A New Holocaust Museum for the Ultra-Orthodox

The Holocaust looms large in the consciousness of most Jews in Israel and America—but not, historically, for the ultra-Orthodox. A new museum in Brooklyn is a sign of a major shift in attitudes, as Cathryn J. Prince writes:

[N]ot only is [this] Brooklyn’s first Holocaust museum, it is the first in the U.S. to portray the Shoah from an Orthodox-Jewish perspective. The museum aims to change the ultra-Orthodox community’s approach to the subject. . . .

Julie Golding, the museum’s director of education . . . said she’s [also] encouraged by a change in recent years that has more people in the ultra-Orthodox community reaching out, eager to learn the history.

Read more at Times of Israel

More about: Brooklyn, Holocaust, Holocaust Museums, Jewish education, Religion & Holidays, Ultra-Orthodox

Hizballah Is Learning Israel’s Weak Spots

On Tuesday, a Hizballah drone attack injured three people in northern Israel. The next day, another attack, targeting an IDF base, injured eighteen people, six of them seriously, in Arab al-Amshe, also in the north. This second attack involved the simultaneous use of drones carrying explosives and guided antitank missiles. In both cases, the defensive systems that performed so successfully last weekend failed to stop the drones and missiles. Ron Ben-Yishai has a straightforward explanation as to why: the Lebanon-backed terrorist group is getting better at evading Israel defenses. He explains the three basis systems used to pilot these unmanned aircraft, and their practical effects:

These systems allow drones to act similarly to fighter jets, using “dead zones”—areas not visible to radar or other optical detection—to approach targets. They fly low initially, then ascend just before crashing and detonating on the target. The terrain of southern Lebanon is particularly conducive to such attacks.

But this requires skills that the terror group has honed over months of fighting against Israel. The latest attacks involved a large drone capable of carrying over 50 kg (110 lbs.) of explosives. The terrorists have likely analyzed Israel’s alert and interception systems, recognizing that shooting down their drones requires early detection to allow sufficient time for launching interceptors.

The IDF tries to detect any incoming drones on its radar, as it had done prior to the war. Despite Hizballah’s learning curve, the IDF’s technological edge offers an advantage. However, the military must recognize that any measure it takes is quickly observed and analyzed, and even the most effective defenses can be incomplete. The terrain near the Lebanon-Israel border continues to pose a challenge, necessitating technological solutions and significant financial investment.

Read more at Ynet

More about: Hizballah, Iron Dome, Israeli Security