Donald H. Harrison

Havis’ novel on Oct. 7th offers no definitive insights

Havis is attentive to the ways earlier political commitments become inadequate once concrete violence has occurred. Several characters discover that language they once used without much cost now requires defense or revision. The novel records these moments of discomfort—awkward family calls, a lecturer choosing silence, a podcaster recalibrating tone—but does not press very hard on what the discomfort produces. (Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel0

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Brandeis Center files civil rights complaint on behalf of a harassed Jewish student

sdjw

MCPS was alerted multiple times to harassment and threats against the student at Montgomery Blair High School through the student’s family, faculty reports, formal bullying complaints, and meetings. This included being accused of genocide because of his intention to study in Israel, being accused of supporting genocide because he wore an Israel baseball shirt, being targeted with demands that classmates shun him as a “Zionist” being told to “go back to 1935” by other students, and receiving an anonymous phone call saying, “You’re a stupid fucking Zionist Jew, and we are going to bomb you” immediately followed by fireworks being set off outside his home. (Press Release)

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

GOP pushes for Americans living in Israel to vote in Nov. 3 U.S. elections

On November 3 – two weeks from now – Americans will vote in elections that will decide control of the U.S. Congress and the balance of power in Washington. Republicans Overseas Israel is conducting a voter mobilization campaign for the more than 500,000 American citizens living in Israel who are eligible to vote. (Press Release)

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Israel, Press Release, USA

Gambling generally disfavored by Jewish authorities

The Mishnah rules that dice players may be disqualified from serving as witnesses. The Talmud offers two explanations: professional gamblers contribute nothing productive to society, while gambling may constitute theft because losers surrender money they would prefer to keep. (Cailin Acosta)

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

The fight against terrorism and antisemitism: Oct. 19. 2026

After the U.S, complained, the Israeli military and security forces fanned out and arrested 10 suspects. Moshe Pinchi, Israel Police Superintendent, stated, “We are working to collect evidence, findings and testimonies and to consolidate an evidentiary infrastructure that will enable bringing those involved to justice.” (SDJW staff)

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International, Israel, Jewish History, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Danielle Alhassid blends archival materials into her art

What can a family photograph, an old cup or a century-old book reveal about lives largely forgotten? For Brooklyn-based Jewish artist Danielle Alhassid, such objects offer a way to recover overlooked voices and explore the connections among Jewish identity, migration, memory and storytelling. (Cailin Acosta)

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Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Why Germans of the 1960s were so sympathetic to Israel

Twenty-two years after the end of World War II and the Shoah, threats by Arab leaders to “drive the Jews into the sea” sparked fears among the population of West Germany of a possible “second Holocaust.” [Alex Gordon}

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

The fight against terrorism and antisemitism: Oct. 18, 2026

Release of the information has been delayed six times over three months and when the DOE announced that October 2 would be the date, the AAU sued.  The Brandeis Center is now stepping into the legal battle to fight for the public’s right to know who is funding American universities.  (SDJW staff report)

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Antisemitism, Business & Finance, Israel, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Opinion: Linking U.S. support for Israel to Netanyahu’s reelection is reckless

“The U.S.-Israel relationship has endured for 78 years based on shared interests and values, not on who happens to be Prime Minister at any given time. President Trump’s suggestion that U.S. backing for Israel’s security hinges on Israelis reelecting Benjamin Netanyahu is irresponsible and reckless. (Press Release)

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Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Press Release, USA

The Jewish vote and the midterm elections

There are approximately 15 Democrats on the ballot for Congress who represent DSA and the far-left, comprising 3 – 4% of Democrats running in the midterms. The far-left is not even close to constituting a majority, nor is it represented by Democratic Party leadership, and the path to Democrats winning back control of Congress runs through the center. [Halie Soifer]

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Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

The fight against terrorism and antisemitism: Oct. 17, 2026

The Washington Post reported that federal investigators who conducted a predawn raid Monday on the Washington D.C. home of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) may have failed to follow instructions of U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh, who issued the search warrant. (SDJW staff report)

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International, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA