ToI’s most important stories of 2021 * 4th shots for at-risk * Gov’t admits cops can’t stop soaring online fraud * Op-ed: Do ’look up’ * PODCAST: Fauda, Shtisel producer

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Friday, December 31, 2021 Presented by [My Jewish Learning]( 2021 in review [It’s been a year: ToI writers share stories of war, redemption — and vaccines]( By [TOI staff]( [A new government, an inconclusive end to fighting in Gaza, and a dozen tales of conflict (and sometimes resolution) make up this year’s reporters’ wrap]( [Israel okays 4th shots for elderly at care homes as daily COVID cases near 5,000]( By [TOI staff]( [HMOs start administering fourth shots to immunocompromised people; long waits reported at testing sites throughout the country as Omicron spreads]( [Health Ministry chief okays 4th shot for the immunosuppressed only]( By [TOI staff]( [Israel has spent $9.3b fighting COVID, $1.4b of it on vaccines – TV]( By [TOI staff]( [World begins to ring in New Year as Omicron mutes festivities]( By [Nick Perry]( [Pacific nations the first to usher in 2022 amid hope the COVID pandemic will ease in the upcoming year]( [Israel slaps curbs on gatherings, masks on partygoers ahead of New Year’s Eve]( By [TOI staff]( [New year, same pandemic: Omicron-fueled surge snuffs out party plans worldwide]( By [AFP]( [South Africa says Omicron wave swiftly subsiding, with no major increase in deaths]( By [AFP]( [Country lifts curfew, says infections have passed their peak; ‘The speed with which the Omicron-driven wave rose, peaked and then declined has been staggering,’ official says]( [As virus surges, England builds temporary hospitals]( By [AFP]( from our sponsor [Celebrate Two Years of Daf Yomi with My Jewish Learning]( [Join us to celebrate 700+ pages of Talmud studied in this Daf Yomi cycle, with music & conversation featuring singer Neshama Carlebach, Rabbi Dov Linzer, Rabbi Benay Lappe & more]( [With criminals moving online, fraud is now Israel’s top illicit cash crop – ministry]( By [Simona Weinglass]( [Government report finds scams have become a more lucrative source of money than drug trafficking and physical theft, admits police are unequipped to deal with the phenomenon]( Op-ed [Sue Surkes]( [Do ‘look up,’ and make a few New Year’s resolutions to help save the planet]( [As a new satirical blockbuster underlines the environmental obstacles we must overcome, here are a few suggestions for steps we can all take]( [Bird flu outbreak spreads to organic farm in northern Israel]( By [TOI staff]( Top Ops [Shayna Goldberg]( [Speak up]( [10 ways that healthy conversation can ease our way, starting with the fact that when something feels off, it often is, and that alone warrants discussion]( [Yael Leibowitz]( [Big Bird, Chaim Walder, and the power of nuance]( [Traditional explanations of difficult texts can turn harmful for students who may be sensitive for a whole host of reasons. Jewish educators can teach better]( [Donniel Hartman]( [Bad for the Jews]( [For Israel to represent our most noble Jewish values, it must pursue peace, and prevent racism, and xenophobia from having any foothold in the Jewish state]( [Francis Nataf]( [How secular Israel became so religious]( [Credit the Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews, whose lifestyle and outlook draws outsiders to a rootedness that connects each person to the nation, tradition, and God]( Times Will Tell [Podcast: Producer behind ‘Fauda,’ ‘Shtisel’ and others on what makes successful TV]( By [TOI staff]( [A conversation with Danna Stern, the outgoing CEO of Yes Studios, the production firm that helped change Israeli television]( [Settlers riot during demolition at West Bank outpost, 3 cops and several youths hurt]( By [TOI staff]( [Clashes take place at Kumi Ori, near Yitzhar; police say rioters hurled rocks and burned tires; IDF chief condemns violence toward officers]( Israel media review [Countdown to the shoe drop: What the press is saying as it awaits the Omicroncalypse]( By [Joshua Davidovich]( [With tens of thousands of daily coronavirus cases seemingly around the corner, prophets of doom and government critics aren’t waiting to have their say]( [With Iran in mind, Israel signs deal with US for heavy choppers, refueling planes]( By [Judah Ari Gross]( [Weapons sale to cost $3.1 billion, with the funds coming from military aid Washington provides to Jerusalem]( [Iran-linked hackers tried to reach Netanyahu’s son via Likud activists — report]( By [TOI staff]( [Iran: Biden White House also ‘responsible’ for Soleimani killing]( By [AFP]( [CRM]( [IDF: Palestinian man tries to stab troops in northern West Bank, is shot dead]( By [Judah Ari Gross]( [No soldiers injured; military says foiled attack occurred at the Gitai Avishar Junction, near the Ariel settlement; troops arrest suspect who was in car that transported assailant]( [Palestinians accuse Facebook of suppressing their content without justification]( By [AFP and TOI staff]( [US pledges $99 million to Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA]( By [TOI staff]( [Palestinian Authority’s Abbas warns Putin: West Bank poised for an ‘explosion’]( By [AFP and TOI staff]( [Alleged Walder victim dies in apparent suicide, days after author took own life]( By [TOI staff]( [Friends of young woman say she was distraught over ‘how some tried to protect him and whitewash the story’]( [Chief rabbi pays shiva call for accused abuser Walder, urges victims to come forward]( By [JTA and TOI staff]( [New York jury finds Israeli drugmaker Teva guilty of helping fuel opioid crisis]( By [Jennifer Peltz]( [Pharma giant says it plans to appeal after court says firm was ‘deceptive’ in marketing two cancer drugs containing fentanyl for other types of pain]( Year in review [The top Jewish pop culture stories from 2021]( By [Andrew Lapin]( [This year saw illuminating, controversial and entertaining releases onscreen, in the literary and musical worlds, as well as in podcasts. Here are some that made the biggest splash]( [CRM]( [Maxwell sex trafficking conviction puts fresh pressure on her friend Prince Andrew]( By [AFP]( [British royal’s connection to convicted sex trafficker will further damage his reputation, UK media says, as civil case against him in New York continues]( [Ghislaine Maxwell’s family history marked by scandal, secrecy and conspiracy]( By [AFP]( [Victims of sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell ‘relieved’ after guilty verdict]( By [AFP]( More Headlines [Government tells top court it supports controversial Jerusalem cable car plan]( By [TOI staff]( [Netanyahu says disappeared state gifts lost or broken; AG may probe matter — TV]( By [TOI staff]( [UK Jewish leaders slam BBC for claim attack on Hanukkah bus was provoked]( By [Cnaan Liphshiz]( [Israeli freed by Belarus after over a month in prison for medical cannabis in bag]( By [TOI staff]( [Bumper to bumper: Israelis keep buying cars despite record-high traffic]( By [TOI staff]( [Gunfight outside Haifa nightclub leaves one shooter critically injured]( By [TOI staff]( [Cyber authority warns Israelis of widely distributed WhatsApp message hack]( By [TOI staff]( [Israeli civilian returned after crossing into Lebanon earlier this month — IDF]( By [Judah Ari Gross]( [Israel’s newest bank picks a new name]( By [Ricky Ben-David]( [Man killed in UK taxi blast was blown up by his own bomb, investigators say]( By [AFP]( [On final day of 2021, another Arab killing brings year’s death toll to 126]( By [TOI staff]( [Jerusalem resident charged with aiding Hezbollah terror group]( By [TOI staff]( [The daily edition]() [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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