Elke Weiss

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Sep 5, 2023, 5:09 AM

No, NY Times, Hebrew isn’t the Enemy of Yiddish

I have no doubt that as Ilan Stavan notes, some regard the entire Hebrew language as a symbol of far-right Israeli militarism. I'm just not sure why such views are worth mentioning unless it was to decry the stupidity...

May 30, 2022, 9:05 AM

I still tear up with I hear the famous broadcast by Motta Gur that states that the Temple Mount is in our hands. While I am not a religious person, the historical and psychological significance of that event cannot...

Nov 12, 2015, 10:21 AM

There’s a joke that my father often tells about a Klan rally. The Grand Wizard yells “Who is responsible for all of life’s problems?” Everyone yells “The Jews,” but one man yells “the bicycle riders.” Puzzled, the Grand Wizard...

Nov 8, 2015, 9:43 AM

“Allegiance”: A Story We Need to Remember

Growing up as the granddaughter of Auschwitz victims, World War II was part of my identity. The narrative was extremely clear: there were the Allies (good), the Axis (evil), and the Jews (suffering) and that was the entire story....

Oct 28, 2015, 7:28 PM

An Open Letter to JK Rowling, From a Harry Potter Fan

To JK Rowling, Thanks For Listening I grew up a Harry Potter kid. When I was a lonely and miserable student who didn’t fit into the Orwellian Hell of my religious fundamentalist high school, the Harry Potter world and the...

Aug 10, 2015, 8:09 PM

Israel suffers. We’re just quiet about it.

While in Israel last month, a friend of mine texted me. “Hey. You alive?” She meant to be funny, since my hatred of heat and summer and sunshine have led friends to conclude I am a vampire. Had I...

Jul 21, 2015, 10:33 PM

An Open Letter to Congregation Tzedek Chicago

To Anti-Zionist Jews of Tzedek Synagogue, What you are doing is wrong. Now, here is the good news. No one is asking you to change your essential beliefs. You are free to believe that the state of Israel is not necessary...

May 25, 2015, 3:18 AM

Watching the “Protest March” on the Lake of Lakewood brought back long forgotten and rather terrible memories from my schooling. I remembered the eighth grade teacher who obnoxiously prayed loudly next to me, as if to amalgamate me when I...

Apr 14, 2015, 10:58 PM

The Road to Justice Begins Here

Considering the vicious and malicious slander Israel is subjected to, it is easy to start tuning out. Frankly, hearing even the most gentle criticism of Israel causes me to bristle inwardly for a second until I can make sure it's...

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About Me

Elke Weiss is currently an Israel Government Fellow, working in Biodiversity. In her spare time, she's the Content Director for Act For Israel, an Iengage Fellow for the Shalom Hartman Center, a Media Fellow for Chinese Media Center, a novelist and a rabble rouser.