I remember the Butcher of Tehran all too well * At the protest with a kippa * The wisdom of Lag B’Omer * Biden learns to speak like an Israeli * When is it time to leave?

[Times of Israel]( [The Blogs Weekly]( Thursday, May 23, 2024 [At the protest with a kippa]( By Avidan Freedman From disbelief to anger, my headwear got a rise outside the Knesset, but there are far less appropriate places to wear a yarmulke Yedidia Stern [We need a broad national emergency government now]( To shake off the current paralysis, all Zionist parties must agree to join hands under Netanyahu for 12 months followed by elections Jonathan Dekel-Chen [It wasn’t the Shoah, it was Israel not protecting my son]( The officials who compare October 7th to the Holocaust turn a blind eye to Israel’s very existence, when they should be meeting Israel’s urgent needs instead FROM THE BLOGS [Kinocide: Hamas targeting of families is a new crime against humanity]( By Cochav Elkayam-Levy and Irwin Cotler On October 7, Hamas committed atrocities deliberately targeting the family unit, a crime that is not defined in international law but should be Jonathan Lord [That’s the sound of Biden learning to speak like an Israeli]( Tired of being ignored, the US president is using the same blunt talk Israelis use – but never expect to hear from the polite American Ali Deilami [The Ayatollah of execution: My memories of Ebrahim Raisi]( He became president in a sham election and was being groomed as the Islamic Republic’s next Supreme Leader. I won’t miss him [Israel needs a national influencing directorate]( By Asaf Kagan October 7 laid bare the dire need for a central organization to handle information warfare and perception campaigns Michael Oren [10 necessary steps for the ‘day after’ in Gaza]( They don’t include a hostage deal ’at any price, or reestablish Gaza settlements, but they pave a way through this complex, dangerous situation Seth Farber [Nepotism at work: The committee to appoint rabbinical judges]( How can Israelis trust the courts they need for divorce and other legal matters, when they have become a job factory for the committee’s relatives? [Lag B’Omer teaches the delights and dangers of Torah study]( By Steven Greenberg How did Rabbi Akiva’s students have such disrespect for each other that they died for their arrogance? Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s tale holds the key Alana Goldman [The protests aren’t peaceful: Believe their calls for intifada]( The ADL’s antisemitism grade of ’F’ surprised me. It shouldn’t have – I had reason to be scared on campus (photo essay) Cheryl Levi [A battle of wits in the House Oversight Committee]( Once respected, the US Congress has descended into a boorish, name-calling embarrassment and we all share some of the blame [How will we know when it’s time to leave?]( By Mishael Zion It’s the taboo question of committed Zionists, but admitting that there’s a red line is the most loyal thing I can do as an Israeli Martin Kramer [Israel must never stand alone]( A small, isolated country invites aggression; to deter it, forge strong alliances. And then call upon those powerful allies to defeat human evil David Makovsky [Some big decisions: What it will take to repair Israel-US ties]( The two allies are unlikely to agree on everything, but, in light of how much is at stake, they need to iron out their differences [When the going gets antisemitic, the tough make soup]( By Laurel Herman The antisemites who were hiding in plain sight are no longer hiding. And I am left wondering how anyone who loves food could be so hateful more choice voices Rachel Tzvia Back [We must disenthrall ourselves]( If we do not, Israel will stay bonded to violence, remaining a nation and a people that live by the sword, forever killing and being killed Rachel Sharansky Danziger [‘Bye, from Inbal. ❤️’]( It was eulogies for a fallen soldier that made me appreciate how the slow and steady strength that is love joins the louder, patriotic strength to keep us going (Emor) Amichai Cohen [Do as we say, not as we do: Israel’s government on partisan politics]( The coalition blames the protesters for dividing the country, when it’s putting forward legislation that it knows will polarize the public Jonathan Branfman [The Drake-Kendrick Lamar rap war is also about Jewish identity]( The public feud shines a light on how American society envisions rap authenticity, race, class, masculinity and Jewishness [The Blogs Weekly]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? [Subscribe here]( [Unsubscribe]( from this List © 2024 The Times Of Israel, All Rights Reserved