the definite article 45
our illustrious forefathers (and mothers), Columbia on the rack, two of my favorite sub stackers..... and more!
In the world of Torah study, there is a major rift in our days. There are those who say that when we read accounts of Biblical figures, we need to understand that they are not like us. They don’t have the same basic human desires and temptations, no doubts nor weaknesses. Rather, our progenitors were without fault, perfect in their faith and actions. “If we deny these feelings to the avot and imahot (matriarchs),” write Rabbi Blau in this article, “we render them irrelevant to us, who experience the full range of human emotions, as models. As noted, [I]n some instances, we may actually be lowering their stature.
https://www.jewishideas.org/node/3330
Chris Rufo lauds the attitude and actions of the Trump administration in laying down the law to Columbia, and expects the same policies of withdrawing grants will be used as incentives for other universities to enforce their anti-discrimination policies. This article came out before it was publicized that the new President of Columbia had resigned after having insisted that shew would not carry out the agreement she had made with the Department of Education, and that over $4 billion in grants to Harvard were under review for not protecting its Jewish students (in any case, a vanishing breed).
https://www.city-journal.org/article/exporting-the-columbia-prototype?skip=1
Sheri Oz writes a blog on substack called Israeli diaries. She is unusually well-read, a clear thinking and talented writer – and her substack is free (she does ask for your support, but nicely. I think you will agree that she’s worth your support). Here she evaluated whether the Palestinians can objectively be defined as a nation. She is taking an academic rather than ideologically driven view – and her position has changed over time. Those who have learned with me know that I believe one of the major engines of conflict in the Middle East is that post WW1, the West tried to impose a state system on peoples who had lived quite well in a tribal structure. When it comes to the Palestinians, I would question whether a nationality can be based upon a negative – that is: the basis of Palestinian nationality is the destruction of the State of Israel. They espouse no unique historical culture or constructive national destiny. But no spoilers! Read what Sheri has to say!
Another of my favorite substacker is Mallory Mosner, who’s blog is called Lazer Focused. Here she writes a meticulously researched and finely written article questioning why CPB (the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, parent of NPR) should receive government funding, as their programming and news shows are so driven by a left-wing agenda (hey, that’s not just me that’s saying that. Bill Maher said so – it must be true! https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/29/bill_maher_npr_is_crazy_far-left_were_past_the_age_where_government_needs_to_subsidize_news_outlets.html
). If you followed the hearing last week, you would have heard the new CEO of NPR repeat time after time that she had no recollection of saying or writing all of those tweets about white privilege, support for reparations, etc., that she wrote a few years back (literally a few years back, not a decade ago or when she was in high school). Sasha Stone also had a roast of NPR, but for my money this is a better piece.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-160225301
The release of hostages over the past couple of months and their recounting of the horrific treatment, both physical and psychological, by their Hamas terrorist captors has added a sense of immediate urgency to the need to get the remaining captives released. There are those who believe that Israel should do anything, pay any price for their immediate release, and we all understand the reasons. Avinatan Or, a member of my small community, is among the approximately 24 who we believe to be alive in those dark airless tunnels. This article takes the opposing view – why redeeming them at any price is a losing strategy.
Nili Brelser, Avinatan Or’s teacher, expresses her admiration for the man who is being held captive, but is certainly still free at heart.
The title of this article says it all, one would think. But there is some silver lining here.
https://jewishjournal.com/commentary/opinion/380343/crashing-terrorisms-cachet/