Knesset
Marking the Day–But Which Day?Monday, April 8, 2013 by Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
If it's the 27th of the month, it must be Holocaust Remembrance Day. But what are we remembering, and why? Differences in memorializing the Holocaust reflect fundamentally differing perspectives on Jewish history.
Yair Lapid’s ReligionTuesday, February 19, 2013 by Elli Fischer | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
In a speech to haredi students last year, Yair Lapid advocated a shared public sphere in Israel that is neutral on questions of religion. Does he now have the chance to implement his vision?
The Soul of the SabraThursday, September 6, 2012 by Allan Arkush | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
For those who have been taught—by Peter Beinart or some other recent chronicler of Israel’s history—that Zionism only began to go awry after 1967, Patrick Tyler’s new book might come as a shock. Israel’s aggressive territorial ambitions didn’t emerge after the Six-Day War, Tyler argues, but antedated that (to his mind) avoidable conflict by more than a decade.
Frail Reeds?Wednesday, February 2, 2011 by Elliot Jager | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
Observing Egypt's current upheaval, a writer for the Hebrew daily Makor Rishon has ventured the thought that whatever happens there, and no matter who takes power, "the lesson for Israel is clear: Arab regimes cannot be trusted."
Editors' Picks
The Ambassador from Beit Shemesh Jodi Rudoren, New York Times. One new Knesset member from the Yesh Atid party, which seeks increased haredi contributions to Israeli society, is himself an Orthodox rabbi. Can he help bridge Israel's religious divides?
Bibi's Lucky Break Haviv Rettig Gur, Times of Israel. Yesterday's elections weakened the Likud at the expense of Yesh Atid. But Netanyahu has still come out on top.
Israel’s Electoral System: Accidental Wisdom Shany Mor, Fathom. Proportional representation is endlessly criticized. But do we really want an Arab bloc united by Islamism? An ultra-Orthodox list bound solely by draft avoidance and welfare?
An Israeli Spring? Yair Rosenberg, Tablet. Will the next Knesset session provide the moment when religious Zionists wrest control of Israel's Chief Rabbinate from the ultra-Orthodox?
Labor Turns Left Raphael Ahren, Times of Israel. Much like the Likud's primaries moved it to the right, Labor's primaries are set to shift the party to the left. But it is still projected to be the largest opposition party in the Knesset.
Hope and Change—for Israeli Arabs Philippe Assouline, Times of Israel. Aatef Karinaoui is running for the Knesset—as a pro-Israel Arab. “Our leaders have defrauded us,” he says. “We will do more for the people in five years than they have done in 60.”
Golda, Golda, Get Lost Tamara Zieve, Jerusalem Post. In 1971, young Israelis of Mizrahi descent styled themselves as Israeli Black Panthers and declared war “against the Ashkenazi government.”