Lessons in Jewish Resilience from Zelig Kalmanovitch’s Ghetto Diary

One way to ensure that Holocaust education, at least within the Jewish community, becomes more effective is to focus on a different set of figures from those who most often get attention. Figures like the philologist Zelig Kalmanovitch, who participated actively in various forms of Jewish nationalism before settling on Zionism and returning, near the end of his life, to religion. Daniela Ozacky Stern describes his record of life in Vilna under Nazi occupation.

His diaries, painstakingly penned under constant threat of discovery, offer a poignant account of his personal struggle and philosophical, existential musings. They reveal a man grappling with faith, the atrocities unfolding around him, and the role of a scholar in a world gone mad.

A central theme in Kalmanovich’s writings is his unwavering faith in Judaism. He viewed Jews as part of the big “sacred triad”—the Land of Israel, the Torah, and God—which provided a source of enduring strength and was a guarantor of ultimate Jewish victory. Even as suffering intensified, his diary entries resonated with deep optimism. He believed that by clinging to their heritage, Jews could preserve their identity and emerge stronger.

He championed the ghetto’s schools, synagogues, and libraries, viewing them as battlegrounds for the preservation of Jewish identity and a continuation of Jewish history. He believed that by clinging to their heritage, Jews could defy Nazi attempts to extinguish their spirit.

Eyewitnesses recalled his last words: “I laugh at you. I am not afraid of you; I have a son in the Land of Israel.” Indeed, his son emigrated in 1938 and settled in a kibbutz, where his descendants still live.

Kalmanovitch died in a Nazi labor camp in Estonia in 1943. If you click on the link below, you’ll find a photograph of a bearded man in a fur hat captioned, “Jewish librarian at the Vilna Ghetto.” This is no ordinary librarian but Khaykl Lunski, another outstanding figure who perished in the Shoah. I’ll be sure to write about him in a future newsletter.

Read more at Ynet

More about: Holocaust, Judaism, Vilna, Zionism

Kuwait Should Be the Next Country to Make Peace with Israel

Feb. 13 2025

Like his predecessor, Donald Trump seeks to expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia. But there are other Arab nations that might consider taking such a step. Ahmad Charai points to Kuwait—home to the Middle East’s largest U.S. army base and desperately in need of economic reform—as a good candidate. Kuwaitis haven’t forgiven Palestinians for supporting Saddam Hussein during his 1990 invasion, but their country has been more rhetorically hostile to Israel than its Gulf neighbors:

The Abraham Accords have reshaped Middle Eastern diplomacy. . . . Kuwait, however, remains hesitant due to internal political resistance. While full normalization may not be immediately feasible, the United States should encourage Kuwait to take gradual steps toward engagement, emphasizing how participation in regional cooperation does not equate to abandoning its historical positions.

Kuwait could use its influence to push for peace in the Middle East through diplomatic channels opened by engagement rather than isolation. The economic benefits of joining the broader framework of the Abraham Accords are overwhelming. Israel’s leadership in technology, agriculture, and water management presents valuable opportunities for Kuwait to enhance its infrastructure. Trade and investment flows would diversify the economy, providing new markets and business partnerships.

Kuwaiti youth, who are increasingly looking for opportunities beyond the public sector, could benefit from collaboration with advanced industries, fostering job creation and entrepreneurial growth. The UAE and Bahrain have already demonstrated how normalization with Israel can drive economic expansion while maintaining their respective geopolitical identities.

Read more at Jerusalem Strategic Tribune

More about: Abraham Accords, Kuwait