https://www.timesofisrael.com/evangelical-churches-turn-to-us-jewish-nonprofit-to-help-them-have-hard-conversations/ * Skip to main content Join our Community Support ToI and remove all ads Learn more * English * l`rby@ * Francais * frsy * `bryt * Get The Daily Edition * user Account * user Sign In The Times of Israel search search [ ] * Israel & the Region * Jewish Times * Israel Inside * Tech Israel * Real Estate Israel * The Blogs * Podcasts * Video * Newsletters + The Daily Edition What Matters Most Today + Tech Israel Updates from Silicon Wadi + Real Estate Israel Weekly Update + The Weekend Edition The Best Reads of the Week + Weekly Highlights Choice Voices From The Blogs * Partners + Atlanta Atlanta Jewish Times + North New Jersey The Jewish Standard + Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle + United Kingdom The Jewish News + Australia The Australian Jewish News + For Publishers Become a Partner * Community + Join our community + Sign in * + About The Times of Israel + Advertise on The Times of Israel + Contact us + Get the Daily Edition [ ] submit + Follow us Facebook Twitter + (c) 2023 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved Terms and conditions Privacy policy * search [ ] [search] Advertisement home page 'Our deep tradition of argument can lead to good outcomes' Evangelical churches turn to US Jewish nonprofit to help them have hard conversations For nearly a decade, Resetting the Table has taught Jewish groups to share opposing perspectives on Israel. Now a modified program helps others grapple with increasing polarization By Ron Kampeas 12 July 2023, 1:39 am Edit * Facebook * Twitter * linkedin * email * Print A Resetting the Table Town Square held in the Harlem JCC, New York City, March 4, 2019. (Gili Getz via JTA) A Resetting the Table Town Square held in the Harlem JCC, New York City, March 4, 2019. (Gili Getz via JTA) JTA -- Jeff Nitz, a social worker and lay leader at his church, sees himself as a trained listener. But beginning in 2020, his congregation -- Mosaic Church in the evangelical Christian hub of Lynchburg, Virginia -- started becoming riven by fierce COVID-era fights over masking, distancing and vaccinations. Used to bridging divides among his fellow parishioners, Nitz was at a loss. "I'm used to doing active listening, but there were times where it felt like I would much rather just avoid this person than having the deeper conversation," he said. For help, Nitz turned to a Jewish nonprofit, Resetting the Table, which has spent nearly a decade teaching Jewish groups to have more productive and meaningful conversations about Israel. The group offers a modified version of its program to churches and other groups grappling with polarization, so last year, Nitz's church held two sessions facilitated by Resetting the Table staffers, focused on how to talk about COVID. Congregants on opposite ends of each issue presented their cases -- and then the other side would repeat back the arguments they heard. By the end, Nitz said, he had come to understand his congregants better -- and, he believed, they had come to understand him better, too. "He absolutely heard my heart," he recalled about an anti-vaxxer congregant who had articulated his own ideas back to him. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Newsletter email address [ ] Get it By signing up, you agree to the terms It's a breakthrough that Resetting the Table believes it can help happen more often in churches. Founded in 2014 out of the worry that American Jews' arguments over Israel were tearing apart their communities, the group expanded its work beyond Jewish communities several years ago, expanding its reach even wider during the pandemic era. "We saw the US descending into its own intractable conflict," said Rabbi Melissa Weintraub, Resetting the Table's co-founder. [AP23182002362870-640x400] A supporter of former US president Donald Trump tries to push past demonstrators outside the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard) Last year, Resetting the Table worked with more than a dozen Christian umbrella groups representing tens of thousands of churches and several million church members affiliated with Mainline Protestant, Catholic, evangelical, African-American, Pentecostal and Orthodox traditions. And in the coming year, just half of the organization's work will be with Jewish groups. The other half is with non-Jewish houses of worship, companies in the entertainment industry and other organizations -- work that Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw's Hearthland Foundation started funding last year. Advertisement According to surveys, the expansion is responding to a significant concern: A study last year found that 28% of US adults named political polarization or extremism as a top issue facing the country. "There is perhaps more trepidation and anxiety about this work at this stage in Christian communities," Weintraub said. "But there is also comparable relief and fulfillment once people have done so successfully and seen it makes their communities feel closer to each other." Topics more likely to come up in non-Jewish settings include the status of LGBTQ people and women in the church, COVID restrictions and the 2020 election. A series of sessions last spring that were geared toward evangelical leaders, including professors from Liberty University in Lynchburg, covered a laundry list of hot-button political topics, including the role of government, guns, free speech, voting, the death penalty, police, race and abortion. The group's sessions in real life, and virtually, begin in large groups. The lead facilitator spells out that the point of the exercise is not to change minds, but to allow conversations to take place, whether or not they shift people's opinions. "Some people might want to be having this conversation for the sake of a relationship, right?" Michele Freed, a facilitator, said last year at a session for Or Hadash, an Atlanta-area congregation. "You really care about a person and you just cannot talk about the elephant in the room anymore." [04-13-2023-Resetting-the-Table-Zoom-photo-640x400] A screen capture of a Zoom session of a Multi-Faith Convener Cohort for Faith Leaders in the South. Michele Freed is at the upper left, Rabbi Melissa Weintraub is second from the upper left. November 5, 2021. (Resetting the Table via JTA) Those attending split into smaller groups and undergo the exchange Nitz experienced: Listening to someone with a different or opposing opinion, summarizing it, then listening to feedback about that summary. Once the speaker feels the listener has fully summarized their outlook, Freed said, that's "hitting the bullseye." Advertisement Another smaller-session activity the group offers is called "Life Maps": Participants compile a list of moments in their lives that shaped their outlook, and then take questions from others. A workshop packet asks participants to "Consider some of the experiences, the interactions, conversations, moments of epiphany - the things you saw or heard that had an impact on your morality or your politics." Weintraub said that the Jewish world, "polarized as it is," is more willing to have those difficult conversations -- a readiness she attributes to "the deep tradition of arguments... built into every page of Jewish text." While recruiting for one of the group's multifaith cohorts last year, she said, "The rabbis were lining up out the door," while "Southern Baptists and evangelical leaders were like, 'How do you know this isn't going to tear my community apart?' I think in the Jewish world at this point there's a recognition that this work is possible and desirable and leads to good outcomes in a different way." Some evangelical leaders say they're coming around to the value of tough conversations. Chelsea Andrews, who participated in the spring sessions for evangelical leaders, said it was the first setting in years where she felt she could engage in dialogue outside her milieu of evangelical Christians without being judged for her conservative values. "I think that the feeling of belonging is very difficult for evangelical Republicans, like myself, who also are deeply committed to peace-building and reconciliation work," Andrews said in a testimonial Weintraub shared with JTA. The Resetting the Table sessions, she said, were "the first time in many years that I have felt like what I have to bring to the table is welcome. I don't feel judged and I don't feel like an error someone needs to correct." [AP21352088450255-e1639812527441-640x400] Illustrative: An anti-vaccine mandate activist holds a sign during a rally outside Phoenix City Council chambers, December 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) Christian groups also approach the dialogue differently once they've entered the sessions, said Eyal Rabinovitch, Weintraub's husband and co-founder, who was the lead facilitator for the 2022 sessions at Mosaic Church, which took place via Zoom. He cited the adage of "two Jews, three opinions," and said Jews walked into sessions with their views at the ready. Evangelical Christians, by contrast, he has found, have a "cultural norm of 'don't-rock-the-boat' niceness." But he feels that that culture is inhibiting the airing of divisions, and that as a result "churches like Mosaic are falling apart." "We're mindful of the norms at play. So oftentimes, at Mosaic, for example, people just go slowly towards differences," he said. "They don't want to upset each other. They don't want to overstep, people don't really want to get into escalated dynamics and they don't want to feel like they're intruding on other people's spaces." Advertisement Jews' eagerness to engage and argue was evident in a series of video sessions Resetting the Table allowed JTA to attend last summer at Jewish institutions, on the condition that the participants not be named unless they gave their permission. A typical Jewish participant was Howard Lalli, a marketing specialist who, in a session last May with Or Hadash, wondered aloud whether being Jewish made him too excited to speak out. "I know you gave us the option of not weighing in on a question, but I confess that I found myself in the questions about Israel scrambling mentally to come up with a position," he told the moderator, Freed. "And I wonder if that's a problem/challenge in our culture: that to appear to be engaged you have to have an opinion -- versus asking questions, being curious." The group's work with Jewish institutions has also stretched beyond Israel. In addition to that topic, Or Hadash members discussed funding the police and whether to privatize social services. The work with churches has also ended up bridging religious divides. Nitz said Resetting the Table made him feel secure enough to ask questions that might otherwise be awkward. At one of the group's training sessions, he asked a rabbi he met a question that had long intrigued him: why do Jews vote for Democrats, given that, in his opinion, "Republicans tend to be stronger on preserving religious rights, and very pro-Israel." The rabbi said they should set up a one-on-one so he could explain at length but offered as a first insight that as descendants of immigrants or immigrants themselves, Jews have traditionally sympathized with poor and disadvantaged people, an approach that has historically been associated with Democrats. Nitz said the exchange was "delightful." "I just felt it was just so instructive and open, transparent," he said. "I would have had a two-dimensional viewpoint when it came to understanding a Jewish voting bloc, and he added so much more nuance as a result of that conversation." Since you care about Israel... ... now is the time to act. The Times of Israel is committed to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, and independent journalism provides an essential protection for democratic equality. If you share these values with us, please consider supporting our work by joining The ToI Community. Yes, I care about Israel Yes, I care about Israel Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this You're a dedicated reader [334x334-400x400] We're really pleased that you've read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. That's why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven't put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members. Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel Join Our Community Join Our Community Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this Most Popular * Anti-judicial overhaul demonstrators block the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv on July 11, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) 1 Police clear out Tel Aviv protesters, ending day of mass rallies against overhaul * Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) speaks with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (R) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (L) at the Knesset on July 10, 2023. (Menahem Kahana/AFP) 2 NY Times's Friedman: Netanyahu government making rethink of US-Israel ties 'inevitable' * Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at his office to chair the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, on July 9, 2023. (GIL COHEN-MAGEN / POOL / AFP) 3 Netanyahu leads Israel into the abyss * Arab Israeli actor Hisham Suliman seen during the final of the VIP season, of the Big Brother reality show at Neve Ilan studio outside Jerusalem, March 2, 2019. (Shlomi Cohen/Flash90) *** Local Caption *** hkh hgdvlryltygmrhyshm slymnshkhqn 4 Ben Gvir bans Arab 'Fauda' star from event, citing 2015 remarks * Israeli police detain a demonstrator during a protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government to overhaul the judicial system, in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) 5 High Court rules that prosecutors cannot take part in anti-overhaul protests * Demonstrators block a road and clash with police during a protest against the judicial overhaul on Route 1, near Ein Hemed, July 11, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) 6 Protesters block highways as they kick off 'day of disruption' against overhaul * Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Juztice Minister Yariv Levin and other coalition lawmakers celebrate after the Knesset approves the first reading of the "reasonableness" bill, early on July 11, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) 7 Bill to erase judicial 'reasonableness' test for politicians passes 1st reading * MK Simcha Rothman, head of the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, addresses the Knesset floor, July 10, 2023, in the debate prior to the approval of the first reading of the 'reasonableness' bill. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) 8 Opposition vows to keep up fight after judicial bill passes 1st reading read more: * Jewish Times * US politics * American Jews * nonprofit * Facebook * Twitter * linkedin * email * Print close popup X Sign in or Register Email address * [ ] Please use the following structure: example@domain.com Continue Or Continue with google apple facebook By registering you agree to the terms and conditions [*] Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition back timesofisrael close popup Register to continue Email address * [ ] Change REGISTER Or Continue with google apple facebook back timesofisrael close popup Log in to continue Email address * [ ] Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.. Continue back timesofisrael close popup Sign in or Register Email address * [ ] Password * [ ] Incorrect password. Please try again or choose an option below. Continue I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link Or Continue with google apple facebook timesofisrael close popup check your email Check your email We sent an email to you at . It has a link that will sign you in. Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. Advertisement Advertisement July 13, 2023 Current Top Stories Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (right) walks with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Minister of Defense Col. Gen. Zakir Hasanov in Baku, Azerbaijan, July 13, 2023. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry) Israel and allies foiled 50 Iranian terror plots in recent years, Gallant says By Emanuel Fabian During official visit to Azerbaijan, defense minister accuses Tehran of leading 'worldwide terror campaign' against Israeli and Jewish targets Fawzan Mosa Khan, an Afghan arrested in Azerbaijan on suspicion of planning an attack on Israel's embassy. (Screenshot, used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law) Iran behind failed attack on Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan, foreign minister says By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi speaks at a joint press conference after meeting with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni at State House in Entebbe, Uganda July 12, 2023. (Hajarah Nalwadda/AP) In Uganda, Iran president attacks Western LGBTQ rights as ending humanity By AFP Defense Minister Yoav Gallant arrives at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on March 27, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Gallant headed to Baku to meet Azerbaijan president as ties grow By Lazar Berman Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at the Jerusalem District Court arriving to listen to testimony by businessman Arnon Milchan, as part of Netanyahu's corruption trial, June 28, 2023. (Marc Israel Sellem/POOL) High Court to hear petition seeking Netanyahu's removal over conflict of interest By ToI Staff Petitioners argue PM is violating the agreement he signed amid his ongoing corruption trial, as his government barrels forward with legislation to curb the courts Opposition Leader Yair Lapid attends a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on July 11, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Lapid says women's rights minister politicizing office and its powers with new bill By ToI Staff Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a memorial event for his brother Yoni, in front of Yoni's grave (foreground) at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, June 25, 2023. (Kobi Gideon/ GPO) Man indicted for leaving threatening letter to Netanyahu on grave of PM's brother By ToI Staff Israeli settlers are seen approaching Palestinians in the Arab al-Khouli hamlet, near the West Bank outpost of El Matan, July 13, 2023. (Courtesy via Yesh Din) Four Palestinians said wounded in settler attack in West Bank By Emanuel Fabian Palestinian health ministry says two listed in serious condition following incident in Kafr Thulth area; two Israelis also hurt in clash Palestinian journalist Akil Awawdeh at his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Wednesday, July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) Journalist who claimed Palestinian Authority arrests dissidents arrested by PA By AP and ToI Staff Raziel Shevach, who was killed in a terror attack in the northern West Bank on January 9, 2023. (Courtesy: Yeshivat Roeh Yisrael) Military court convicts Palestinian over deadly 2018 terror shooting By Emanuel Fabian President Isaac Herzog (left) and US President Joe Biden at the White House on October 26, 2022. (GPO) Herzog officially set to address US Congress, with Netanyahu still waiting on invite By Jacob Magid President will make trip next week with speech at joint session of Congress on July 19, and likely meeting with Biden; will spend Shabbat in New York Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, June 18, 2023. (Amit Shabi/ Pool) American, Israeli officials downplay columnist's claim US reassessing ties with Israel By Lazar Berman, Jacob Magid and ToI Staff Then-US vice president Joe Biden, left, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, talk before a dinner at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem, March 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner, Pool) ToI podcastDaily Briefing July 13: Who's afraid of a US-Israel relationship reassessment? By ToI Staff Anti-judicial overhaul demonstrators protest near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, on July 13, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) Anti-overhaul protesters call 'day of resistance' for Monday; rally near PM's homes By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff After Tuesday's 'day of disruption,' organizers say Netanyahu 'leading Israel to the abyss'; pro-overhaul activists block kibbutz entrances, call mass rally for July 23 A horse tramples a man at a protest against the judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv, July 11, 2023 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) Amid claims of brutality, police probe mounted cop for trampling protester - report By Michael Horovitz File: A doctor holds a sign saying "The doctors are fighting for the life of democracy," at a rally against the government's judicial overhaul bills in Tel Aviv on February 25, 2023. (Gili Yaari/Flash90) Public health staff plan strike if overhaul not halted - report By Michael Horovitz 'Reasonableness' bill hardened, further shielding coalition from judicial oversight By Carrie Keller-Lynn Bill that bars judicial review of any cabinet and ministerial decisions now also says courts can't use reasonableness to force justice minister to convene judge-selection panel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Minister of Justice Yariv Levin during a Knesset plenum hearing, July 10, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman chairs a hearing of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on the "reasonableness" bill, preparing it for its final Knesset reading, amid widespread national protests, hours after it passed a first reading, July 11, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) At fiery Knesset panel, legal advisers urge MKs to soften 'extreme' oversight bill By Carrie Keller-Lynn Otzma Yehudit MK Yitzhak Kroizer, during a Knesset vote that appointed him to the Judicial Selection Committee, July 12, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Knesset chooses far-right lawmaker to sit on judge-appointing panel By Carrie Keller-Lynn Actress Helen Mirren and co-star Lior Ashkenazi attend a press conference for the upcoming film 'Golda,' about prime minister Golda Meir, in Jerusalem, July 13, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) In Jerusalem, Helen Mirren says Golda Meir 'one of the greatest' roles she's played By Amy Spiro Ahead of 'Golda' premiere at Jerusalem Film Festival, UK actress says she is 'moved and excited' to see mass pro-democracy rallies in Israel, recalls her time on a kibbutz in 1967 During the 2023 season excavation at the Huqoq synagogue in North Israel, archaeologists uncovered part of the mosaic featuring a tiger chasing an ibex. (Jim Haberman/UNC) Archaeology In vivid color: 1,500-year-old Huqoq mosaic depicts Samson, animals hunting By Melanie Lidman 12th and final season of excavations from 5th century house of worship reveals additional sections of mosaic in breathtaking detail Nissim Kahlon's home, chiseled out of the sandstone cliffs, overlooks the Mediterranean Sea in Herzliya, June 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) After 50 years, government seeks to evict squatter from cave home on Herzliya beach By Ilan Ben Zion and Ariel Schalit Nissim Kahlon has been carving out elaborate, mosaic-filled labyrinth since 1973; Environmental Protection Ministry claims home is illegal, threatens coastline 'No way in hell': Likely starting trend, Ilhan Omar to skip Herzog speech to Congress By Jacob Magid Progressive Democrat says president of country that banned 1st female Muslim US lawmakers and has 'violations of human rights,' shouldn't have been invited to address joint session Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., speaks during a news conference by the Congressional Progressive Caucus on the threat of default, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) GOP senators threaten to block Biden nominees over 'antisemitic' settlement policy By Jacob Magid Former US president Donald Trump visits with campaign volunteers at the Grimes Community Complex Park, June 1, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Charlie Neibergall/AP) Trump pokes at Netanyahu, says Biden 'doesn't like you' in speech to pro-Israel group By ToI Staff Driver's license photo of Pittsburgh synagogue massacre suspect Robert Bowers (Pennsylvania DOT) Pittsburgh jury quickly finds synagogue shooter eligible for death penalty By Ron Kampeas After less than 2 hours, jurors unanimously agree Robert Bowers meets all 4 criteria for capital punishment, setting up trial's final phase US Special Envoy to Combat and Monitor Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt speaks at a conference focused on bans on ritual slaughter that have been proposed and approved in European countries in Brussels on October 20, 2022. (US State Department) US congressional committee approves $2.5 million budget to fight antisemitism By Ron Kampeas FBI agents gather at the scene of a deadly shooting, July 17, 2022, at the Greenwood Park Mall in Greenwood, Indiana. (Kelly Wilkinson/ The Indianapolis Star via AP, File) Nazi propaganda found on phone of 2022 Indianapolis mass shooter By RICK CALLAHAN Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky in an image from the company's website. (Screenshot) US authorities arrest, indict Israeli-American ex-CEO of major crypto firm Celsius By ToI Staff Alex Mashinsky accused by Justice Department of operating 'a years long scheme to mislead customers,' faces slew of other lawsuits a year after company filed for bankruptcy David Horovitz Op-ed David Horovitz You can't keep the big brushstrokes of Israel's politics out of its people's army The defense minister briefly lost his job for speaking out in March in a bid to heal the dangerous rift over neutering the judiciary. He's disinclined to do so again. But he must Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant attend an event for outstanding soldiers as part of Israel's 75th Independence Day celebrations, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on April 26, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Former attorney general Avichai Mandelblit attends a conference organized by the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), in Tel Aviv, on December 28, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90) Ex-AG Mandelblit: Overhaul legislation has Israel 'on brink of dictatorship' By ToI Staff File: Mor Ganashvili, who was seriously injured during a lynching in Acre last year, arrives for a court hearing of one of his attackers at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, May 17, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90) Arab Israeli convicted of attempted murder with terror motive in 2021 Acre mob assault By ToI Staff Qusay Abbas, 21, found guilty in most serious judgment yet in case; victim Mor Ganashvili says verdict sends message that 'Jewish blood is not worthless' Illustrative. An ambulance belonging to the Magen David Adom ambulance service. (Gershon Elinson/Flash90) Man shot dead in Tira in the 5th killing in the Arab community in just over a day By ToI Staff Undated photo of Maragalit Levy. ((Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law) After 20 years, police say they solved Eilat murder and rape cold case By ToI Staff 'Won't stay quiet': Hezbollah chief threatens Israel over tent row on tense border By ToI Staff and AP Hassan Nasrallah urges Lebanon to recapture once-divided town of Ghajar and disputed Shebaa Farms, denies terror group trying to demarcate border along ceasefire line Children ride their bicycles past by a poster of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at the Lebanese border village of Marwaheen, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. (AP/Mohammed Zaatari) Hezbollah members are seen approaching the border between Israel and Lebanon, before the IDF sets off a blast scaring them away, July 12, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces) IDF foils attempt by Hezbollah activists to damage Lebanon border fence By Emanuel Fabian The Israeli U-20 national basketball team following their victory over Germany in the quarterfinals of the European Championship in Crete, Greece, July 13, 2023. (FIBA) Israel U-20 basketball team tops Germany, heads to Euro semifinal By ToI Staff National squad, led by Ron Zipper's 23 points, wins 75-64 in a one-sided game Jake Gelof, left, and Zach Levenson, right, headline the group of Jewish players drafted into Major League Baseball in 2023. (Getty Images via JTA) These 6 Jewish baseball players were selected in this year's MLB draft By jacob gurvis Screen grab from a video of Israel's national team holding the Israeli flag and singing the Israeli national anthem 'Hatikva' at the general rehearsal of the opening ceremony of the 2023 FIFAe World Cup in Riyadh, July 10, 2023 (twitter.com/Kann_news) Israeli anthem plays in Saudi at FIFA video game cup rehearsal, but not at ceremony By Gianluca Pacchiani Ben Abeles, photographed in 2008 in front of the Kindertransport memorial at the Liverpool Street station in London, where the children arrived after boarding the train in Harwich. (Courtesy of Helen Abeles) Tech developed by refugee who fled Nazis to UK used today by NASA on Mars By Robert Philpot Family of Jewish physicist Benjamin Abeles, who was on a Kindertransport as a teen and became an activist to help refugees in his 80s, donates archive to University of Southampton More Headlines Screen capture from video of Ethiopian-Israeli Francis Adbabayi who was kidnapped for ransom in Ethiopia, July 2023. (Kan. Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law) Ethiopian police suspect hoax in reported kidnapping of Israeli By ToI Staff Children cool off in Ein Aviel springs near Aviel, Israel, Thursday, July 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Israel's first summer scorcher expected to last until middle of next week By ToI Staff Illustrative: A screenshot from video of settlers firing at the West Bank village of Umm Safa on June 24, 2023. (Twitter video screenshot: Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law) Soldier, civilian charged with terror offenses over West Bank rioting By ToI Staff Arnon Segal donated a kidney on July 10, 2023, on the condition it would go only to a Jew. (Courtesy of Beilinson Hospital and Soroka Medical Center) Right-wing journalist causes stir by announcing his kidney would go only to a Jew By Renee Ghert-Zand Milk and other dairy products are on display at a Rami Levy supermarket in Jerusalem on July 17, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Israel scraps 40% customs tax on imported milk for three months By Sharon Wrobel Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom at the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, June 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov, File) Biden says US seeking prisoner exchange for WSJ reporter detained in Russia By Seung Min Kim and CHRIS MEGERIAN Orca Security co-founders Avi Shua, right, and Gil Geron. (Courtesy) 'Wholesale copying': Israel's Orca Security sues rival Wiz for patent infringement By Sharon Wrobel France's Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak (C), flanked by France's Minister for Solidarity, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities Jean-Christophe Combe (L) and France's Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau, leaves the presidential Elysee Palace after attending the weekly cabinet meeting in Paris on July 13, 2023. (Photo by Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT / AFP) France passes law making it easier for Jews to reclaim Nazi-stolen art By AFP A man looks at a swollen Beas River following heavy rains in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India, July 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Aqil Khan, File) Foreign Ministry says nearly 300 Israelis in India remain unreachable due to floods By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff Illustrative: Participants at JOFA's inaugural London meeting brainstorm issues of concern. (Courtesy of JOFA) Orthodox feminist group addressed allegations against sex-guru founder, says report By PHILISSA CRAMER Top Ops Anat Thon-Ashkenazy Anat Thon-Ashkenazy No professionalism, no expertise - and no women The Authority for the Advancement of Women's Status and agencies like it are being gutted along with protections for women Arnold E. Resnicoff Arnold E. Resnicoff 'Open when I die': My in-progress ethical will I started a final letter to my daughter with life lessons and a last word of love after the Beirut barracks bombing in 1983 Ori Golan Ori Golan The song that made a country 'I Have No Other Country,' a beloved anthem embraced by today's protesters, was born of Ehud Manor's personal tragedy, as his widow Ofra tells it Peter Lerner Peter Lerner Whataboutery warfare: Radicals are reshaping Israel's political landscape Prevent the distortion of our complex narrative by focused during debate: If asked 'what about X,' reframe your point about Y Talia Kainan Talia Kainan How will the world end? Not with a bang (that's too loud) Environment Minister Silman seems to think Israel's biggest climate problem is noise pollution from demonstrators Azriel Genack Azriel Genack CUNY activists add 'dehumanization' to Sharansky's '3 Ds of antisemitism' After the faculty-and-staff union defended a student's commencement hate speech, our faculty group is speaking truth to power Michael Oren Michael Oren Why tribes? One can almost imagine a modern shibboleth test in which we are stopped and asked, 'judicial reform' or 'judicial coup'? Gilead Sher Gilead Sher This drive toward absolute power must be stopped Striking 'reasonableness' will enable any decision by any elected official, no matter how groundless, absurd or corrupt Debbie Wolf Goldsmith Debbie Wolf Goldsmith Pride tinged with fear: Being an IDF parent I moved to Israel 23 years ago. I'm a Jewish educator. What more could I want than my daughter serving our country? Guaranteed safety would be nice Tali Reiner Brodetzki Tali Reiner Brodetzki Protesting a Kohelet funder who's a Hartman donor is not 'dangerous overreach' The institute promotes pluralism, open debate, and civil discourse, so why defame us for upholding those exact values? Sarah Imhoff Sarah Imhoff What ancient rabbis knew about nonbinary genders 'Tumtums,' 'androgynos' and 'aylonot' suggest the sages knew there were categories beyond 'male' and 'female' Steven Bayar Steven Bayar Of Pride flags and rainbow cookies Do two Orthodox communities in New Jersey believe that being LGBTQ+ is a communicable condition? Latest Articles * Israeli settlers are seen approaching Palestinians in the Arab al-Khouli hamlet, near the West Bank outpost of El Matan, July 13, 2023. (Courtesy via Yesh Din) 31 minutes ago Four Palestinians said wounded in settler attack in West Bank * 39 minutes ago Journalist who claimed Palestinian Authority arrests dissidents arrested by PA * 51 minutes ago Nazi propaganda found on phone of 2022 Indianapolis mass shooter * 1 hour ago Israel's first summer scorcher expected to last until middle of next week * 2 hours ago Herzog officially set to address US Congress, with Netanyahu still waiting on invite * 2 hours ago Military court convicts Palestinian over deadly 2018 terror shooting * 2 hours ago Pittsburgh jury quickly finds synagogue shooter eligible for death penalty * 2 hours ago Israel and allies foiled 50 Iranian terror plots in recent years, Gallant says * 3 hours ago Anti-overhaul protesters call 'day of resistance' for Monday; rally near PM's homes * 4 hours ago Ethiopian police suspect hoax in reported kidnapping of Israeli * 4 hours ago After 50 years, government seeks to evict squatter from cave home on Herzliya beach * 5 hours ago Biden says US seeking prisoner exchange for WSJ reporter detained in Russia * 5 hours ago France passes law making it easier for Jews to reclaim Nazi-stolen art * 5 hours ago US authorities arrest, indict Israeli-American ex-CEO of major crypto firm Celsius * 6 hours ago US congressional committee approves $2.5 million budget to fight antisemitism * 6 hours ago ArchaeologyIn vivid color: 1,500-year-old Huqoq mosaic depicts Samson, animals hunting * 6 hours ago Israel U-20 basketball team tops Germany, heads to Euro semifinal * 7 hours ago 'Wholesale copying': Israel's Orca Security sues rival Wiz for patent infringement * 7 hours ago High Court to hear petition seeking Netanyahu's removal over conflict of interest * 7 hours ago These 6 Jewish baseball players were selected in this year's MLB draft See All Latest Blogs * Shlomo Ezagui Shlomo Ezagui Convincing the heart with one's m... * Richard H. Schwartz Richard H. Schwartz How to Help the World Go Vegan: R... * Josh Feigelson Josh Feigelson Homeward Bound * Israel Drazin Israel Drazin A 'new' look at the biblical Dina... * Samuel Lebens Samuel Lebens Israel in search of a story * Dmytro Spilka Dmytro Spilka Israel Poised to Become a Leader ... * Claudine Clark Claudine Clark Heatwave of Inhumanity: Florida's... * Jonathan Sacks Jonathan Sacks The Complexity of Human Rights (M... * Zack Rothbart Zack Rothbart Remembering the Yom Kippur War...... * Sheldon Kirshner Sheldon Kirshner Crossing Delancey 35 Years Later See All Today's Daily Briefing Who's afraid of a US-Israel relationship reassessment? listen to the podcast [TOI_PODCAS] podcasts What Matters Now For Heaven's Sake In These Times with Rabbi Ammi Hirsch The Glue, with Eric Fingerhut Groundwork Listen now [sheba_logo] SAVING LIVES AROUND THE GLOBE Learn More Sponsored [75logo] [IS_LOGO] & [Toi_logo] Signed, Sealed, Delivered? A fresh look at Israel's founding moral compass listen to the podcast [IsraelStor] The Times of Israel Daily Edition Free to Your Inbox [ ] [Subscribe] The email is either missing or invalid. By signing up, you agree to our terms You hereby accept The Times of Israel Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and you agree to receive the latest news & offers from The Times of Israel and its partners or ad sponsors. CRM TOI ORIGINAL VIDEO [Screen-Shot-2021-12-13-at-14] State of Jerusalem: The 'Secular' Struggle Full Coverage What Matters Now * Prof. Aren M. Maeir at the Tell es Safi/Gath excavation, summer 2021. (courtesy) What Matters Now to archaeologist Aren Maeir: Indiana Jones's new adventure By Amanda Borschel-Dan * JPPI head Prof. Yedidia Stern, a leading Israeli legal scholar. (Courtesy JPPI) What Matters Now to Prof. Yedidia Stern: A 'thin constitution' By Amanda Borschel-Dan * Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, the former head of the research division in the IDF's Military Intelligence division and former Director General of the Israel Ministry of Strategic Affairs outside the Nomi Studios in Jerusalem, June 21, 2023. (Amanda Borschel-Dan/Times of Israel) What Matters Now to Brig. Gen. Yossi Kuperwasser: Breaking the terror wave By Amanda Borschel-Dan See All Full Coverage Liveblog * Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during a meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Panagiotopoulos, in Athens, May 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) Defense minister: Israel has foiled more than 50 Iranian attacks around world By ToI Staff * Israeli police detain a demonstrator during a protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government to overhaul the judicial system, in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) High Court rules that prosecutors cannot take part in anti-overhaul protests By ToI Staff * Anti-judicial overhaul demonstrators block the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv on July 11, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) Police clear out Tel Aviv protesters, ending day of mass rallies against overhaul By ToI Staff See All Full Coverage ToI Original Video * [RamleLod-thumbnail-200x200] Into the Land: A Tale of Two Cities * [JO_TH3-200x200] Into the Land: The Forgery Scandal * [PHOTO-2022-04-24-20-47-13-2] Into the Land: Dead Sea Walking See All Full Coverage Israeli judicial overhaul * President Isaac Herzog (left) and US President Joe Biden at the White House on October 26, 2022. (GPO) Herzog officially set to address US Congress, with Netanyahu still waiting on invite By Jacob Magid * Anti-judicial overhaul demonstrators protest near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, on July 13, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) Anti-overhaul protesters call 'day of resistance' for Monday; rally near PM's homes By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff * Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at the Jerusalem District Court arriving to listen to testimony by businessman Arnon Milchan, as part of Netanyahu's corruption trial, June 28, 2023. (Marc Israel Sellem/POOL) High Court to hear petition seeking Netanyahu's removal over conflict of interest By ToI Staff See All Tales of the Times The quirky, improbable, infuriating and uplifting * This file photo taken on February 14, 2020, shows the US multinational technology and internet-related services company Google logo in Brussels (Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP) Query from right to left Google launches Hebrew version of AI chatbot Bard By ToI Staff * Writer/director/executive producer Greta Gerwig poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film "Barbie," in London, United Kingdom, July 12, 2023. (Scott Garfitt/Invision /AP) Plastic fantastic 'Barbie' director wants viewers to 'feel like I did at Shabbat dinner' By PHILISSA CRAMER * Undated photo of Augusta the chimpanzee. (Courtesy: Ramat Gan Safari) A final climb Ramat Gan Safari puts down elderly chimpanzee By ToI Staff * A fictional Jewish community center recreated on the set of "A Transparent Musical." (Jacob Gurvis via JTA) Coming out soon 'Transparent' musical to launch on Broadway next year By jacob gurvis * Madonna appears at the 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York, on May 4, 2019. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) Live to Tell Madonna says she's 'on the road to recovery' following ICU stay By Maria Sherman * British legendary singer Elton John performs on the Pyramid Stage on day 5 of the Glastonbury festival in the village of Pilton in Somerset, southwest England, on June 25, 2023. (Oli SCARFF / AFP) 'It's been my lifeblood' Elton John belts out final show in Sweden By Johannes LEDEL * Musician Shye Ben-Tzur debuts his newest album, 'Hallel,' at Jerusalem's Confederation House on July 13, 2023 (YouTube screen grab) Tunes of tribute India-inspired musician praises the divine with 'Hallel' By Jessica Steinberg * Saudi fashion designer Reem Alsabhan stands in front of mannequins at her workshop in Riyadh on March 1, 2023. (Fayez Nureldine / AFP) Window dressing Fashion is Saudi Arabia's latest tool to remake reputation By Eric RANDOLPH * An undated photo of electric violinist Lindsey Stirling. (Courtesy PR) Fiddle dance Electronic violinist to bring her choreographed strings to Tel Aviv By Jessica Steinberg * A vessel that sank on Lake Maggiore in Italy with four fatalities, May 28, 2023. (Italian fire and rescue services) Ripped from the headlines Israel's Yes producing thriller series about spy boat that capsized in Italy By Amy Spiro * False killer whales (a species of dolphin) seen off the coast of Herzliya in central Israel on July 2, 2023. (Uri Eger) Whale of a time False killer whales spotted off Israel's coast for 2nd time this year By Sue Surkes * A man plays snooker at a club in Tehran on June 26, 2023. (ATTA KENARE / AFP) Green baize craze Iranian snooker fans take cue from 'Persian Prince' By Payam DOOST MOHAMADI * Ness Ziona mayoral candidate Galit Avinoam films a campaign video on June 30, 2023. (Screen capture/Twitter) A novel campaign tactic 'Die!': Thinking cam is off, mayoral candidate lets slip real feelings By ToI Staff * Salwan Momika holds up a Quran before setting some pages on fire in a protest outside a mosque in Stockholm on June 28, 2023, during the Eid al-Adha holiday. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP) Fanning the flames Man burns bacon-stuffed Quran at Stockholm mosque protest By Johannes LEDEL * David Corenswet, left, on Aug. 16, 2022, at the Tudum Theater in Los Angeles, and Rachel Brosnahan right, on June 12, 2023, at the 16th annual Chanel Tribeca Artists Dinner at Balthazar in New York. (Chris Pizzello, left, Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, right) Super casting The Jewish roots of DC's newest 'Superman' By ToI Staff and AP * Award-winning actress Shira Haas joins cast of 'Night Therapy,' new Yes Studio drama, in production June 2023 (Courtesy Eyal Nevo) Script treatment Shira Haas, Yousef Sweid star in new drama 'Night Therapy' By Jessica Steinberg * The wall of an ancient Pompeian house with a fresco depicting a table with food, but not pizza, June 27, 2023. (Pompeii Archaeological Park via AP, ho) Slice of history Ancient Pompeii fresco shows a possible pizza precursor By Agencies * Members of heavy metal band Disturbed from Chicago, arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport, and will perform June 28, 2023 at Expo Tel Aviv (Courtesy PR) Not so silent Chicago heavy metal band Disturbed arrives in Israel for sold-out show By Jessica Steinberg * Israel's Revolution Orchestra performing at the Sibiu Festival in Romania, June 2023 (Courtesy Daniel Basin) Staging peace Israel's Revolution Orchestra befriends Iranian theater group By Jessica Steinberg * The main cast of "The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem" pictured from left to right: Rosa (Hila Saada), Gabriel (Michael Aloni), Luna (Swell Ariel Or), David (Israel Ogalbo), Merkada (Irit Kaplan) (Courtesy of yes Studios via JTA) Runway ready 2nd season of 'Beauty Queen of Jerusalem' to air July 14 on Netflix By Jackie Hajdenberg Scroll to view more The Times of Israel * home * Israel & the Region * Jewish Times * Israel Inside * The Blogs * Tech Israel * Real Estate Israel * daily edition * terms and conditions * privacy policy * about us * advertise with us * Jobs at The Times of Israel * contact us * facebook * twitter subscribe to the daily edition [ ] submit Community * Join our community * Sign in (c) 2023 The Times of Israel, all rights reserved Concept, design & development by [footer_rgb] Powered by [footer_sal] Never miss breaking news on Israel Get notifications to stay updated Stay updated No thanks You're subscribed close popup logo image Register for free and continue reading Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds. Already registered? Enter your email to sign in. Email address [ ] Please use the following structure: example@domain.com REGISTER OR SIGN IN Or Continue with google apple facebook By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you'll receive our Daily Edition email for free. [*] Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition back timesofisrael close popup Register to continue Email address [ ] Change REGISTER Or Continue with google apple facebook back timesofisrael close popup Log in to continue Email address [ ] Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.. Continue back timesofisrael close popup Sign in or Register Email address * [ ] Password * [ ] Incorrect password. Please try again or choose an option below. Continue I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link Or Continue with google apple facebook back timesofisrael close popup check your email Check your email We sent an email to you at . It has a link that will sign you in. Click the link in that email to complete your registration.