An essay I wrote about the historic pattern of antisemitism appears at Religion News Service and can be read here.
Category Archives: Anti-Semitism
Pense Sense
Displeasure over Kevin Roberts’ refusal to distance the Heritage Foundation from Tucker Carlson has yielded something good: A boost to Mike Pence.
To read more about that something, please click here.
Dear Mayor Mamdani
You can read my Substack offering “Dear Mayor Mamdani” here.
Shemos – Pathetic Persecutors
As the Jewish population in ancient Egypt swelled, the Torah tells us that vayakutzu – The Egyptians “were disgusted” (Shemos 1:12). Rashi explains that “they were disgusted with their [own] lives.”
A superficial reading of vayakutzu would lead to a simpler understanding, that the Egyptians, out of fear (as pesukim 8 and 9 describe), found the Jews, not themselves,disgusting. What is the significance of Rashi’s comment?
The Mei Marom (Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Charlop, 1882-1951) posits that the pasuk as Rashi explains it is imparting a psychological truth: It is impossible to embitter the life of another unless one is embittered with himself. Anyone who appreciates and cherishes his own life will perforce be concerned about the lives of others.
And so, Rabbi Charlop concludes, if one sees someone oppressing another, one can surmise that the oppressor’s cruelty is fundamentally sourced in self-loathing.
© 2025 Rabbi Avi Shafran
Truculent Troika’s Tribulations
Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes are, blessedly, like contentious crustaceans brawling in a bucket. To read what I mean, please click here.
Animus and Ignorance
Last week, New York mayor-elect Mandani not only demonstrated, once again, his hatred for Israel, but also lifted the hood on the engine of his animus: an abysmal ignorance of both history and law.
To read how, click here:
Foul Fringes on the Left and the Right
I’m as chagrined as anyone about the ugliness we are witnessing on the extremes of both American political parties. But there have always been isolationists and bigots in Congress.
Does a respectable mainstream, at least presently, dominate in each party?
My take is here.
Reconstructing the Gazan Mind
While the world watches to see whether the tunnel-ridden wasteland along the Mediterranean called Gaza can be restored to a livable place, what can’t be ignored is the most important part of the reconstruction effort: the rebooting of the Gazan mind.
To read more about that, click here.
A Test for Mr. Trump
A piece I wrote about President Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Kuwait is at Religion News Service and can be read here.
What Alone Protects Us
A Sukkos-themed piece of mine appears at RNS and can be read here.