Shira Tamir, at The Blogs

Shira Tamir

Random observations on the fascinating world of Israeli government & politics

Oct 31, 2025, 5:09 AM

I Asked ChatGPT Why I Study Political Communication

I started my Master’s this week in Political Communication at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. I asked ChatGPT to help me figure out what it is that fascinates me so much about politics, media, and communication. Why was I studying this? At...

Feb 2, 2025, 12:43 AM

The Hamas Hostage Release Extravaganza (Now with Goodie Bags!)

Forget the Oscars or the Met Gala; this is the real red carpet event.

Ladies and gentlemen, step right up for the most exclusive event of the season! After nearly 16 months in captivity (but who’s counting?), Hamas has finally decided to let a few hostages go—you know, out of the goodness of...

Sep 6, 2024, 1:19 AM

Featured Post

‘Anyone but Bibi’ is not a strategy—it’s a cop-out

No garden is complete without a Bibi ornament. Seen at a plant nursery in Kfar Ruth. (August 28, 2024)

If we want to win over Netanyahu's supporters, we need to hear their concerns and address them head-on, not dismiss them with insults and slogans

Aug 30, 2024, 12:15 AM

Featured Post

One nation under militarism: A reflection on a society at war with itself

The army so permeates Israeli culture that, despite the IDF's delays on October 7th, few see the unsustainability of security through militarism

Apr 28, 2024, 12:17 AM

Featured Post

From darkness to dialogue: How one classroom rose above October 7th

Bar-Ilan's 'Jewish-Arab Interreligious Dialogue' course didn't have easy answers, but I was glad to be there, asking the hard questions

Dec 30, 2023, 6:12 PM

You Can’t Handle the Truth: The Role of Media in War

Credit: Basel Yazouri, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The cornerstone of most journalism is to tell the story as it is, objectively and impartially. Yet in war-torn nations like Israel, the battleground extends beyond physical conflicts and spills into the realm of media. Journalistic principles face a...

Aug 4, 2023, 3:59 PM

Featured Post

A leftist at a pro-reform protest

My first clue that I wasn't in Kansas anymore (Wizard of Oz reference). (courtesy)

Two young boys standing behind me yelled 'Leftist traitors!' If only they'd known that a so-called traitor was among them

Jul 26, 2023, 6:57 AM

The ‘combina’ of Israeli society

Israel is a new society, not just as a nation (established in 1948) but as a society itself. The people themselves are new; it's like a pop-up society. Israelis have gathered here over time from all over the world, each...

About Me

Shira Tamir is an Israeli-American with a growing passion for politics, media and diplomacy. She holds a B.A. in Communication and Political Science from Bar-Ilan University and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Political Communication. When she’s not caught up in her work and studies, she enjoys traveling, photography, nature, coffee, being in the moment and playing the drums. Shira is fluent in English, Hebrew, body language, sarcasm and memes.

Contact Me