Lessons from a 1902 Lower East Side Pogrom

Jan. 14 2025

In 1888, Jews in New York City brought Jacob Joseph, a talmudist of the old school, from Russia to serve as the city’s chief rabbi. The plan to have a single rabbi preside over a large and fractious American Jewish community failed, but when Rabbi Joseph died in 1902, hundreds of thousands turned out for the funeral. Local Gentiles attacked the procession, and when police arrived they joined in the violence. But the reaction of New York Jewry was very different from what followed the 1991 Crown Heights pogrom, and includes important lessons for today. Andrew Silow-Carroll writes:

A day after the violence, various leaders formed the East Side Vigilance League to demand a fair investigation and punishment for the offending officers. At the same time, Jewish lawyers rushed to the courts to defend Jews unfairly singled out in the violence. “They were uptown and downtown,” [the author of a recent book on the subject wrote] of the lawyers. “They were Democrat and Republican. They were Reform and they were Orthodox.”

Over the next few months, the calls for justice would be surprisingly, and unprecedentedly, effective.

Read more at JTA

More about: American Jewish History, Anti-Semitism, Lower East Side, New York City, Pogroms

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