Shahar Azani, at The Blogs

Jan 27, 2023, 6:37 PM

Today, January 27, we mark International Holocaust Memorial Day. We come together to remember the past atrocities of humanity's moral abyss. But this remembrance is not only a matter of the past but very much of our present and...

Oct 4, 2022, 2:11 PM

Forgive me!

A few days after we embrace the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur ensues, the Jewish Day of Atonement, and our holiest day of the year. It is a day of deep reflection, inside and out, during which...

Jul 5, 2021, 9:54 AM

Jewish Tears Leave No Mark

Eli Meron, The Wheatley School Graduate Who Used His Voice To Speak Up Against Injustice

Credit: Shahar Azani

Casual hatred is the worst kind. Sometimes it sneaks up on you unexpectedly. It's dressed casually, nothing too fancy, only to make a brief appearance, but leaves an indelible mark. Last June, the Wheatley School on Long Island held its...

Apr 14, 2021, 11:55 PM

The Zionist Bloom

As I walked down the street this week, a yellow daffodil trumpet flower caught my eye, blooming in the garden of one of the houses. The flower stood tall, adorned with petals, as if they were a regal cloak,...

Feb 23, 2021, 1:57 AM

Antisemitism, by the way

NBC's "Saturday Night Live" caused a stir when comedian Michael Che, joked about vaccines in Israel. "Israel is reporting that they’ve vaccinated half of their population," said Che, "I'm going to guess it’s the Jewish half," was the punch line, which earned him...

Jan 19, 2021, 5:36 PM

Invoking the power of moderation, especially now

I’ve spent many years of my life as a diplomat connecting people, building bridges, and bringing down walls. It is by far a passion and a mission, and I have been privileged to see it in action, yielding wonderful...

Jul 29, 2020, 9:15 PM

Open Letter to Seth Rogen

Capt. Elgen Long, the last surviving crew member of Alaska Airlines' who participated in bringing the Yemenite Jewish community to Israel, in operation On Eagles Wings in 1949, during a 2018 visit to Israel. (Credit: Shahar Azani)

Dear Seth, Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of yours and have been one for many years, even since before the 2007 Knocked Up hit. First, because you truly make me laugh, and in this world of...

Jul 28, 2020, 9:57 PM

A burning house – A universal lesson

Church remains in Kenya (2007) where innocents perished after it was torched during the civil unrest.

Credit: Shahar Azani

This week we commemorate Tisha B'Av, the annual day of fasting when we mourn the calamities which had befallen the Jewish people over the generations. One major catastrophe we lament for, deeply seared into our collective psyche, is the destruction...

Jul 17, 2020, 10:28 PM

A Proud Hasbarist

It was an ordinary summer day in Israel. The sun was making its way down slowly, and the pleasant afternoon breeze provided some relief from the searing Middle Eastern heat. I was sitting on the floor, on the balcony...

May 13, 2020, 8:19 PM

Anti-Semitism Donning a Novel Robe

We live in unprecedented times as the world is facing a new, almost unimaginable reality, one which will require serious adjustments. The Novel Coronavirus is upon us, and it is wreaking havoc all around, as its negative impact is...

About Me

Speaker, Author, JBS Senior Vice President. Formerly Israel's Consul for Media Affairs in NY and diplomat at Israel's Foreign Ministry. Thankful for every day. Hopeful for the future.

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