WE REMEMBER

IDF Soldier Killed in Combat

Major (res.) Itamar Sapir, 27 years old, from the settlement of Eli fell in battle against Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon

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Staff Sergent Negev Dagan, 20 years old, from Dekel, a fighter in Battalion 12 of the Golani Brigade

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Captain Maoz Israel Recanati, 24 years old, from Itamar, a Platoon Commander in the 12th Battalion, Golani Brigade

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To see the faces of the soldiers who have lost their lives while defending Israel since October 7th, Click Here

MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE FOR A BLESSING

Rabbis Ignore The Danger Posed By Hamas And Hezbollah

Rabbi David Ingber writes in Tablet Magazine: Many progressive rabbis have loudly condemned Israel, settlers, and Jewish institutions in the name of justice. But too many seem unaware of or forget to condemn the atrocities of October 7, Hezbollah’s rockets targeting civilians, and anti-Zionist extremism.⁠ This double standard is dangerous and reinforces the antisemitic extremists.  Jewish tradition demands moral consistency, not selective outrage shaped by political coalitions.⁠

By Our Rabbis

This week’s column is by ZRC Board Member, Rabbi Neal Katz

In 1992, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin published a book called Jewish Humor, exploring what Jewish jokes reveal about the Jewish people. It quickly became one of my favorite books. I memorized many of the jokes, but even more than the humor itself, I appreciated the way Telushkin contextualized them. Jewish humor has never simply been entertainment. For centuries, it has functioned as a coping mechanism, a form of resilience, and at times a quiet act of defiance.

As a people intimately familiar with struggle, Jews have long used humor to endure difficult realities. During periods of persecution, rising antisemitism, and even the horrors of Nazi Europe, Jews continued to tell jokes. In the 1930s, as fascist movements gained traction in America and Europe alike, humor became one more way to maintain dignity in the face of fear. 

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SAVE THE DATE

ZRC High Holiday Seminar in New York on August 17

”No Jews No News”

Click on the link below to see Bill Mahrer use satire and destroys the double standard and alarming normalization of offensive comments when it comes to Israel and Jews

Despite Global Criticism Demand Surges for Israeli Technology

When Israeli defense officials contacted the entertainment focused company Massivit, last year about adapting its specialized 3D printing technology for drone components, CEO Yossi Azarzar embraced the challenge. He recognized the urgency and significance of Israel's defense industry amid ongoing international criticism. Despite public pledges by some nations to avoid Israeli weapons, industry sources say that many continue to place orders behind the scenes. Events such as Tel Aviv’s Defense Tech Expo highlight both rising global demand for as well as the controversy surrounding these technologies.

AI Videos Target Children With Holocaust Denial

AI-generated videos aimed at young audiences are spreading antisemitic messages while mimicking the familiar look of Disney-Pixar animation to disguise antisemitic narratives, including Holocaust denial. CyberWell, a Tel Aviv-based nonprofit, identified over 300 such images circulating across major social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram that drew tens of millions of views and significant user engagement.

Democratic Candidate Sparks Outrage With Extremist Anti-Zionist Rhetoric

Deeply troubling extremist rhetoric has emerged from the congressional campaign of Maureen Galindo who is running in the May 26 Democratic primary in Texas’s 35th Congressional District.  In what raises raising serious concerns about the boundaries of acceptable public discourse, she is calling for the internment of “American Zionists,” accompanied by language that invokes dehumanizing and punitive measures. For rabbis and community leaders, this moment underscores how quickly dangerous ideas—once confined to the fringes—can surface in mainstream political arenas. 

Statement by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar about most recent antics of Ben Gvir

You knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display - and not for the first time.

You have undone tremendous, professional, and successful efforts made by so many people - from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others.

No, you are not the face of Israel.

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Click on the image below to register for a Virtual Gathering on June 3 with Voice of the People Council Members from around the world. Help shape ideas, challenge assumptions and forge next steps with President Herzog and Council Members from around the world.

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