ToI’s weekly deep dive: Masada legend upended? * Six Black September survivors on life after captivity * ToI original video: ’Hersh’ * Podcast: Haviv Rettig Gur

[Times of Israel]( [Weekly Deep Dive]( Sunday, September 8, 2024 Archaeology [Masada legend upended: ‘The Romans came, saw and conquered, quickly and brutally’]( By Gavriel Fiske The costly Roman operation was likely undertaken only after Masada-based Jewish forces raided nearby Ein Gedi and disrupted production of balsam, a precious commodity, TAU prof says Op-ed David Horovitz [Under Netanyahu, Israel is in existential danger]( Facing a genocidal Iranian regime and its proxies, Netanyahu’s new obsesssion with the Philadelphi Corridor risks the lives of the hostages and, ultimately, the future of our country Inside story [As Smotrich holds up funding, some Arab Israeli mayors allege racism]( By Sam Sokol Finance minister’s decision to withhold $55 million for economic development in the Arab sector ‘exacerbating the cycle of poverty and violence,’ says Umm al-Fahm mayor Reporter's notebook [In Baku, emerging Israeli and Arab leaders prepare for a post-conflict Middle East]( By Gianluca Pacchiani ToI podcast [What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: Israel’s Sophie’s Choice on hostages]( By ToI Staff After a tumultuous week, we ask some big questions about how Israelis are viewing this decisive moment as the country, and its leadership, are torn in two as negotiations falter Top Ops Yossi Klein Halevi [Crush Hamas or free hostages? I choose the hostages]( If they are abandoned, too many Israelis will believe they died for political reasons – with dire consequences for the country Shawn Zelig Aster [Preventing tomorrow’s hostages]( As long as Hamas can attack, Israel must ask how it can prevent future hostage-taking, even if doing so would mean not freeing current hostages Hugh Taylor [This isn’t a war, really]( For Hamas, it’s a publicity stunt, a large-scale suicide mission. And, it’s working out amazingly well for them Adrian Daniels [Even if Bibi’s right, the country can’t trust him]( Netanyahu’s most recent effort to divide the country with suspicion and keep himself in power ignores a cardinal rule of Israel: No soldiers left behind ToI Original Video [Hersh]( Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg’s community embraces the couple and their two daughters as they escort their son and brother to his final home [‘We all failed you’: Heartbreak at funeral for Hersh Goldberg-Polin in Jerusalem]( By Jessica Steinberg and Agencies [In Jerusalem, hundreds gather to grieve slain ‘child of light’ Hersh Goldberg-Polin]( By Jessica Steinberg, JTA and Deborah Danan [‘It must serve as wakeup call’: Hersh’s family okays release of Hamas propaganda clip]( By Jacob Magid [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Stories of civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel]( [Read Here]( [On anniversary of 1970 Black September hijacking, six survivors on life after captivity]( By Mati Wagner As Hamas continues to hold 97 hostages kidnapped on October 7, marking the September 6 PFLP terror group’s takeover of four planes paints new wounds in an old light Reporter's notebook [As northern evacuees begin school in Zichron Yaakov, some find a silver lining]( By Gavriel Fiske At the Horesh combined primary and middle school in the northern town, displaced kids absorbed into the general student body are starting their second school year away from home [Reporter's notebook / While Israeli kids near Gaza rejoice at return to school, parents remain ambivalent]( By Sue Surkes Reporter's notebook [In Jerusalem’s center, an elite emergency team prepares for an intense, lonely fight]( By Canaan Lidor Youth [Meet the young men and women performing 38 million hours of national service a year]( By Aviva Bar-Am With 19,000 volunteers from across Israeli society, Sherut Leumi has in recent years transformed into a source of highly-skilled help in fields like health, tech and education [100 Israeli teens from evacuated communities return from ‘dream’ US camp experience]( By Gavriel Fiske [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( Inside Story [New research uncovers how Lithuania’s largest Holocaust massacre was mostly forgotten]( By Matt Lebovic 2024 Paris Paralympics [Israel wins Paralympic silver in goalball, bronze in tennis, boosting medal count to 9]( By Amy Spiro First team sport medal for Israel at the Games since 1988; Guy Sasson says he hopes his victory on the court ‘can give a small smile’ to the families of the hostages and fallen [2024 Paris Paralympics / Swimmer Ami Dadaon clinches another Paralympic gold as Israeli medal haul rises to 7]( By Amy Spiro [2024 Paris Paralympics / Rowers take gold, bronze as Israel continues to rack up Paralympic medals]( By Amy Spiro Science [In game-changer, Israeli researchers find Alzheimer’s markers 20 years before onset]( By Diana Bletter Hebrew University-led team maps 1.65 million brain cells from 437 aging brains; innovative algorithms predict brain cells’ trajectories, bringing ‘much more hope of a cure’ [Israel in worst-ever mental health crisis amid ongoing war, says minister]( By Diana Bletter Birds of a feather [While young vultures gad about, older ones prefer to stay home – study]( By Sue Surkes Tel Aviv University research shows that aging vultures become less sociable Interview [Nature meets divine in New York exhibit by Tobi Kahn, son of Holocaust survivors]( By Leigh Pennington From the Blogs [Shards of truth: Unity in a broken world]( By Sarah Tuttle-Singer Humans are not perfect; we each have a piece of the puzzle, and we need to come together and fit them into a unified whole, on our path to completion [Weekly Deep Dive]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? 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