8th Issue

A tribute to Jerrold Kessel, remembered through his two great passions: cricket and journalism. Drawing on the symbolism of the wicket keeper’s dual role as defender and strategist, the piece highlights Kessel’s career as a respected Middle East correspondent, his commitment to factual and objective reporting, his passion for sport, and his enduring influence on colleagues, politicians, and those who knew him.

The psychological forces behind Netanyahu’s enduring support are examined through security, identity, certainty, vindication, and collective struggle. Political polarization, an “us versus them” mentality, and cognitive dissonance can reinforce personal loyalty, making criticism easier to dismiss and political allegiance increasingly intertwined with national identity, belonging, and the belief that strong leadership is essential to Israel’s survival.

The pursuit of Israeli security and peace need not be a choice between competing goals. The concept of “secure peace” offers an alternative to the entrenched belief that lasting safety requires permanent conflict, arguing that diplomacy, political accommodation, security, and peace are deeply interconnected. The discussion also examines how this false dichotomy has shaped Israeli politics, society, and attitudes toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Canadian Jews face growing anxiety over rising antisemitism at home and political developments in Israel. The outcome of Israel’s upcoming election could deepen divisions between Canada and Israel, within the Jewish community, and between Jews and other Canadians. Pincus explores Jewish communal safety, democratic values, support for Israel, and the responsibility to speak out against government policies while fostering Jewish identity and education.

The meaning and mystery of the Tetragrammaton, the four-letter Hebrew name of God, are explored through Jewish prayer, tradition, language, and biblical history. From the use of Adonai and HaShem to the burning bush and the declaration “I am that which I am,” the discussion considers the limits of language and the idea of God as an absolute reality that cannot be understood through comparison.

Anthony Fauci’s decades-long public health career is examined through both his extraordinary achievements and the controversies surrounding his COVID-19 leadership. This discussion considers his impact on AIDS research, pandemic policies, public trust, school closures, scientific uncertainty, and the balance between protecting lives and preserving society. His legacy emerges as one requiring gratitude, accountability, humility, and nuance.

HOLDING LIAT offers an intimate look at one family’s experience after Liat Atzili and her husband, Aviv, were abducted on October 7, 2023. As the family struggles with loss, political divisions, and differing views on the war and hostage crisis, the documentary explores grief, identity, moral responsibility, and the challenge of confronting painful disagreements while remaining connected.

Israel faces a defining political choice over the future of democracy, equality, and Palestinian citizenship. The disqualification of Arab parties from the Knesset election serves as a lens for examining competing visions: one prioritizing Jewish political power and another advocating equal citizenship, an end to the occupation, Palestinian national rights, and a shared democratic future.

A personal history reveals how discriminatory university quotas shaped the educational journeys of Jewish students in North America. Against the backdrop of numerus clausus policies at leading American and Canadian universities, the story traces a path from a Holocaust-survivor family in Halifax to medicine, business, and leadership at Dalhousie University, highlighting the importance of educational opportunity and institutional openness.

As elections approach in Israel, the United States, and the Palestinian Authority, the region stands at a political crossroads. Encounters with Israelis and Palestinians reveal a reality more complex than the polarized narratives dominating news and social media. Amid war, political division, and uncertainty, grassroots activists and emerging leaders offer an alternative to despair, working toward democracy, coexistence, and a better future.

A lifelong connection to Israel unfolds through memories of South Africa, Habonim, aliyah, kibbutz life, military service, and decades of contributing to Israeli society. The journey reflects on Jewish identity, coexistence, political division, the legacy of October 7, and the hope for an Israel rooted in mutual respect, equality, diplomacy, and peace.

A 12-year initiative brings Jewish and Arab students, educators, and communities together through school partnerships, international exchanges, summer camps, and shared experiences. Inspired by South Africa’s struggle against apartheid, the project explores shared society, mutual understanding, anti-racism, and the challenges facing Jews and Arabs in Israel following October 7.

An Arab Christian reflects on belonging and inequality as an Arab citizen of Israel, describing disparities in public resources, concerns over violence and safety, discrimination against Arabic speakers, and the impact on her children. Despite political divisions and mutual suspicion between Jewish and Arab communities, she calls for equal rights, shared security, stronger leadership, and a future built on trust, dignity, and coexistence.

As Israel approaches its 2026 elections, voters face a key question: should they prioritize a leader’s personality or the policies and political forces shaping the government? The discussion explores how party representation, coalition bargaining, and parliamentary balance influence national security, civil rights, judicial policy, religion and state, and Israel’s long-term political direction.