INTO THE FRAY: Much to worry about
January 15, 2026 by Martin Sherman
Looking back over the last several decades, citizens of Israel will find much reason for grave concern over the aptitude of the country’s leadership. Indeed, almost all of those who held- and some who still hold—senior positions of national responsibility have raised ideas, which have either precipitated trauma and tragedy or, by mere good fortune, have not done so. Read more
Adelaide Writers’ Week and the dangerous misuse of “free speech”
January 14, 2026 by Michael Gencher
The collapse of Adelaide Writers’ Week 2026 has been widely described as a free speech controversy. Read more
Can Trump avoid repeating Obama’s blunders vis à vis Tehran?
January 14, 2026 by Jonathan S. Tobin - JNS.org
At the moment, it’s far from clear whether the growing anti-government protests inside Iran will succeed in toppling the Islamist tyrants that have ruled since 1979. Read more
Mamdani’s condemnation of Hamas is a step in the right direction
January 14, 2026 by Menachem Rosensaft
I consider the fact that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the antisemitic rhetoric used by demonstrators outside a Queens synagogue this past Thursday to be far more significant than quibbling over the timeliness of his response. Read more
Feintooner
January 12, 2026 by Feintooner
This week’s cartoon by Feintooner: The ups and downs of political protests Read more
United Nations remains epicentre of worldwide Jew-hatred
January 12, 2026 by David Singer
The United Nations has retained its position as the epicentre of world Jew-hatred in 2025, with the United Nations General Assembly adopting: Read more
Saturday Night Fever
January 12, 2026 by Alex First
A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First Read more
On the other hand
January 11, 2026 by Michael Kuttner
The Tel Aviv-Yaffo Municipality has announced the opening of a lifeguard training course (Type 1 Sea Lifeguard certification) for the first time in four decades. Read more
Partisan Song
January 9, 2026 by Anne Sarzin
Partisan Resilience, Resistance, and Revenge Book review by Dr Anne Sarzin Read more
Litvak or Chassid?
January 9, 2026 by Jeremy Rosen
Someone close to me explained why he thought I was so dismissive, particularly of religious views I did not agree with. Read more
Blast off
January 9, 2026 by Michael Kuttner
Most commentators suspected that 2026 was going to be action-packed, but hardly anyone predicted that it would blast off in such a spectacular fashion. Read more
Three times a day at Bondi Beach, a rabbi helps a community grieve
January 9, 2026 by Rob Klein
In the days after the Bondi Beach massacre, as mourners arrived with flowers and stood quietly in front of the memorial at Bondi Pavillion, Rabbi Yossi Friedman sensed that many people wanted to grieve but did not quite know how.
Madama Butterfly………just magnificent
January 9, 2026 by Victor Grynberg
An opera review by Victor Grynberg Read more
Shabbat Shemot
January 8, 2026 by Jeremy Rosen
Light in the darkness: ‘Sunnukiah’ finds new meaning after Bondi terror attack
January 7, 2026 by Rob Klein
At around 3 am on 15 December, Rabbi Mendy Litzman of Hatzolah was driving home from hospital. He had spent hours helping victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack the previous evening.
Trump & Netanyahu struggle to agree on future of Judea & Samaria
January 5, 2026 by David Singer
President Trump’s failure to propose his plan for the future of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) since he promised its release in March 2025 has finally caught up with him. Read more
On the other hand
January 4, 2026 by Michael Kuttner
Magen David Adom, Israel’s main national first responder organisation, has reported some notable achievements during 2025. Read more
2002? 2026? What’s the difference?
January 4, 2026 by Ron Weiser
Antisemitism, in whatever form it tries to take or morph into, did not begin in the aftermath of 7 October, nor will it end tomorrow. Read more
Mamdani’s ‘collectivism’ is dangerous to Jews and everyone else
January 4, 2026 by Jonathan S. Tobin - JNS.org
Inaugurations are generally hopeful days in democracies. Read more
The downplaying of momentous events in Iran
January 2, 2026 by Melanie Phillips - JNS.org
All week, Iranians have been mounting massive and widespread street protests. Read more
Handel’s Messiah
January 2, 2026 by Jeremy Rosen
Stormy times ahead
January 2, 2026 by Michael Kuttner
Extreme weather events such as droughts, tornadoes, hurricanes, cyclones, torrential rain, combined with intense cold or soaring temperatures, seem to be increasing worldwide. Read more
The Choral
January 2, 2026 by Alex First
A movie review by Alex First Read more
Shabbat Mikeytz
January 1, 2026 by Jeremy Rosen
Trump could offend would-be leaders of Israel as he singles out Bibi’s so-called exceptionalism
January 1, 2026 by Bruce S. Ticker
CATS
January 1, 2026 by Alex First
A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First Read more
Poem by Michael Leibowitz
Kadish—21 December 2025 Read more
After Bondi, avoidance is no longer an option
December 31, 2025 by Michael Gencher
It has never been credible for this government to claim it is responding adequately to antisemitism — not before October 7, not since, and not now. Read more
Follow the yellow star road
December 31, 2025 by Zeddy Lawrence
In my previous two columns – one prior to Bondi, one two days after Bondi – I lamented sardonically that, after every incident of antisemitism over the past two years, all the Prime Minister offered were words … the very same words on each occasion: “There’s no place for antisemitism in Australia … or Islamophobia.” Read more
Revelry in the age of horror: A New Year’s meditation
December 31, 2025 by Menachem Rosensaft
Hold the champagne, at least for a moment. As we mark the beginning of a new year, let us also think of all those the world over who are not in a celebratory mood, whose mindset is one of trepidation, anguish and pain rather than joy. Read more
