On Friday, the artist and physician Mark Podwal died at the age seventy-nine. As Menachem Wecker notes, Podwal’s “drawings and paintings often drew on Jewish history, including ritual practice and centuries of anti-Semitism.” Wecker considers the career of this Jewish artist:

Podwal developed a strong connection with the Altneuschul—the synagogue in Prague that dates back to the 13th century—where he designed the ark and bimah covers for High Holy Days and was proud to have his own seat. He spent many holidays there and often exhibited his work in Prague, as well as throughout the United States and Israel.

Podwal’s works, which appear in tens of books, including his 2016 volume Reimagined: 45 Years of Jewish Art, for which Elie Wiesel wrote the introduction and the renowned Jewish writer Cynthia Ozick wrote the preface, drew often on Jewish history and rabbinic writings. His works and his writings about his art . . . often cited from the Midrash, [Talmud], historians, poets, Jewish mysticism, and a variety of other literary and religious sources.

This newsletter last featured work by Podwal in July.

On Monday night, the IDF struck a group of Hamas operatives near the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, the main city in southern Gaza. The very fact of this attack was reassuring, as it suggested that the release of Edan Alexander didn’t come with restraints on Israeli military activity. Then, yesterday afternoon, Israeli jets carried out another, larger attack on Khan Yunis, hitting a site where it believed Mohammad Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, to be hiding. The IDF has not yet confirmed that he was present. There is some hope that the death of Sinwar—who replaced his older brother Yahya after he was killed last year—could have a debilitating effect on Hamas.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is visiting the Persian Gulf, and it’s unclear how his diplomatic efforts there will affect Israel, its war with Hamas, and Iran. For its part, Jerusalem has committed to resume full-scale operations in Gaza after President Trump returns to the U.S. But, Gabi Simoni and Erez Winner explain, Israel does not have unlimited time to defeat Hamas:

Israel faces persistent security challenges across multiple fronts—Iran, the West Bank, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon—all demanding significant military resources, especially during periods of escalation. . . . Failing to achieve a decisive victory not only prolongs the conflict but also drains national resources and threatens Israel’s ability to obtain its strategic goals.

Only a swift, forceful military campaign can achieve the war’s objectives: securing the hostages’ release, ensuring Israeli citizens’ safety, and preventing future kidnappings. Avoiding such action won’t just prolong the suffering of the hostages and deepen public uncertainty—it will also drain national resources and weaken Israel’s standing in the region and beyond.

We recommend launching an intense military operation in Gaza without delay, with clear, measurable objectives—crippling Hamas’s military and governance capabilities and securing the release of hostages. Such a campaign should combine military pressure with indirect negotiations, maximizing the chances of a successful outcome while minimizing risks.

Crucially, the operation must be closely coordinated with the United States and moderate Arab states to reduce international pressure and preserve the gains of regional alliances.