punishment,” which is a violation of international law governing humanitarian treatment of civilian populations. Collective punishment means penalizing an entire group for deeds carried out by someone else. Israel detractors are drawn to this canard because it […]
In the wilderness of Paran the sin of the spies took place — a transgression so grave that an entire generation was condemned to die in the wilderness. A Talmudic legend (b. Shabbat 89a-b) interprets the several names in the Torah for that wilderness. On the name “the wilderness of Paran” the Talmud explains: “because […]