Fearing civil war, shunning Jewish unity * For these we weep: Mourning in the present day * Celebrating the Torah in the shadow of Auschwitz * Donating stem cells

[Times of Israel]( [The Blogs Weekly]( Thursday, July 27, 2023 Ariel Beery [First we mourn]( After thousands of years of practice, we could not prevent the same passions that felled the Second Temple from undermining our Third [A tale of two Israels]( By Michael Oren Despite the deep divides in Israeli society, I believed we were still one people. Then I saw the exultant selfie from the Knesset floor [I don’t want Jewish unity]( By Ilan Bloch Israel doesn’t need me to shake hands with those whose views I abhor (though I do it). Israel needs moral governance that leads by example Shuki Friedman [Civil war is not a luxury we can afford]( Given the many threats Israel faces, social fracturing could bring catastrophic loss of life and infrastructural collapse Shoshana Lavan [Wake up, Israel! Civil war is on its way!]( What do you do when the politician who demonizes you is your neighbor? Some of us made a video. Someone else pulled a gun Koby Benmeleh [Is Israel tech’s doom-and-gloom crowd wrong?]( No, a mass talent exodus is not in the cards. As for the end of democracy as we know it? Also, no [Is God our enemy? A midrash for the Three Weeks]( By Raymond Apple How should God react to the suffering of His people? Should He rage? Comfort? Primo Levi says He should spit. Surely He should help Lawrence Witt [A new song at the gates of Auschwitz]( A Torah scroll from Wengrow, Poland survived our darkest history, unlike most of the town’s residents. Its repair and rededication honors their memory Analysis Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll [How she sits alone: For these I weep]( I shed tears of pain for all that should never have befallen our daughters, Jewish marriage, Jewish leadership, or the Torah itself Joshua Berman [Crushed by denial: Zion in the Book of Lamentations]( When everything you believe comes crumbling down, and you still can’t get past your beliefs, that is when you are susceptible to destruction Judy Halper [Gender matters]( While the government demands male-only language in official documents, a new non-gendered Hebrew may be the solution Bill Slott [The House of David]( A monumental ’bragging rock’ from the king of Aram is not a surprise. But what was written on it was a game-changer. [Donating stem cells: A master class in peoplehood]( By Andrew Keene A microscopic piece of blood-matter is the ultimate reminder that we are connected at a cellular level. The rest is just noise Top Ops Noah E Abramowitz [Waiting for the donkey]( Instead of claiming the messiah is coming, I vote we ready a saddle and do the most we can as individuals to keep building Efraim Podoksik [They’ve forgotten why they want judicial reform]( The government is using the right’s valid criticisms of the Court as a smokescreen for reforms that hurt their own voters [The Blogs Weekly]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? [Subscribe here]( [Unsubscribe]( from this List © 2023 The Times Of Israel, All Rights Reserved