ToI’s weekly deep dive: Israel at 75 * The dictator and I * Explore ToI’s ’That Song’ series * A match made on Netflix * Podcast: What Matters Now to Prof. Gil Troy

[Times of Israel]( [Weekly Deep Dive]( Sunday, April 30, 2023 ToI investigates [Now world’s no. 1 opioid consumer per capita, Israel faces addiction epidemic]( By Renee Ghert-Zand New report traces spike in use of fentanyl and similar drugs; experts attribute abuse and addiction to overprescription, lack of understanding, and health system problems Op-ed David Horovitz [Israel at 75: ‘Only together can we reach our goals’]( In a pre-recorded video screened at the opening 75th Independence Day ceremony, the prime minister stressed unity as central to the wonders of modern Israel. Was he listening? [Op-ed / Herzog’s global Jewish dialogue initiative is laudable, as long as it’s not too late]( By David Horovitz From the blogs [I never thought it would be my family]( By Tali Dee Analysis [How one bereaved mother changed Israel’s Memorial Day and the country itself]( By Haviv Rettig Gur Gony Harnik, 25, was killed in the first major battle of the Lebanon War. His mother’s poetry and activism would inject a new consciousness into the national ethos of commemoration [15,000 attend controversial joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day event]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn Analysis Haviv Rettig Gur [Pro-overhaul protest showed the right’s strengths — and the government’s weakness]( Likud voters want gov’t to focus on declining economy, Haredi parties want draft exemption law, religious Zionist voters want continued judicial reform [An uncompromising right could drag Netanyahu down a more hardline path]( By Shalom Yerushalmi [‘Minority can’t rule here’: In Jerusalem, pro-overhaul protesters stand by government]( By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff [Shaked tells ToI she was able to diversify the judiciary under current system]( By Tal Schneider Analysis [Overhaul backers turn thrice-struck asylum seeker law into emblem of court activism]( By Jeremy Sharon Contrasting justices’ rejection of bill jailing African migrants with their approval of Gaza Disengagement Law, Simcha Rothman cuts to very heart of debate dividing Israeli society Top Ops Sarah Tuttle-Singer [Israel of the earth]( Come meet the Israel I know, where I live and love – what I see and hear and taste and smell and feel. Maybe you’ll feel it too Steven Greenberg [Am I an abomination? An Orthodox publisher speaks to gay teens]( LGBTQ youth need much more support than Koren’s new Leviticus commentary offers, but its careful effort is a major improvement Didi Nachshon [Absently present: We will not be at Yossi’s graveside this year]( We are out fighting on your behalf to make sense of the most senseless loss. We are defending the soul of our nation Elchanan Poupko [A letter to Israel’s demographically intoxicatedÂ]( You’re right. You do have many children – more than anyone else in Israel. But guess who has even more children Reporter's notebook [The dictator and I: A visit to Turkmenistan reveals the limits of Israeli diplomacy]( By Tal Schneider Interview [JFNA Chairwoman Julie Platt ‘inspired’ by protesters despite Israel confab disruption]( By Canaan Lidor Anti-overhaul demonstrators likely chased away Netanyahu and crashed a key panel, but to the US Jewish leader, they’re also a testament to democracy [‘The Jewish people won’t forgive, won’t forget’: Protesters target Rothman at JFNA]( By Canaan Lidor [On genocide memorial day, Jerusalem Armenians hold out hopes for Israeli recognition]( By Lazar Berman [CRM]( ToI podcast [What Matters Now to Prof. Gil Troy: ‘Identity Zionism’ to cure Diaspora’s ‘unJews’]( By Amanda Borschel-Dan Historian-author expounds on the Zionist trinity of Jewish peoplehood, Land of Israel and modern state, and how young Diaspora Jews can use it as a vehicle of self-actualization From the blogs [‘That Song’: Exploring and celebrating Israeli music]( We’ve all got a song that rocked our world. Read these essays on the profound impact of a single song on a single writer Israel at 75: Interview [For scientist Michal Schwartz, Israel Prize is rewarding milestone in ongoing journey]( By Renee Ghert-Zand Weizmann Institute neuroimmunologist bucked convention to prove that brain is not isolated from immune system, leading to possible therapies to treat Alzheimer’s and other diseases [Doctors tapped for Independence Day torchlighting hope to heal fractured nation]( By Renee Ghert-Zand Interview [In Hungarian film ‘Those Who Remained,’ how 2 Holocaust survivors adapt to new lives]( By Rich Tenorio Interview [Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a TV show? ‘Jewish Matchmaking’ set to hit Netflix]( By Amy Spiro Aleeza Ben Shalom, the show’s Israeli-American star, says she hopes viewers around the globe will see Judaism as ‘something to look at, respect and feel something positive towards’ [‘There’s somebody for everyone’: Dozens of matchmakers meet to swap tips in Jerusalem]( By Amy Spiro Premier colors [Artist connects the dots for a new look at Israel’s leaders]( By Jessica Steinberg Exhibit of 12 neo-pointillist portraits of prime ministers offers fresh perspectives for Israel’s 75th, at Jerusalem Biennale Gallery in old Shaare Zedek building Archaeology [Newly identified Roman army camps indicate unknown ancient campaign in Arabia]( By Stuart Winer Google Earth imagery shows outlines of three sites in Jordan that have classic design of temporary bases built by Rome; believed tied to conquest of Nabatean kingdom [History books / National Library seeks personal diaries and accounts from 1948]( By Jessica Steinberg [Archaeology / 75 years on, newly found compass points to heart of 1948 battle where 35 troops died]( By Michael Bachner Landscape art [Earth Day art murals reinvent crumbling army barracks at Dead Sea]( By Jessica Steinberg 10 muralists visit as part of Artists 4 Israel project to beautify forgotten areas of the country [New projects aim to keep Borscht Belt memory alive with historical markers, museum]( By Luke Tress This summer in the Catskills, programs will place plaques in town centers, open pop-up exhibits, hold a festival and comedy show to commemorate and celebrate Jewish heyday [Unsubscribe from this List]( Email not displaying correctly? 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