The ADL has, especially in the past decade, bent over backwards to accommodate the sensibilities of the progressive left, but today that’s not enough.

Posted on July 16, 2025 by ArchitectGuy

COMMENTARY
Why America’s Largest Teachers Union Turned Against the ADL
Seth Mandel
July 9, 2025

The National Education Association, America’s largest teachers union, has voted to cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League. The ADL has played a significant role in public education over the years because of the growth of Holocaust studies, becoming a trusted partner of the unions in the process. That relationship might soon be over. The reason the NEA is seeking to sever ties with the ADL is because the unions are more broadly expanding their dissemination of baldly anti-Semitic “classroom materials” and don’t want the ADL—or anyone—standing in their way. Which means the rationale behind the decision is potentially even more transformative than the decision itself. READ MORE

MAJOR TRUTHACHE When Terrorists Write the Curriculum When the National Education Association—a fading union now more fluent in TikTok trends than phonics—cuts ties with the Anti-Defamation League, it barely causes a ripple. A teachers’ union breaking up with a Jewish civil rights group in 2024? Please. We’ve seen this movie before. And the sequel? Worse. Louder. And more dangerous.

JNS Why are America’s teachers’ unions at war with Israel? The NEA’s decision to cut ties with the ADL illustrates how progressives who think Jews and the Jewish state are “white” oppressors have captured the education establishment.

Posted in Israel & Middle East, Jewish, Politics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

On Mandy Patinkin, selective conscience, omission, and dangerous opportunism

Posted on July 16, 2025 by ArchitectGuy

MORNING MUSINGS
Oh Mandy… (Patinkin)
Peter Himmelman
July 16, 2025

…Patinkin has always traded in his Jewishness. It’s been central to his appeal, his artistry, and his image. But in this moment, that identity may need to be reframed: not erased, but softened for progressive sensibilities. Not forgoing Yiddish (that wouldn’t be right), but publicly accusing Israel of genocide. Who can be sure about his motivations—or anyone else’s? Maybe Patinkin meant every word. Maybe it was heartfelt. Or maybe it was also a way to re-enter the cultural conversation with the right emphasis, at the right time. It’s been a while since anyone had been talking about him. In the video, Patinkin delivers a sweeping moral indictment—not of Hamas, not of terror, not of the massacre—but of Israel. “To watch what is happening… for the Jewish people to allow this to happen to children and civilians of all ages in Gaza… is unconscionable and unthinkable.” READ MORE

TIMES OF ISRAEL Mandy Patinkin draws fire for saying Israel doing to Gaza what was once done to Jews Jewish-American actor tells NYT of getting bad ‘vibe’ from Netanyahu in chance 1980s meeting; wife Kathryn Grody says antisemitism claims being used to silence criticism of Israel

Posted in Israel & Middle East, Jewish, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Naftali Bennett denies Epstein-Mossad connection

Posted on July 15, 2025 by ArchitectGuy

THE HILL
Megyn Kelly, Ben Shapiro spar over Epstein theories, DOJ response
Ashleigh Fields
July 14, 2025

Commentators Megyn Kelly and Ben Shapiro sparred on Monday over Jeffrey Epstein’s files and theories regarding his death. Kelly said sources have confirmed to her that Epstein did not kill himself but was targeted while working as an “agent” for the Israeli government, while Shapiro said unnamed whistleblowers were unreliable. “I can claim that he was working for a cadre of space aliens who are blackmailing high-profile Americans in order to protect from a future invasion. And there’s just about as much evidence for that as many of the claims that were being made on the other side,” Shapiro said during a Monday appearance on the “Megyn Kelly Show.” READ MORE

JPOST ‘Categorically false’: Bennett decries Carlson’s allegation Epstein worked for Israel’s Mossad Former prime minister Naftali Bennett confronted conservative pundit Tucker Carlson on Monday following his claim that Jeffrey Epstein worked for Israeli intelligence services. “As a former Israeli prime minister, for whom the Mossad directly reported to me, I say to you with 100% certainty: The accusation that Epstein somehow worked for Israel or the Mossad running a blackmail ring is categorically and totally false,” Bennett wrote on X/Twitter.

FRONT PAGE MAG New York Jews Support Trump More Than Any Other Group What a new poll’s stunning numbers reveal about Jewish support for Trump. In New York State, Jews have the highest favorable opinion of President Trump. Jews support Trump more than any other religious group, more than Catholics and Protestants, upstate voters, and more than white voters in general. Jews are the only identity group in the state with whom Trump isn’t underwater even at the same time as Sen. Schumer polls worse among Jews than among Catholics or Protestants. At 61%, Jews provide the highest rate of approval for Trump’s deportation of migrants compared to 42% among protestants, 49% among Catholics and 48% among white voters.

Posted in Israel & Middle East | Leave a comment

“Muslims should applaud, not condemn, Muslim leaders who reach out to Israel and Jews and speak out against Islamist terror groups”

Posted on July 15, 2025 by ArchitectGuy

GATESTONE
Muslim Leaders Who Oppose Terrorism: The New Heroes
Khaled Abu Toameh
July 10, 2025

A group of brave Islamic religious leaders from France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy and Britain who are visiting Israel this week are being condemned and ridiculed by many Muslims. The leaders are being accused of “treason” and promoting “normalization” with Israel. The Muslim leaders did not come to Israel to stand against Muslims or the Palestinians. Rather, they came with a message of peace, coexistence and tolerance…These Islamic leaders are heroes because they chose to visit Israel at a time when many Muslims, especially those living in Europe, are waging a massive smear campaign against Israel because of its war against the Iran-backed Hamas Islamist terror group in the Gaza Strip. Muslims who care about their religion should stand up against Islamist terrorists who have hijacked their religion and are committing atrocities in the name of Islam. READ MORE

Posted in Islam, Israel & Middle East, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

To fully embody Rabbi Mo’s transformation from spiritual guide to protector, Feuerstein even trained in firearms with Magen Am, a Jewish volunteer security organization in Los Angeles.

Posted on July 14, 2025 by ArchitectGuy

JEW IN THE CITY
Guns & Moses: The Jewish Representation We Need
Talya Goldman
July 17, 2025

..,But in his latest project, Guns and Moses, Mark Feuerstein takes on a role unlike anything audiences have seen from him before: a Chabad rabbi turned reluctant action hero. Opening in 78 theaters across 27 cities on July 18, 2025, Guns and Moses—written and directed by Sal Litvak—follows Rabbi Mo Zaltzman, a devoted husband, father, and community leader whose quiet life in a high-desert Jewish enclave is shattered when violence threatens his family and congregation. What begins as pastoral calm evolves into a gripping thriller as Rabbi Mo discovers just how far he’s willing to go to protect the people he loves…“It was an instant connection because it’s about a Jewish community,” he recalls. “But this character of Rabbi Mo… he’s charming and funny, dramatic, and then suddenly he’s an action star.” READ MORE

STANDWITHUS Guns and Moses Official Trailer

BUY TICKETS FOR GUNS & MOSES

Posted in Israel & Middle East | Leave a comment

DHS official testifies agency uses controversial website that catalogs academics’ anti-Israel statements

Posted on July 13, 2025 by ArchitectGuy

TIMES OF ISRAEL
Trump team used Canary Mission site to target anti-Israel activists for deportation
Asad Elia-Shalev
July 10, 2025

Newly unsealed court records and trial testimony show that top Trump administration officials relied heavily on Canary Mission, a controversial website that targets pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel activists, as part of a secretive effort to deport foreign students and academics from American universities…[Peter] Hatch, the assistant director for intelligence at Homeland Security Investigations, testified that more than 75% of the deportation referrals prepared by his unit were based on names first identified through Canary Mission, adding that the information was independently verified before being compiled into official reports, according to Politico. READ MORE

CANARY MISSION Our Mission

CANARY MISSION Report an incident or Contact Us If You See an Antisemitic Incident or Individual, Report it.

Posted in Islam, Israel & Middle East, Jewish, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

“American values” was once shorthand for the animating ideals of liberal democracy. Now it’s become politicized. As we celebrate July 4, Jews must lead the way in reclaiming an idea that is meant to unite us, not divide us

Posted on July 9, 2025 by ArchitectGuy

JEWISH JOURNAL
Why Jews Must Reclaim American Values
David Bernstein
July 2, 2025

Antisemitism is not a parochial grievance — it’s a societal warning sign and a civic emergency. It signals a breakdown of pluralism, law, and tolerance. Jewish advocacy should start reminding America that attacks on Jews are attacks on the very principles that protect everyone. When Jews are singled out, whether in radical DEI programs, academic boycotts, or threats on campuses and in the streets, it constitutes a broader assault on pluralism, civil society, and the rule of law—one that demands a collective response. READ MORE

FREE BEACON ‘Quite Shocking to Us’: Local Parents Fighting ‘Cesspool’ of Anti-Semitism in Philly Schools Say Josh Shapiro’s Office Stopped Meeting With Them Philadelphia’s public school system has become an “absolute cesspool” of anti-Semitism and anti-American hatred, according to local parents, who say Gov. Josh Shapiro (D.) has “completely ignored” their pleas for help. Since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, Philadelphia school officials have publicly defended terrorism, called for the release of convicted cop killers, claimed Israel is an “apartheid theocracy,” and denounced the United States as a “criminal Amerikan empire.”

FUTURE OF JEWISH The New Antisemitic Curriculum in America’s Public Schools There is a great deal of attention being focused on college-level antisemitic movements. In fact, the more attention the media and others eagerly lend to groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine, the more widespread the anti-Jewish and anti-Israel hatreds become. Yet, what is perhaps just as important — but drastically less well-known — is the prevalence of these same sentiments and sympathies in U.S. public schools at the K-12 levels. Despite the incomparable reporting from a small number of journalists, disturbingly (and problematically), very little is known about, or even acknowledged, regarding the profound levels of anti-Israel, anti-Zionist and antisemitic “teaching” of the West’s younger students.

Posted in Israel & Middle East, Jewish, Politics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

All 54,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews eligible for military service will be called on to arrive for actual service by July 2026

Posted on July 9, 2025 by ArchitectGuy

JPOST
IDF to summon over 50,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews in massive push for haredi draft
Yonah Jeremy Bob
July 6, 2025

The army on Sunday started summoning all 54,000 remaining eligible haredim for IDF service in the largest ever coordinated mass pursuit of that sector, in a campaign that will continue through July. These ultra-Orthodox will be called on to arrive for actual service by July 2026. This comes after 24,000 haredim were already summoned in split-up rounds of the last year, with very small results in actual haredim coming in for their military service, but under pressure by the High Court of Justice and public opinion to broaden the draft against the backdrop of unprecedented numbers of soldiers from all sectors being killed, wounded, and performing longer reserve service…The IDF is still demanding that the government pass sanctions that hit individual haredim to increase positive responses to draft notices. READ MORE

YNET ‘War on Torah’: Ultra-Orthodox leaders blast Haredi draft crackdown Israel set to begin enforcing new Haredi draft plan this month, with tighter measures at border crossings and limited amnesty offer for draft dodgers; Haredi leaders accuse AG of targeting Torah study and violating coalition agreements

Posted in Israel & Middle East, Jewish, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“The arrests of the Jews, who reportedly include several rabbis, appear to be part of a crackdown in which more than 700 people have been taken in since June 13, when Israel initiated its attacks on Iran”

Posted on July 9, 2025 by ArchitectGuy

JTA
24 Iranian Jews remain in prison as government launches internal crackdown
Larry Cohler-Esses
June 30, 2025

Twenty-four members of the Jewish community in Tehran and Shiraz remain in prison as of Sunday after being arrested along with hundreds of others in a sweeping government crackdown in Iran that began as fighting ended with Israel. The arrests took in 35 Jews originally, according to a report put out Saturday by HRANA, the Human Rights Activist News Agency, an affiliate of the Human Rights in Iran NGO. Mass arrests began early in the morning of June 23, according to the report. Eleven Jews have been released since the original arrests, according to a former senior Iranian communal leader, who would speak only on condition of anonymity due to concerns for his contacts in Iran. READ MORE

ARUTZ SHEVA Top Iranian cleric issues Fatwa against Trump & Netanyahu In a significant escalation of rhetoric following the recent 12-day conflict between Israel, Iran, and the United States, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, one of Iran’s most senior Shia clerics, has issued a fatwa declaring U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “enemies of God” and “mohareb”—those who wage war against Allah. Shirazi called for Trump and Netanyahu to be subject to “execution or crucifixion” and that any Muslim who helps either of them to face a similar fate or “amputation of the right hand and left foot or exile.”

Posted in Islam, Israel & Middle East, Jewish, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Secretary of State Rubio: The UN special rapporteur’s “campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated”

Posted on July 8, 2025 by ArchitectGuy

JNS
Trump admin sanctions Albanese for spewing ‘unabashed antisemitism,’ supporting terrorism
Mike Wagenheim
July 9, 2025

The U.S. State Department announced that it is sanctioning Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur on Palestinian territories, under an executive order that states those who engage “directly” with an effort by the International Criminal Court to arrest or probe a “protected person” without the consent of the person’s country are subject to having their property and assets blocked. “The United States has repeatedly condemned and objected to the biased and malicious activities of Albanese that have long made her unfit for service as a special rapporteur,” Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, said on Wednesday. “Albanese has spewed unabashed antisemitism, expressed support for terrorism and open contempt for the United States, Israel and the West.” READ MORE

UN WATCH Francesca Albanese freaks out when Hillel Neuer asks “Who funded you?” Pro-Hamas UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese appeared before the United Nations to tell terrible lies about Israel. Condemned for Holocaust distortion and antisemitism last year by France, Germany, Canada & the U.S., she now says “one people was enriched” by “erasing” Palestinians. Terrorist regimes embraced her. Then UN Watch’s Hillel Neuer took the floor.

Posted in Israel & Middle East, Jewish, Politics | Tagged , | Leave a comment