Opinion

The victory by the Israel Defense Forces over the despotic Ayatollah-led regime in Iran should be a cause of overwhelming pride and joy among Jews throughout the world. Iran, since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, has been a destabilizing force in the Middle East and the instrument of death for thousands of Israelis, Americans, and Europeans. After the overthrow of the Shah, Iran could have become a beacon of light for its historic populace. Rather than choosing democracy, the Ayatollahs, led by Ruhollah Khomeini, instituted a repressive Islamic theocracy enforced by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

At a recent meeting of Queens Jewish community activists, the conversation focused on Zohran Mamdani’s Democratic mayoral primary victory last month, how many votes it would take to defeat him in the November general election, and overcoming the reluctance of many Orthodox Jews to register as Democrats.

The devastating flash floods that struck Kerr County, Texas, on July 4 left a trail of destruction, claiming over 50 lives and leaving dozens of girls missing. As rescue efforts continue and communities grapple with the aftermath, the political discourse surrounding the disaster has taken an all-too-predictable turn. Democrats and left-leaning commentators have seized the opportunity to pin the blame on former President Donald Trump, weaving a narrative that ties the flooding to his administration’s policies on climate change and FEMA funding. The rhetoric is more akin to religious doctrine than legitimate criticism or reporting.

In a stirring demonstration of American–Israeli unity and determination, innovators, policymakers, investors, and academics gathered in Manhattan for Hack the Hate: Innovating Against Antisemitism in the Digital Age. Held on June 18, this high-impact event spotlighted cutting-edge technologies and transformative partnerships designed to counter the alarming surge in antisemitic violence, hate speech, and digital disinformation.

A city that was a center of culture, finance, and political power, with a large and thriving Jewish community, elected an anti-Semitic mayor. The impact on two residents of that city would change the Jewish world forever. What are the lessons we can learn from that today?

At 4 o’clock in the afternoon, my wife and I gathered along with several thousand other Rehovotites to pay our final respects to Sergeant Ronal Ben Moshe. Ronal fell with six of his comrades in the Israel Defense Corps Battalion 605, part of the 188th Brigade Combat Team, fighting to detoxify Gaza from the curse of Hamas. Like most of the attendees, we didn’t know Ronal personally. Nevertheless, he was our child. We learned about the strength, wit, energy, heroism, and big smile that characterized this 20-year-old. Our eyes glistened as we listened to his officers, father, brother, sisters, and many friends eulogize him. His loss is devastating to his loved ones, and every one of us shares in their grief.