Blog
The Collapse of the Anti-Democratic “Loyalty in Culture” Bill
On every issue that we work on — from human rights, to social justice, to religious freedom — NIF partners with Israelis who champion our values. This case was no exception. And while some want to “blame” NIF for this legislative flop, the credit belongs to a wide coalition of Israelis who stood up against this proposed government censorship.
It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint.
We have reason to hope that movements based on forward-thinking compassion can upend the base and mean-spirited politics of tribalism.
Highlights from the 2018 Guardian of Democracy Dinner
Well over four hundred people — friends, donors, and allies — gathered in San Francisco, for NIF’s annual Guardian of Democracy Dinner, to show their support for Israelis working to promote democracy in Israel. They raised more money this year than they ever have before.
The American Grad Student Living at Ben Gurion Airport
The more we argue about whether or not Lara Alqasem is a BDS supporter, the more we implicitly concede the point that it is just fine when a liberal democracy denies entry to a person simply because the government doesn’t like her political views.
Racism on the Way to the Ballot Box
The worsening of the racist and inflammatory tone in the local political arena is no coincidence. Local politics simply mimics national politics.
This is About More than Kavanaugh
Washington’s treatment of Judge Kavanaugh’s accusers shows us that — for as much as the #MeToo movement has achieved — there are powerful regressive forces that want to turn the clock back.
The Courage to Stand Together and Listen to our Fears
Fear is part of our lives, and the challenge is how to embrace fear and to know how to operate within it. We must not give in to our fears, and we must not act based on our fears. Rather, we must hold fast to hope and to vision.
At the Border: Between This Year and Next
A Darfuri refugee hero of mine reminded me that if officials are asking me — a white, educated, English-speaking male — if I am a citizen, you can only imagine what they are doing to others.
Remembering Rabbi Rachel Cowan, z”l
“Rachel, who died just before Shabbat began last week, was the gentlest, fiercest, and most generous advocate for justice I ever met. She was the ultimate happy warrior, and more than anyone else I’ve ever known, it is her calm, cheerful, and inspirational example I most try to emulate.”
High Walls and Open Gates
During the High Holidays, we are meant to open ourselves up. There is a political lesson in this tradition that applies in both the U.S. and Israel.