ToI’s weekly deep dive: Hi-tech whiz kids take on disaster aid * Explainers on judicial overhaul * Kibbutz pickelballers! *Podcast: ’What Matters Now’ to Haviv Rettig Gur

[Times of Israel]( [Weekly Deep Dive]( Sunday, March 5, 2023 Interview [How a young Harvard dropout and friends are set to level-up global humanitarian aid]( By Renee Ghert-Zand The ‘whiz kid’ who developed the world’s first COVID-tracking site is ramping up his organization, Internet Activism, and helping victims of Turkey’s earthquake and Ukraine’s war Op-ed David Horovitz [As Israel implodes, does nobody in Netanyahu’s Likud have the guts to defy him?]( The national turmoil over the PM’s judicial overhaul is now being exacerbated by surging Palestinian terrorism and settler extremism. And still his entire Likud faction is silent [Likud’s Edelstein backs pausing judicial overhaul, says other MKs feel the same]( By ToI Staff Explainer Carrie Keller-Lynn [Israel’s judicial overhaul: What is the coalition planning and where does it stand?]( Plan will give politicians the power to appoint judges, block courts from reviewing almost all legislation and ministerial appointments; coalition wants to complete within a month [Explainer / Who chooses judges: The evolution and planned radical overhaul of judicial selection]( By Jeremy Sharon Analysis [In Netanyahu’s Israel, from fiery riots to boardroom bedlam, chaos reigns]( By Haviv Rettig Gur A ‘pogrom’ in Huwara and a fake state budget in Jerusalem all tell the same story of a government losing control on all fronts Interview [Top Abbas aide: Israel hasn’t fulfilled Aqaba promise to transfer withheld PA funds]( By Jacob Magid Interview [Sharansky: No, Israel is not becoming Russia, but we need broad consensus on reforms]( By David Horovitz The former Prisoner of Zion and minister under Netanyahu does not support the sweeping judicial overhaul as is, but nor does he believe it spells the end of Israeli democracy [National Library wasn’t consulted on government plan to control its board, head says]( By Jessica Steinberg [Interview / Year into war, Ukraine’s envoy looks for Israel to scrap fence-sitting policy]( By Lazar Berman Interview [Reform Judaism head: Critics say US Jews can’t have an opinion, then seek our help]( By Judah Ari Gross Top Ops Sarah Bernstein [Nightmares and pipe dreams: A visit to Huwara]( The families told us of their dilemma: stay in their smoke-filled houses or flee and face the hordes rampaging outside Sharon Weinstein [My counter-protest]( There is just one word that I – a right-wing, religious voter who supports judicial reform – would chant at a protest David Kretzmer [Huwara could open Israel to war crimes charges]( If the authorities don’t launch an investigation into Sunday night’s rampage, the International Court may do so instead Tamar Sternthal [The New York Times’ Jesus problem]( Accuracy about biographical details of a historical figure central to a leading world religion shouldn’t be too hard [Bride’s joy turns to sorrow after Elan Ganeles killed driving to her wedding]( By Lazar Berman Maayan Rockland’s childhood friend flew to Israel to be part of her happiest day; family shielded her from tragic news during celebration [‘He wore his heart on his sleeve’: Friends remember Elan Ganeles]( By Lazar Berman [Texan who posed as Hasidic Jew and adopted 9 boys charged with sexually abusing kids]( By Luke Tress Suspect changed name to Hayim Cohen, fabricated Jewish backstory, courted media attention and allegedly assaulted minors over years, raising questions about ignored red flags [CRM]( ToI podcast [What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: Taking advantage of this ‘moment of decisions’]( By Amanda Borschel-Dan This week in What Matters Now, ToI’s senior analyst explains why PM Benjamin Netanyahu must see the judicial overhaul through to stay in power – but still finds room for optimism [Kibbutz pickleballers have a ball while courting more team members]( By Jessica Steinberg The racquet game is slowly gaining local fans, and so too are walking football and Mamanet, as mature Israelis seek out team sports that are easier on the joints Interview [A Holocaust survivor fought antisemitism on TikTok and now he’s a social media star]( By Yaakov Schwartz Gidon Lev and editor Julie Gray go online to promote their memoir about Gidon’s life after growing up in the Theresienstadt ghetto, and suddenly find themselves educating youth [Dutch church leaders take back Holocaust-related reference to Palestinians]( By Canaan Lidor [To promote disability inclusion, El Al makes man with autism a crew member for a day]( By Tobias Siegal Author interview [Is Iran really the existential threat Israel claims it is? This author thinks not]( By JP O’ Malley In his new book ‘Fear and Insecurity,’ Jonathan Leslie says Israeli politicians are blowing Iranian nuclear aspirations out of proportion – and they’re doing it for the votes [Rehov Charlotte: An ‘under-the-table’ experience that will have you asking for more]( By Tobias Siegal Having studied and worked in some of Europe’s top hospitality schools, French immigrant Charlotte Hadjaj is taking dining ‘out’ to a whole new level – and patrons are eating it up [Kosher, now maybe halal: Aleph Farms gears up for rollout of cultivated steak]( By Sharon Wrobel [Archaeology / Unfounded: Ancient Darius inscription shard isn’t authentic – Antiquities Authority]( By ToI Staff From the Blogs [The new Jewish American Girl dolls are Jewish enough]( By Elizabeth Karpen The Hoffman twins, who observe Hanukkah and Christmas, offer a relatable storyline for interfaith and non-Orthodox girls [Unsubscribe from this List]( Email not displaying correctly? 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