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The Perennial Power of the Nakba
September  

The Perennial Power of the Nakba

How generations of Arab thinkers and leaders tried to turn the humiliation of their losses to Israel into a springboard to launch their nations into an enchanted new age.

I.L. Peretz and the Golden Chain
August  

I.L. Peretz and the Golden Chain

The great Yiddish writer envisioned an unbroken transmission of Jewishness through the generations, from biblical prophets to talmudic sages to literary giants like Heine—and himself.

The Looming War Over Israel’s Law of Return
July  The New Dividing Line in Israeli Politics

The Looming War Over Israel’s Law of Return

Over the coming years, Israel’s most famous law will become an object of political gamesmanship and a potential tool for demographic engineering—no matter who will be in power.

Herzl Before Herzl
May  The Other Architect of Political Zionism

Herzl Before Herzl

Fifteen years before Herzl’s The Jewish State, a doctor named Leon Pinsker called for the Jews to reassert their honor by freeing themselves from the debasement of the diaspora.

Why Is Europe Repressing Ritual Slaughter?
April  

Why Is Europe Repressing Ritual Slaughter?

Countries across Europe are cracking down on ritual slaughter, making the position of observant Jews and Muslims there more tenuous. Is concern for animals really the motivating factor?

Israel's Judicial Reckoning
March  The Knesset and the Court

Israel’s Judicial Reckoning

Israel’s court is abnormally powerful and has caused half the nation to lose faith in its government. Reform will help, as long as it doesn’t cause the other half to do the same.

The Spirit of Jewish Classical Education
February  

The Spirit of Jewish Classical Education

Jewish teachings have shaped Western civilization from the beginning. How can Jews build schools that encourage the rising generation to take this responsibility seriously?

The Sage and Scribe of Modern Israel
December  

The Sage and Scribe of Modern Israel

The novelist and rabbi Haim Sabato infuses tradition into fiction as well as any of the Yiddish greats. The difference? His work is unencumbered by modern angst.

The Rise of American Zionism
November  

The Rise of American Zionism

Shocked by World War I, American Jews turned to Zionism as a way to save their European brethren. Their support came at just the right moment to affect the course of Jewish history.

The Overseers of American Religion
October  

The Overseers of American Religion

The nation is fighting about religion more than ever. The reason why has as much to do with a change in the nature of the government as it does with a change in the culture.

No, Israel Isn't Falling Into China's Orbit
September  Are Israel and China Breaking Up?

No, Israel Isn’t Falling Into China’s Orbit

Much has been made about the Jewish state’s growing ties with China. But those ties are loosening, and if a new cold war is in the offing, Jerusalem won’t be on Beijing’s side.

The Changing Faces of Israel's Settlement Movement
August  

The Changing Faces of Israel’s Settlement Movement

What was 50 years ago a small band of religious farmer-soldiers has grown into a varied network of nearly half a million. Who are Israel’s settlers and what do they really believe?