ToI’s weekly deep dive: Israel’s next NBA star? * Ancient Israeli vines source for Europe * Toxic green tea? * Podcast: What Matters Now to protest leader Shikma Bressler

[Times of Israel]( [Weekly Deep Dive]( Sunday, March 26, 2023 ToI podcast [What Matters Now to arrested activist/physicist Shikma Bressler: ‘Saving Israel’]( By Amanda Borschel-Dan The nation watched Thursday as the world-renowned scientist, a leader in the anti-judicial overhaul protest movement, was dragged to a police car. Hear why she is still optimistic Op-ed David Horovitz [With dire public warning, Gallant tries to compel Netanyahu to put state before self]( The defense minister told the nation what he’s already told the PM: The divide over the legal overhaul ‘poses a clear, immediate, and tangible threat’ to Israel’s security [Op-ed / This Passover, Israel will recall ancient freedom under the threat of modern tyranny]( By David Horovitz [Op-ed / Netanyahu crushes a potential mini-revolt, insists on politicizing the judiciary]( By David Horovitz Analysis [Would the High Court dare strike down the coalition’s judicial appointments law?]( By Jeremy Sharon Opponents of the legislation argue it violates key principles underpinning Israel’s democratic character, opening the window for the High Court to invalidate the law Analysis Haviv Rettig Gur [The implosion of Israel’s ruling party]( Under Netanyahu, Likud transformed from a raucous party proud of its internal democracy into a monolith without debate or dissent. That change shapes the fight over the judiciary Protests [Between the court and the Knesset, overhaul critics and advocates pray for unity]( By Canaan Lidor Songs replace speeches at an unusual rally focused on healing the deepening political and societal rift [Leading rabbi calls for public day of fasting to heal overhaul discord]( By Canaan Lidor [After arrest at protest, ‘Our Boys’ director Hagai Levi calls overhaul ‘a blasphemy’]( By Jessica Steinberg Analysis Jacob Magid [PM’s failure to secure calm on home front hastens inevitable breakdown in US ties]( From judicial overhaul push to settlement expansion to Smotrich, not a week has gone by without a ‘backyard fire’; US official: We want calm so we can work on issues together [As Israel-Arab ties chill, one regional cooperation confab avoids chopping block]( By Jacob Magid [Record 3,700 antisemitic incidents reported in US in 2022, says ADL]( By Luke Tress [In new poll, 63% of Israeli Jews call Diaspora coreligionists ‘brethren’]( By Canaan Lidor [Despite PM’s assurances, Christian Zionists bedeviled by anti-missionary bill]( By Lazar Berman UTJ-sponsored bill, submitted at start of every Knesset, is not meant to become law, says spokesman — but millions of Christian supporters of Israel globally have taken notice Top Ops Zev Chafets [Separation now]( Liberals can’t seduce Haredim with modernity. Haredim can’t seduce liberals with the Talmud. It’s time to stop pretending Zev Bell [To Zev Chafets: ‘Othering’ Jews is the opposite of the Zionist dream]( When you badmouth Israel’s Haredim, you display your prejudice against this segment of the population. You’re also wrong Suzie Navot [There’s no ‘compromise’ in the coalition’s play for unlimited power]( Slowing the overhaul is a sham. It’s still a hostile takeover of the Supreme Court and its ability to restrain the coalition Pamela Laufer-Ukeles [The 4 mothers and their view from Israel]( As the worried mother of an IDF combat soldier, I now see the haggadah’s sons in the fight over Israel’s future Behind the headlines ToI Staff [Confused and concerned? Join ToI for live in-depth analysis of the judicial overhaul]( Send in your questions and on March 26, ToI Community members will have exclusive access to ToI editor David Horovitz and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur’s sometimes divergent takes [CRM]( Interview [Oscar-winning ‘Navalny’ director Daniel Roher urges world to resist toxic regimes]( By Sarah Rosen A week after the Academy Awards, the 29-year-old Jewish Canadian calls on Israelis to learn from the Russian dissident and not to ‘shy away from the fight against authoritarianism’ Tech Israel Sharon Wrobel [Israeli-American tech CEO opens first R&D center in Tel Aviv amid judicial jitters]( Insurtech startup Fairmatic founder says new hires seek relocation options amid fears planned judicial changes will turn Israel into a dictatorship [Tel Aviv startup ecosystem ranks 2nd in Europe, Mideast and Africa, behind London]( By Sharon Wrobel [New state budget will increase deficit, may aggravate inflation woes]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn [Israel’s next NBA superstar? Yarin Hasson nets UConn spot to play in March Madness]( By Ed Klajman The 18-year-old from central Israel says the widely televised tourney is even bigger than he imagined. Though not seeing much playing time in his rookie season, opportunity awaits Sabra Style [Russian-Israeli artist dreams of Israel’s desert landscapes]( By Jessica Steinberg Natalia Zourabova brings her ‘Arad’ utopia, life-sized oil paintings to Tel Aviv’s Artport gallery [Desert chic / Genderless collection hits runway on last day of Fashion Week]( By Jessica Steinberg [Counter-couture / Tel Aviv Fashion Week sees anti-overhaul protest on the runway]( By Jessica Steinberg [Naot shoemaker on spiritual journey joins paths with singer for healing event in NY]( By Lisa Klug Interview [What’s in a name? Poignant documentary plumbs identity of complex Israeli young man]( By Rich Tenorio Screening in Boston on March 21, Tomer Heymann’s award-winning film ‘I am Not’ follows Oren, an adopted Guatemala-born Israeli, on a journey beyond his multiple diagnoses [Interview / A match made in desperation: New Israeli film unveils plight of mail-order brides]( By Rich Tenorio Holocaust [How Nazi-sympathizing scholars prepared the ideological groundwork for genocide]( By Matt Lebovic ‘Betrayal of the Humanities’ anthology examines ‘self-coordination’ of German academicians in advancing Third Reich’s ‘racial’ policies — before, during and even after the war [Ahead of ghetto uprising anniversary, Polish and Israeli flags again fly over Warsaw]( By Canaan Lidor Health [Green tea can be dangerous for some people, Israeli study concludes]( By Renee Ghert-Zand While affording many health benefits, the plant can also be toxic in rare cases and lead to acute liver failure if not caught in time [Israel Pediatric Association urges immediate vaccination drive against polio]( By Renee Ghert-Zand [Panel finds Assuta Rishon Lezion IVF mix-up due to embryologists’ too-heavy workload]( By Renee Ghert-Zand [In first, FDA okays Israel-developed brain modulation device to treat PTSD]( By Renee Ghert-Zand Interview [NPR’s Ari Shapiro reports on lessons learned behind the microphone – and in print]( By Renee Ghert-Zand Archaeology [It’s in the DNA: Israeli grapes are the mother of all European wines]( By Melanie Lidman Massive DNA study of over 3,500 wild and domesticated grapevines overturns what historians thought they knew about the first cultivation of grapes and wine [Oldest and most complete Hebrew Bible manuscript on display in Israel for 1st time]( By Jessica Steinberg From the Blogs [The Upper Room where it happened]( By Bill Slott ’I have seen grown men weep at the grave of a king who died three thousand years ago.’ [Unsubscribe from this List]( Email not displaying correctly? [View in browser]( © 2023 The Times Of Israel, All Rights Reserved