Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Broken Hearts, Not Broken Spirits – Interview w/ Chemi Goldin, Brother of Hadar Goldin Hy’D
The tragic story of Hadar Goldin HYD is one that, as of yet, has no ending. And the lack of closure for the family of the slain Israeli soldier only serves to intensify the pain and anguish of his loss. On August 1, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, 23-year-old Hadar, a Lieutenant in the IDF’s…
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From Dr. Frager’s Desk: Netanyahu’s New Government Makes Up for Lost Opportunities
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s persistence and determination finally paid off after five tries in three years. Israel, the Jewish People and Democracy are the real winners. It was a long and arduous road getting to this point. It was full of bumps and potholes. It was an obstacle course. Even after being sworn in, Bibi…
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Chairman Weiss: The Democrats Must Have A ‘Sister Souljah Moment’ on Antisemitism
The recent rise in American antisemitism is the result of a lack of consequences for those engaging in it. For example, Americans Against Antisemitism studied 194 anti-Jewish assaults and 135 attacks on Jewish property in New York that have taken place since 2018. According to their July 2022 report, only two of the perpetrators actually…
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Judging A Court by Its System: Interview w/ MK Simcha Rothman
The ascent of MK Simcha Rothman, who was appointed chairman of the Knesset’s powerful Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, may prove to be the biggest nightmare for Israel’s current Supreme Court and its progressive supporters. Rothman has become the poster boy for judicial reform in Israel and has been a leading voice in the fight…
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From Dr. Frager’s Desk: Zero Tolerance for Anti-Semitism
As 2022 winds down, it looks like it will have been the worst year ever in America for Anti-Semitic incidents. With the polarization of the United States and the lack of civil discourse, the forecast for 2023 is not much better. Social media which amplifies and promotes Anti-Semitic messaging may be the main culprit. The…
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From Dr. Frager’s Desk: Time to Make Peace Between Russia and Ukraine
President Biden has his hands full but if he cannot hammer out an end to the war soon the picture looks quite bleak.With the release of Brittney Griner after ten months of captivity, President Biden might have opened a channel to finally make Peace between Russia and Ukraine. As Michael Shear and Peter Baker put…
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From Dr. Frager’s Desk: Is Iran Regime Change A Distinct Possibility?
My Iranian Jewish friends who live in the United States tell me that regime change in Iran is a real and definite possibility. Could the Biden Administration do more to make this happen? You bet they could. The continued attempts to salvage an agreement with Iran along the lines of the JCPOA deal struck by…
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From Dr. Frager’s Desk: American Jewry Is Vital to Israel
Having attended the ZOA Dinner on November 13th, I was once again reminded of how vital and important American Jewry is to both America and Israel. I am the first to recommend Aliyah to Israel. However, if you are a Jew living in America in 2022 then you have an obligation to do your part…
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Chairman Weiss: The Big Lie of Jewish Power
When controversy erupted over NBA star Kyrie Irving’s endorsement of an antisemitic movie, NBA All Star Charles Barkley called for Irving’s suspension. He also asked why the NBA suspends players for hateful comments about other groups, but not Jews. His fellow NBA All Star Shaquille O’Neal agreed with Barkley. Even though the NBA’s commissioner is…
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Rabbi Katz: Sports/Elections It’s Outcome
There are two subjects in America that greatly impact its citizens – sports and elections. People invest tremendous amounts of time, energy and money into both pursuits, to the point that at times they almost consume them. They can become the very air they breathe. While the subjects of elections and politics may share commonalities,…
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