Ya'aqov Shenkin

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May 22, 2024, 1:10 AM

The Mixed Multitude and the Messianic Mavericks

Over the past couple of weeks, I have read fascinating articles speculating over what motivates a certain brand of authoritarian leftists, often pejoratively labelled 'Tankies', towards support for violent and counter-progressive measures when expressing their anti-Zionism. Two such articles...

May 14, 2024, 12:02 PM

The Conditions of Independence

There is no traditional Jewish holiday which celebrates Yehoshua’s crossing into Canaan on the 10th of Nisan. Nor is there a holiday celebrating the beginning of Shaul HaMelech or David HaMelech’s rule. Nor a holiday which celebrates the Jewish...

Jan 30, 2024, 6:11 PM

The Morality of Settlement

An IDF soldier comforts an evacuee during the evacuation of Neve Deqalim, 2005. IDF archives.

Sunday night’s conference on potential post-war settlement of Gaza gave pundits of all sides of the political spectrum much to talk about. Does settlement bring security or more danger? Is settlement a national and religious value? If it is,...

Jan 23, 2024, 4:19 AM

The Moral State Solution

Bibi Netanyahu's recent remarks that Israel needs to control "all land West of the Jordan" has led to a recent slew of articles regurgitating arguments which have raged for over a century: would a one or two state solution...

Jan 16, 2024, 7:10 PM

Trumpism And The Threat To Orthodoxy

In light of the predictable Trump victory at the Iowa caucus, it is a good time to take a deep look at the Orthodox Jewish relationship with Donald Trump, the Republican Party and American Conservatism. In 2021, 75% of Orthodox...

Jan 12, 2024, 1:39 AM

Hashem’s Name and Active Conscientious

The Burning Bush. CC BY-SA 2.0. Credit: Jeff Jacobs '1990'

Parashath Wayera begins with Hashem introducing Himself by the name of the Tetragrammaton. He then proceeds to tell Moshe that He did not reveal Himself to the Avoth in such a manner, rather He appeared in the form of...

Jan 8, 2024, 6:16 PM

Moving to a New Future with a New Voice

Israeli and Palestinian Protestors Clash. Photo credit Ted Eytan/Courtesy of Bao Cali Today/CC BY-SA 2.0

Since October 7th, few Jews have taken the time to address important and fundamental questions that face us currently, and which will await us following the war: Could the massacres of 7th October have been prevented? If so, how?...

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About Me

Ya'aqov Shenkin is a British-Israeli Jew residing in Jerusalem with a passion for Jewish history, Jewish politics and Torah knowledge.

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