In the newly released anthology, 18, Nora Gold has collected translations of eighteen Jewish short stories, each from a different a language—ranging from works by well-known authors like Isaac Babel and S.Y. Agnon to more obscure ones like the Albanian novelist Entela Kasi. David Wolpe seeks what they have in common:

One seemingly consistent thread is that, despite a lightness of tone in many stories, these are all ultimately tales of moral seriousness. Even when the issue seems trivial—as in the Croatian author Jasminka Domaš’s “Purimspiel,” where the confusion surrounding a woman’s disappearance and subsequent, unexplained reappearance at the other end of the world is caused by a drunken angel—the brilliant final line gestures toward questions, connections, and issues far beyond the scope of a seemingly sweet slice of fantasy.

The stories Gold has chosen are almost uniformly gripping. Not only do their plots compel and the skill of their respective translators astonish; they also move the reader to reflect on the multifarious moral dilemmas that have faced the Jewish people, both as Jews and simply as human beings, in all the lands of their dispersion and at all phases of their history. Unsurprisingly, World War II haunts many of the narratives, seeping into stories whether directly or by implication. Even so, the collection’s pervasive gravitas does not read as the result of any one tragedy but rather as the legacy of a people who have seen so much, endured so long, and thought so deeply about their experiences.

Before exploding electronics in Lebanon seized the attention of the Israeli public, debate there had focused on the Philadelphi Corridor—the strip of land between Gaza and Egypt—and whether the IDF can afford to withdraw from it. Egypt has opposed Israeli control of the corridor, which is crucial to Hamas’s supply lines, and Egyptian objections likely prevented Israel from seizing it earlier in the war. Yet, argues Mariam Wahba, Egypt in the long run only stands to lose by letting Hamas use the corridor, and has proved incapable of effectively sealing it off:

Ultimately, this moment presents an opportunity for the United States to hold Egypt’s feet to the fire.

To press Cairo, the United States should consider conditioning future aid on Cairo’s willingness to cooperate. This should include a demand for greater transparency and independent oversight to verify Egyptian claims about the tunnels. Congress ought to hold hearings to understand better Egypt’s role and its compliance as a U.S. ally. Despite Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s nine trips to the Middle East since the start of the war, there has been little clarity on how Egypt intends to fulfill its role as a mediator.

By refusing to acknowledge Israel’s legitimate security concerns, Egypt is undermining its own interests, prolonging the war in Gaza, and further destabilizing its relationship with Jerusalem. It is time for Egyptian leaders either to admit their inability to secure the border and seek help from Israel and America, or to risk being perceived as enablers of Hamas and its terrorist campaign.