Check out this week's episode of People of the Pod!
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SPOTLIGHT
On this week's episode of People of the Pod [link removed], we talk to three founders of the Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations—Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY)—about how the purpose of the caucus has evolved since it was launched at the AJC Global Forum this past summer. We also hear from Avital Leibovich, Director of AJC Jerusalem, as she shares the latest developments on Israel's third election in less than a year. Finally, we sit down with Professor Yaffa Zilbershats, chair of the Planning and Budgeting Committee for Israel’s Council for Higher Education, to discuss a new initiative to double the number of international students in Israel’s colleges and universities. Listen now [link removed]
MUST-READS
Most Visible Jews Fear Being Targets [link removed]
The New York Times / 2-minute read
How has the rise of antisemitism in the U.S. affected the American Jewish community? Depends on who you ask. While synagogues of all denominations have been targeted, Orthodox Jews who regularly wear religious garb such as kippot, black suits and hats, and wigs or other hair coverings have been singled out in disproportionate numbers to their population. According to the New York Police Department, most of the city’s 428 hate crimes last year targeted Jews in heavily Orthodox neighborhoods. Most of the victims in the Monsey and Jersey City attacks also were Orthodox. This week, the New York City Commission on Human Rights turned to Madison Avenue [link removed] to send the message that antisemitism will not be tolerated. Read more [link removed]
IDF Creates New Unit to Counter Iran
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The Times of Israel / 2-minute read
The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday announced a new Iran-focused unit to be created by this summer. The unit will focus not only on Israel’s efforts to counter Tehran, but also on the development of the military’s larger strategies and international relations. The unit, or directorate, will be responsible for countering Iran only, not its proxies, such as the Hezbollah terror group. The IDF already has several generals dedicated to the fights against Hezbollah and Hamas. Read more [link removed]
Israel’s Son Is Getting Married
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The New York Times / 3-minute read
All of Israel celebrated this week when former hostage Gilad Shalit publicly announced his engagement to be married. In 2006, 19-year-old Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas in a cross-border raid and held captive in Gaza for five years. When the Israeli military could not save Shalit, his parents held court outside the prime minister’s residence and led a public movement to bring their son home. Eventually, Israel secured Shalit’s return by releasing more than 1,000 prisoners – an exchange that 79% of Israelis supported based on the Jewish teaching that saving one life is akin to saving the world. New York Times columnist Bari Weiss asks Americans to imagine a scenario where the nation rallied to bring home the 14 U.S. citizens in captivity abroad. Would we feel that same sense of national pride when we witnessed their second chances at life? Read more [link removed]
GOOD TO KNOW
Israel Election Update and Israeli Efforts to Integrate Jerusalem’s Arab Population [link removed]
The Washington Post / 5-minute read
Twelve days before third Israeli election in less than a year, the left-wing Labor-Gesher-Meretz political alliance pledged to relaunch the Oslo peace process [link removed] and “renew the partnership” between Jews and Arabs if it’s part of a future government led by Blue and White leader Benny Gantz. The next day, Gantz’s political rival Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared 3,000 homes for Jews would be built in East Jerusalem [link removed]. Both pre-election announcements come amid efforts by Israel to improve living conditions in East Jerusalem and better integrate the Arab population there. In the past three years, the Israeli government designated nearly $50 million to upgrade waste and sewage systems, enhance transportation, and add classrooms. And last year, about 1,200 Palestinians were granted Israeli citizenship, the most ever, according to Israel’s Interior Ministry. Read more [link removed]
What Took Germany So Long to Address Far Right Extremists? [link removed]
JTA / 3-minute read
German officials recently said they are targeting far-right extremists throughout the country after a series of recent high-profile attacks. In addition to the Yom Kippur attack on a synagogue in Halle [link removed] and the assassination in June of politician Walter Lubcke, those attacks now include a shooting on Wednesday in Hanau that killed 10 people. But German Jewish leaders say years of counterterrorism focused almost exclusively on Islamic extremists have allowed far-right terrorist networks to go unchecked. AJC Berlin’s Acting Director Remko Leemhuis [link removed] said the attack in Hanau “once again makes clear that right-wing extremism and right-wing terrorism have been a growing problem in Germany for years. This massive problem is in part the result of polarized political debates ... The fight against right-wing extremism must be conducted far more decisively.” Read more [link removed]
Palestinian Authority, Israel End Trade Dispute [link removed]
The Jerusalem Post / 2-minute read
In response to a months-long boycott of Israeli livestock by the Palestinian Authority, Israel earlier this month ordered a stop to agricultural imports from Palestinian territories. Israel also blocked the transport of agricultural exports through the crossing that connects the West Bank to Jordan. But all that ended Thursday after both sides agreed to end the trade war. The Palestinian Authority’s ban on importing calves from Israel started in September as part of an effort to achieve “gradual economic disengagement” from the Jewish state. Both Israeli and Palestinian farmers complained that they were suffering major financial losses as a result of the dispute. Read more [link removed]
TIDINGS
Jew-Haters vs. Nazi-Hunters [link removed] (Time magazine)
The Real Scoop on Jewish Gelato [link removed] (The Nosher)
Wild! Parched Dead Sea Area Blooms [link removed] (TOI)
The articles featured here do not necessarily reflect AJC’s positions.
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