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Sam Lehman-Wilzig

May 29, 2026, 7:01 AM

Israel’s Haredim: 50 Shades of Black

OK, so the headline here is slightly exaggerated. Israel’s ultra-Orthodox might come in “only” 10-20 different varieties, not 50. However, given that many non-Haredi Israelis view them monolithically (a perception probably more prevalent in the Diaspora), it is important...

Mar 28, 2026, 12:24 AM

To Settle Lebanon

For Israel to settle Lebanon is to further destroy any hope we can hold for peace. Prospects for peace are now little more than fanciful as we stare down a religious war between Judaism, together with its Christian backers,...

Feb 11, 2026, 9:10 PM

Golan, UTJ, and Double Standards

Netanyahu wants right wing voters to reject Bennett over Yair Golan’s inflammatory rhetoric. But Golan cannot translate his extreme views into policy, while Netanyahu’s Hareidi coalition partners, UTJ and Shas, both express open contempt for soldiers and miluim families...

Dec 31, 2025, 2:30 PM

When the ultra-Orthodox leaders jockey for control, the whole country loses

Illustrative. UTJ MKs Uri Maklev and Moshe Gafni at the Knesset Finance Committee, August 12, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Political parties have no business running religious institutions; it's unprofessional, divisive, and devoid of public trust

Richard Diamond

Nov 21, 2025, 8:27 PM

Where Are Israel’s Shepherds to Save Us from the Wolves?

Image by ChatGPT

Israel needs leaders who guard the flock of Klal Yisrael, not wolves worried only about their next meal. From the very beginning of our story, the Bible insists on a strange qualification for leadership: shepherding. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all...

Mihran Kalaydjian

Oct 25, 2025, 11:12 AM

Israel’s Future on the Ballot

Israel is approaching a defining election. The next Knesset vote will not simply determine who sits in the Prime Minister’s Office — it will decide whether Israel remains a cohesive, democratic, and forward-looking society, or continues to fracture under the...

Aug 28, 2025, 11:19 AM

Ten million for Uman, but what about the rest of us?

Orthodox Jews pray at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman, the great grandson of the founder of Hasidic movement, in the town of Uman, Ukraine, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

This is not about religion, it’s about priorities, integrity, and the principles that underpin national solidarity

Jul 21, 2025, 5:47 PM

The dangerous theology behind Israel’s coalition partners

Chairman Aryeh Deri attends a meeting of the Shas party Council of Torah Sages in Jerusalem, July 16, 2025. (Flash90)

Haredi political parties are rooted in a worldview that views national tragedies such as October 7 as simply part of God's plan

Sam Lehman-Wilzig

May 9, 2025, 1:55 PM

The Politics of the (Un)Educated Voter

In politics, an issue can be so fraught with emotion that it sucks the air out of other related topics. Such is the case with the “Draft Exemption” law the government has been (so far unsuccessfully) attempting to pass...

Mar 30, 2025, 4:31 PM

From Socialist Hegemony to Right-Wing Populism: Israel’s Political Metamorphosis

This article is intended for readers less familiar with Israel’s political history who seek to understand its transformation from socialist dominance to right-wing populism. Rather than providing a comprehensive historical review, it offers an overview of key political shifts...

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