Trends are one thing; individual stories are another. A native of Brooklyn, Naftuli Moster made a name for himself as an activist pressing the hasidic community in which he was raised to provide basic secular education in its schools. His efforts led to ongoing litigation with less-than-salutary effects (which we’ve covered extensively in Mosaic). Since then, he’s had regrets about some of his youthful activism. In this frank and engaging conversation with Frieda Vizel—another ex-Hasid who still holds the community in which she was raised in esteem—the two discuss their experiences with various Jewish denominations, what Hasidism provides that modern societies lack, the corrosive influence of the intersectional left in the world of activism, the ethics of journalism, the contrast between reform and revolution, and much else. (Video, 70 minutes.)

Considering the current state of Israel-Arab relations, Ghaith al-Omari writes

First and foremost, no ceasefire will be possible without the release of Israeli hostages and commitments to disarm Hamas and remove it from power. The final say on these matters rests with Hamas commanders on the ground in Gaza, who have been largely impervious to foreign pressure so far. At minimum, however, the United States should insist that Qatari and Egyptian mediators push Hamas’s external leadership to accept these conditions publicly, which could increase pressure on the group’s Gaza leadership.

Washington should also demand a clear, public position from key Arab states regarding disarmament. The Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas endorsed this position in a June letter to Saudi Arabia and France, giving Arab states Palestinian cover for endorsing it themselves.

Some Arab states have already indicated a willingness to play a significant role, but they will have little incentive to commit resources and personnel to Gaza unless Israel (1) provides guarantees that it will not occupy the Strip indefinitely, and (2) removes its veto on a PA role in Gaza’s future, even if only symbolic at first. Arab officials are also seeking assurances that any role they play in Gaza will be in the context of a wider effort to reach a two-state solution.

On the other hand, Washington must remain mindful that current conditions between Israel and the Palestinians are not remotely conducive to . . . implementing a two-state solution.