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"I don't want to have to make this video, but I do," Scottish journalist and political commentator Leah Benoz began the story she shared on Tuesday with thousands of her Instagram followers, telling about the severe antisemitic attack her 13-year-old son experienced at the school where he studies in Scotland, all because of his Judaism.

"I'm going to ask you all to watch it and to share it as widely and as loudly as you are able," she urged her followers, then recounted the sequence of events, whose timing was, of course, not coincidental – October 7. "This morning, the anniversary of the October 7th attacks and days after two Jewish men were murdered in Manchester."

Pro-Palestinian protesters in Edinburgh Waverley break through police barriers. Comes after Scots on the Global Sumud Flotilla were detained by Israel. pic.twitter.com/q9YMlqXHnz

— Andrew Learmonth (@andrewlearmonth) October 2, 2025

Later, she added about the incident: "My child called me from his high school in Edinburgh to tell me that another child had threatened to stab him in the classroom. Yesterday, my child had come home upset saying that this other kid had demanded that he give a position on the Israel-Palestine conflict, that he explain his position on the conflict and with as much nuance and compassion that a frightened 13 year old was able to, he explained that the war is awful and he wants it to end but that he does feel a deep connection to Israel because he's Jewish."

"This child then harassed my son for hours, told him that all Israelis are terrorists, that Israelis shoot babies in the head, that he is a terrorist, that he told other children that my son believes that all Palestinians should die," she shared. "That is what it means to be Jewish in Scotland right now, and simultaneously, right at the same time, students at Edinburgh University are calling for an intifada. What does that mean? They are chanting right now in support of the kind of beliefs that think that a 13-year-old Jewish boy should die because of a war 3,000 miles away. This child that attacked my son, he's been radicalised at home, he is a product of an ecosystem of hate that has been allowed to fester. We cannot allow this to continue."

She ended by conveying "a final note for anti-Zionists, I'm going to take my exceptional child and I'm going to move to Israel and we are going to spend the rest of our lives committed to our homeland."

The video gained more than 42,000 views within hours and thousands of likes and comments expressing shock and anger at the story she shared, calling for her to file a police complaint, including American Emmy-winning actress and voice actor Tara Strong, who herself went viral about two years ago when she shared that she was fired from a series she voiced because of her Judaism and the fact that she expressed support for Israel. "What does the school intend to do? This is a death threat. What will the police do? I'm so sorry you're going through this," she wrote in response.

Benoz updated that a complaint was indeed filed with police, and she is waiting for a response from law enforcement officials. Other followers wrote in despair that it's likely that not only will they not handle her complaint, but there's a chance that she will find herself on the investigated side, since they will claim her words are Islamophobic, and that schools don't really act to handle death threats of this type.

"They enable and forgive displays of racism and violence against Jews and incite them. This is the spirit. This is global and systematic." Others encouraged her to stand behind her words and indeed make aliyah, while Benoz, who for now doesn't want to reveal the school's name in order not to expose her son to additional displays of violence and hatred, asked to clarify that she won't let the matter rest until it's handled and wrote: "They messed with the wrong mother."

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Initial examinations have included a working meeting and the exchange of lists containing approximately 20 Jewish prisoners between the pardons departments at the Justice Ministry and the President's Office.

The review follows appeals from Knesset members, rabbis, political activists, and right-wing organizations to the justice minister and president. These groups requested creating what they termed "balance and equality" by releasing Jewish security prisoners in parallel with the Palestinian prisoner releases occurring under the agreement to return the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The clemency requests and lists encompass about 20 prisoners, but sources said the President's Office and Justice Ministry plan to examine each case individually. The assessment indicates that even if sentence commutations or pardons are granted, they would only be implemented after prisoners express remorse and receive favorable security opinions from the Shin Bet.

Similar actions have precedent. In 1999, on the recommendation of then-Justice Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, President Ezer Weizman reduced the sentences of seven Jewish security prisoners. Those receiving reductions included Ami Popper, Yoram Shkolnik, and the Kahalani brothers – all convicted of nationalist murder or attempted murder against Palestinians.

Hanegbi stated at the time, "When easing and releasing sentences imposed on Arab prisoners, we cannot ignore the Jewish prisoners who committed the 'terrible acts' following the severe confrontation between us and the Palestinians."

Knesset member Naama Lazimi from the Labor party criticized the president for considering such a move, saying: "In the name of 'sacred balance' the president has officially recognized the phenomenon of Jewish terror for the first time, and in the same breath gave support and backing to this phenomenon. This is a dangerous legitimization that undermines the rule of law and morality and works against stateliness and the institution of the presidency."

Her party colleague, Knesset member Gilad Kariv, echoed these concerns: "It's not enough that this failed and dangerous government allowed murderous and cursed terror organizations to slaughter Israelis, now they want to release Jewish terrorists into Israeli society. Security? Governance? A government of blood."

Knesset member Itamar Ben Gvir from the Otzma Yehudit party offered a different perspective: "Nothing will whitewash the reckless surrender deal signed by the Israeli government, which includes releasing thousands of murderous terrorists from prisons, a dramatic increase in allowing logistical aid to Hamas, and IDF forces withdrawing from the vast majority of the Gaza Strip – which allows Hamas to rebuild itself. All this while the government has complete American backing to rain hell on Hamas if all our hostages are not released immediately."

"I call on the prime minister and ministers to come to their senses and return immediately to a total war of annihilation against Hamas. Only this way will we return all our hostages without abandoning state security at outrageous prices, and only this way will we achieve complete victory," Ben Gvir added.

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Two nurses at Bankstown Hospital in Sydney's southwest have been stood down after making violent threats against Israeli patients in an antisemitic video, Sky News Australia reported Wednesday, as the facility simultaneously moved to delete social media content featuring pro-Palestine messaging.

"Online content related to Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital was removed today when it was learned a community member pictured was wearing clothing with political messaging," a South Western Sydney Local Health District spokesperson said.

The social media controversy emerged as the hospital dealt with a more serious incident involving two staff members. In a two-minute video posted to TikTok by a Jewish content creator, the nurses appeared in what seemed to be a hospital setting making threatening statements.

The encounter, which occurred on the video platform Chatruletka – a service that randomly connects users – quickly escalated when the male nurse suggested the Jewish creator would be killed. A female nurse then appeared on camera, making an aggressive statement about Palestine before both healthcare workers made explicit threats.

"I won't treat them, I won't treat them. I'll kill them," the female nurse said in reference to Israeli patients, according to the video. The male nurse then made claims about sending Israeli patients "to jaheem (hell)."

NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed on radio station 2GB that both nurses have been removed from their duties at Bankstown Hospital pending a full investigation.

The Medical Board of Australia's Code of Conduct affirms healthcare workers' right to personal views but requires consideration of their impact on the profession's reputation. Similarly, NSW Health's Code of Conduct prohibits staff from suggesting their personal views represent those of NSW Health when making public comments or engaging in political activities.

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Today, we honor the memory of the victims and pay tribute to the survivors for their unwavering resilience. The scars of the Holocaust have not faded with time – they have shaped both the remainder of the survivors' lives and our own lives. Their determination teaches us that even in the darkest times, it is possible to create light and spread it forward.

Each year, we bid farewell to more survivors – those who were direct witnesses to the events. With the passing of each survivor, we lose not only the ability to connect with the person and their story but also face increasing difficulty in fighting for historical truth – a concept that has become increasingly easy to challenge today.

However, we do not have the privilege of giving up and accepting this loss. As Jews and as human beings, we must carry each and every story forward to the next generation. At Yad Vashem, we are working to develop and formulate creative ways and new means to do this, even when the generation of survivors is no longer with us.

These matters take on added urgency today when, in marking this significant historical day, we cannot do so without expressing deep concern. Perhaps for the first time since the establishment of the state, we face a complex reality in Israel and worldwide, where a murky wave of antisemitism is growing, highlighting the understanding that some believe the existence of the Jewish people is not to be taken for granted.

Against this evil, we do not have the privilege of saying "it will be fine." We know the course of history. Hatred and antisemitism that are left unchallenged will intensify and multiply until they become uncontrollable.

We must take operational actions and call on world leaders to unite and act decisively against this phenomenon, as when it intensifies and erupts – no person or society will be immune to its consequences.

Dani Dayan is chairman of the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center

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Ágnes Keleti, a Holocaust survivor who became the world's oldest living Olympic champion and later shaped Israel's gymnastics program, died Thursday in Budapest at age 103, as reported by the Associated Press.

The legendary Jewish athlete, who captured 10 Olympic medals including five golds for Hungary, passed away after being hospitalized with pneumonia on December 25. Her remarkable journey from Nazi persecution to Olympic glory made her one of the most inspiring Jewish sports figures of the 20th century.

"These 100 years felt to me like 60," Keleti told AP before her 100th birthday. "I live well. And I love life. It's great that I'm still healthy."

Born as Ágnes Klein in Budapest in 1921, she faced devastating persecution during World War II. The Nazi regime forced her off Hungary's gymnastics team in 1941 due to her Jewish heritage. She survived the Holocaust by concealing her identity and working as a maid in the Hungarian countryside. While her mother and sister survived through the protection of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, her father, and other family members perished at Auschwitz – among more than half a million Hungarian Jews murdered in Nazi death camps and by Hungarian Nazi collaborators.

After the war, Keleti rebuilt her gymnastics career. Though an ankle injury prevented her from competing in the 1948 London Olympics, she triumphed at the 1952 Helsinki Games at age 31, securing gold in floor exercise along with silver and two bronze medals. Her greatest achievement came at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where at 35 – the oldest gymnastics gold medalist in history – she dominated the competition with four golds and two silvers.

While Keleti reached the pinnacle of Olympic success in Melbourne, the Soviet Union invaded Hungary following an unsuccessful anti-Soviet uprising. She sought asylum in Australia before immigrating to Israel in 1957, where she dedicated decades to training Israel's Olympic gymnastics team through the 1990s.

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Leading rabbis in the United States and Israel are contemplating whether to prohibit Jewish conversion for individuals who have participated in anti-Israel demonstrations. In recent months, multiple rabbis, primarily in the US, have grappled with the issue of converting individuals who display clear anti-Israel sentiments yet seek to join the Jewish faith, forcing them to decide whether this constitutes a deal-breaker. While no actual ban has been implemented on any specific protester to date, such a decision appears to be imminent.

Rabbi Elchanan Poupko, a prominent young rabbi in the United States, has delved deeply into this question. He recently approached both chief rabbis, Rabbi Kalman Ber and Rabbi David Yosef, with this inquiry. Simultaneously, he consulted several well-known rabbis in Israel, with Rabbi David Stav explicitly ruling that such individuals should not be converted.

"In the past year, a renewed wave of hatred toward Israel has swept the world," Rabbi Poupko wrote to the chief rabbis. He noted that these individuals are effectively Israel-haters, even though they "claim they don't hate Israel and that all their talk stems from compassion for the Palestinian people and their desire to help them." These protesters "demonstrate in front of synagogues, study halls, and Jewish schools, harass Israelis, assault them, and engage in various other forms of persecution, as well as write about Israel as if they were evil murderers, blood libels similar to what Israel-haters did in previous generations."

Rabbi Poupko mentioned that at least one rabbinical court in the US encountered a case where an individual who participated in anti-Israel protests sought conversion, raising questions about the process.

"While they accepted the commandments to live as an observant Jew, and the court found no fault in their observance of Sabbath, kosher laws, and so forth, they discovered the individual had participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and questioned whether this fact diminishes the acceptance of this person as a convert," he wrote.

The reason, according to him, is that since this person actively harms Jews, they distance themselves from Judaism, even if they are willing to accept the religious laws. "By choosing to participate with Israel's enemies against the majority of the Jewish people who live in the Land of Israel, even though they said 'your God is my God,' it is nevertheless inconceivable to convert them."

Rabbi David Stav, rabbi of Shoham and chairman of the Tzohar organization, has already determined that in his view, there is a prohibition against converting such protest participants. In response to Rabbi Poupko's inquiry, the rabbi explicitly wrote: "This is a very weighty question. The foundation of conversion is joining the Jewish people. Someone who hates the Jewish people and its national expressions cannot be part of it. Of course, one must examine them and see if they have abandoned these views, but if not – it is not right to accept them."

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon, rabbi of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, also addressed the issue. He noted that it's necessary to examine whether the participation stems from alienation from the Jewish people or if it's highly inappropriate but localized behavior. "It's clear that participating in such demonstrations is a serious transgression," he wrote, explaining that this stems from violating commandments such as "love your neighbor as yourself" and "do not stand idly by your neighbor's blood." According to him, "It is certainly forbidden to encourage and assist those who fight and harm Jews."

"Since if a convert doesn't accept even one commandment we cannot convert them, it appears we cannot accept this convert as long as they intend to continue committing this transgression and participating in these demonstrations," he stated. He further clarified that the entire essence of conversion is connecting to Israel, and therefore "If they indeed find themselves identifying with Israel's enemies and antisemitic movements rather than with their Jewish brothers and sisters, then the very essence of conversion does not exist here."

Rabbi Rimon clarified that one must examine whether the conversion itself would create harm to the Jewish people, but if the irregular behavior is limited to demonstration participation, it's not clear that conversion would create harm. Therefore, he recommended speaking directly with the conversion candidate to clarify that these are actions with serious implications. "If they repent – good, and if they don't repent – we must examine whether this is a local logical failure or if the convert truly opposes the Jewish people, and if so, there is no place to convert them."

Rabbi Poupko, who has dealt extensively with this issue, wrote an article on the subject that is expected to be published in the Techumin journal. In the article, he noted, "There is no doubt that the rabbinical court has been given authority to accept or reject the convert based on their understanding of the worldview and commandments that the convert accepts upon themselves, and to what extent they believe they will continue on the path of Torah and commandments after conversion." Therefore, "Since this convert who demonstrates against Israel comes before a more general rabbinical court, the court can tell them that their worldview is not their worldview... they can and must tell them that they cannot accept them."

In such a case, he suggested, that convert is invited to go to a rabbinical court of ultra-Orthodox groups that oppose Israel, such as Satmar or Neturei Karta, and they will make the decision. "It's impossible to accept both positions. They cannot follow the conditions of Jewish law and customs of the Satmar Hasidic movement while also opposing the Jewish people's residence in their land."

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A landmark study published Monday in the United States and Israel has uncovered that the value of property confiscated from Syria's Jewish community exceeds $10 billion in contemporary terms. The research also documents that the once-thriving community has dwindled to just four known Jewish residents in Syria today.

The comprehensive findings come from Justice for Jews from Arab Countries (JJAC), a Jewish-American organization, following an exhaustive six-year investigation. The study is part of a broader research initiative, with findings on ten additional Arab countries scheduled for release in the coming months.

According to the JJAC, Jewish communities had established deep roots across North Africa and the Middle East over thousands of years, with their presence predating Islam by a millennium. The organization notes that the mass exodus of these Jewish populations from eleven countries in the 20th century stands as one of the largest forced displacements of modern times.

The study documents Syrian Jewry as one of the region's most ancient communities, with verified Jewish presence in Aleppo and Damascus extending back 2,500 years. The community developed extensive international commercial networks, establishing trading and banking relationships reaching as far as India.

The post-World War II era marked the beginning of intensified persecution of Syria's Jewish communities. They endured widespread property confiscation, severe restrictions on movement, systematic economic marginalization, violent attacks, and sustained government harassment. These pressures precipitated a dramatic demographic decline.

From a population of approximately 50,000 Jews at the century's start, numbers fell to roughly 30,000 by Israel's establishment. Within a decade, only 5,000 remained. By 1991, the community had virtually disappeared, with reports indicating only one hundred Jews still in Syria. The overwhelming majority sought refuge in Israel.

The research methodology incorporated comprehensive evidence of Jewish economic status, combining written documentation, interviews with community leaders and experts, and analysis of previous evaluations. A thorough assessment of all economic sectors revealed that Syrian Jewish assets valued at $200,167,458 in 1947 would equate to $10,692,545,656 in current dollars.

JJAC emphasized that achieving genuine peace in the Middle East depends on confronting historical facts and ensuring justice prevails. They stress that any meaningful reconciliation in the region must incorporate the complete historical narrative, particularly the experiences of Jewish communities from Arab nations and Iran.

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Nearly a month after its release to theaters, the movie adaptation of the original Broadway musical "Wicked" continues to enchant audiences worldwide, and rightfully so. Director Jon Chu's state-of-the-art production features immersive real-life sets, iconic choreography, and amazing costume design brought to life by an incredible cast. Yet while the emerald sparkle and soaring musical numbers sweep viewers away to Oz, it's the plot's deeper resonance that keeps audiences truly spellbound.

For those of you who have lived under a rock for the past 20 years, "Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz" is an original Broadway musical created by composer Stephen Schwartz and writer Winnie Holzman. Based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, which reimagined L. Frank Baum's classic "The Wizard of Oz," the show has become one of Broadway's most beloved productions.

The musical tells the story of Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman born with striking green skin and extraordinary magical abilities. Initially an outcast due to her unusual appearance, she forms an unexpected friendship with Glinda, her popular and bubbly roommate at Shiz University. Together, they discover a disturbing truth: Oz's animal citizens, once respected members of society, are being systematically oppressed under the deceitful Wizard's regime. As Elphaba fights to expose this injustice, she's branded to Oz as the Wicked Witch of the West – the land's new enemy – while Glinda joins forces with the Wizard and is elevated as Glinda the Good, attempting to fight from within. 

This story of how a society can be led to demonize the "different" feels quite familiar. Though set in the magical realm of Oz, the plot's dark undercurrents of systematic oppression and twisted narratives strike uncomfortably close to home, prompting many communities to identify with the film's plot, and prominently among them: the Jewish community. 

An allegory to the Holocaust

So, is "Wicked" truly based on Jewish history? Across social media, viewers have overwhelmingly identified one parallel that stands out above all others – the stark resemblance between the Wizard's systematic oppression of Oz's animals and the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust. These citizens of Oz, once integral to their society as teachers and lawyers, find themselves stripped of their rights, locked in cages, and losing their ability to speak – all because they've been designated as a threat to society. As the Wizard chillingly admits in the film, "Back where I come from, the best way to bring folks together is to give them a really good enemy."

Antisemitic stereotypes

According to the Jewish publication Hey Alma, in medieval and early modern Europe, the mythology of witches was deeply rooted in antisemitic stereotypes. Witches were portrayed as demonic beings with Satanic features, accused of unholy pacts and monstrous acts. In her article "The Antisemitic History of Witches," Swedish writer Emma Shachat reveals that even the iconic pointed black witch's hat originated from discriminatory laws requiring Jews to wear distinctive cone-shaped hats, reflecting how Jews were systematically othered, exactly the way Elphaba is, wearing the pointed black hat given to her by Glinda.

Wicked and Hitler 

Gregory Maguire, whose novel inspired the musical, conceived "Wicked" after encountering a provocative newspaper headline that read: "Saddam Hussein: The Next Hitler?" He recalled that this headline sparked his contemplation of societal responses to jingoism and propaganda, ultimately inspiring the novel's exploration of perspective and moral complexity. 

Maguire noted a similarity between the words wicked and Hitler, saying he made an intentional choice to name the novel "Wicked." While some interpret the book's themes as reflecting America's own history rather than just Hitler's Germany, the yellow-brick road to the Emerald City offers another possible Jewish connection. Both its yellow color and the fact it was built by slave labor could be read as Holocaust allegories.

Jewish cast members

An additional factor that fueled this speculation was the Jewish presence in the original production. The original actress cast to play Elphaba was the Jewish-American Idina Menzel, well-known for her roles in the musical "Rent" and in Disney's "Frozen". 

Another Jewish member is the musical's composer and lyricist, Stephen Schwartz, a fact that strengthened beliefs about Jewish themes in the plot.

Yet Schwartz emphasized that the musical isn't explicitly Jewish-themed. "I think a lot of musical theatre themes speak to Jewish audiences because in many instances musicals are about outsiders, striving to discover how they might fit in," he explained to the Jewish Chronicle in 2020, noting it deeply resonates with Jewish experiences.

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Talia Suskauer, a Jewish actress who was playing Elphaba on Broadway in 2021 explained how the role resonated with her: "There's a line in the show that says, 'The people just need a really good enemy," she told The Forward. "They need a scapegoat.' Throughout history, Jews have been designated as that scapegoat." 

Conclusion 

Though there are palpable Jewish resonances in "Wicked", there isn't a conclusive answer regarding its specific Jewish background. The prejudice and discrimination faced by Elphaba and the animals in Oz resonates with both individuals who have felt othered throughout their lives and many communities who have faced oppression. However, in 2024, amid rising global antisemitism following the events of Oct. 7, 2023, Elphaba's quest for justice and her journey to embrace her "unlimited" power, as embodied in Schwartz's legendary "Defying Gravity," carries particular weight. 

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Iranian intelligence services have assembled comprehensive profiles of thousands of Israelis, identifying them as potential targets in both domestic and international operations, security sources reveal. Several hundred individuals have been designated "high-risk" targets, with some receiving explicit threats from Iranian operatives. The scope of targeting encompasses current and former defense officials, academics, and scientists, Israel Hayom has learned.

This systematic campaign, sustained for more than a decade, represents Iran's calculated response to a series of assassinations of Iranian scientists and officials attributed to the Mossad and Israel. Tehran has retaliated by establishing terror cells across multiple countries, seeking to strike Israelis residing in or traveling to these locations.

Planned attacks have been uncovered in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Thailand, and several Western European nations. Most were prevented through timely intelligence sharing between Israel and local security agencies, resulting in real-time arrests of Iranian terror cells and operatives across multiple jurisdictions.

The operation has seen significant expansion in recent years, propelled by Iran's advancing cyber capabilities. This technological sophistication enables dual-track operations: enhanced gathering of intelligence about Israeli targets and accelerated recruitment of operatives, who initially may be unaware of their Iranian handlers.

Iranian operatives have exploited vulnerabilities in databases, phones, and computers to harvest comprehensive personal details of thousands of Israelis – including passport data, identification numbers, residential addresses, email accounts, mobile numbers, family information, employment details, and social networks.

This intelligence enables precise tracking of targets' movements and future plans, allowing Iran to identify optimal attack opportunities. Such surveillance methods, particularly mobile device infiltration, is believed to have been carried out by the Iranian cell that assassinated Chabad Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE, whose body was discovered on Sunday.

Device compromise typically occurs through deceptively innocent text message links or calls from unknown numbers, which, when engaged with, grant remote access to mobile devices and their stored data.

While most monitored individuals reside in Israel, Iran has made direct contact with several targets, issuing explicit threats. Some received mock "birthday greetings" for themselves or family members, including ominous warnings about not reaching their next birthday. The surveillance extends to defense establishment personnel, including senior officials.

Iran's recruitment efforts have intensified markedly. The cell responsible for Kogan's killing reportedly operated from Uzbekistan, with similar cells using various nationalities believed to be active globally. Security forces recently arrested one such cell in Sri Lanka planning attacks against Israelis, and yesterday's upgraded travel warning for Thailand likely reflects similar intelligence.

Particularly concerning is Iran's successful large-scale recruitment within Israel itself. Recent weeks have exposed multiple cells recruited remotely, operating under Iranian direction for financial gain to gather intelligence on security installations and specific individuals. Some received instructions to begin practical preparations for attacking Israeli targets. Arrests include Israeli Jews and Arabs, plus Palestinian residents of east Jerusalem.

The domestic targeting operation focuses on several hundred "high-risk" individuals, including current and former senior defense officials, academics across various fields, and scientists. All have received security agency warnings and instructions to maintain heightened vigilance while avoiding unnecessary international travel.

Intelligence assessments project Iran will escalate these efforts imminently, driven by mounting losses in the current war – both direct casualties and damage to its proxies, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza. While the Shin Bet and other security agencies have successfully thwarted Iranian attempts thus far, Tehran's massive investment in personnel, funding, and technology, combined with the discovered willingness of some Israelis to collaborate with Iranian handlers, creates potential for successful attacks both within Israel and abroad.

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The Israeli Declaration of Independence begins with a foundational truth: "In the Land of Israel, the Jewish people arose." Note the precision – the Jewish people, not the Israeli people. Yet today, a striking reality demands attention: Only 45% of world Jewry resides in their designated national homeland, the Land of Israel – unquestionably the most natural place for Jewish life to flourish. While diaspora Jewish communities unfailingly bolster Israel through financial support, political advocacy, heartwarming gestures of solidarity, Israeli flags proudly displayed at their community centers and synagogues, and their youth serving in the IDF, they remain physically separated from the daily Israeli experience.

This paradigm stands at a crossroads of transformation. Not because Israel offers greater security or because life abroad has become untenable – we acknowledge these dynamics fluctuate in both directions. While surging global antisemitism might suggest an obvious correlation with immigration potential, the argument for relocation demands a more nuanced and profound analysis.

The call to world Jewry transcends mere refuge-seeking; it's about embracing a land of destiny. There's growing recognition that the comfortable "American Zion" – that carefully constructed diaspora existence long defended as neither exile nor dispersion – faces fundamental changes. Here in Israel, despite our security challenges, economic travails, and daily struggles, one can live authentically Jewish, dress distinctively Jewish, appear visibly Jewish, and take pride in Jewish identity – all without concealment or apprehension. The thin ice that diaspora Jews have been treading is cracking audibly beneath their feet. From Brussels to London, from Amsterdam to even New York, Jewish communities, particularly the visibly observant, increasingly find themselves calculating the cost of public Jewish expression, seeking invisibility, avoiding becoming targets.

This invitation extends beyond immediate circumstances. This is not because conditions have deteriorated elsewhere but primarily to help construct something more diverse, robust, and sustainable in the Promised Land. There's an urgent demographic imperative: Palestinian leadership, alongside some Arab Israeli voices, explicitly articulates their goal of reversing the Jewish majority – transforming Israel from a Jewish nation-state into a state of all its citizens, challenging us demographically. This isn't paranoid speculation; it's documented in their public discourse. Their demand for 'return' carries explicit demographic intentions. Western Jewish immigration represents a crucial counterbalance to this existential challenge.

This proposition necessitates a corresponding commitment: full partnership in shaping Israel's national character and internal identity. The arrangement must include a fundamental recalibration of Israel's approach to non-Orthodox Jewish denominations. This reform must be integrated into post-war reconstruction, achieved through collaboration with, not opposition to, religious political parties.

The parallel is clear and compelling: As Religious Zionist leaders advocate for ultra-Orthodox participation in national service, they must similarly recognize the imperative of accommodating Western Jewish religious diversity. Authentic national unity demands theological flexibility and inclusive Jewish identity policies that embrace all streams of Judaism.

Current statistics tell a sobering story: The 2023-2024 immigration figure of 31,000 Jews, while showing increased Western interest, remains a mere drop in the ocean. Russian immigrants predominate, with Western nations contributing merely thousands. Though these patterns may shift naturally, we must "strike while the iron is hot" – the synergy between Israel and Western Jewry has never been more critical, both because they need us and we need them.

A powerful historical parallel emerges from Operation Solomon, when Ethiopian Jews were airlifted on Israel three decades ago. Upon arriving, then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir encountered an Ethiopian immigrant girl at the aircraft steps who identified herself as "Jerusalem." His surprised verification – "That's your name?" – met with her unwavering affirmation: "Jerusalem."

This resonates with affluent Western Jewish communities today, who maintain equally deep spiritual connections. The recognition grows that authentic Zionist fulfillment occurs in Zion itself. While diaspora Jewish life can simulate aspects of national identity, the genuine experience remains rooted in Israel. Contemporary Jews share both a covenant of fate and destiny, founded on religious-cultural and historical heritage. Israel's remarkable yet fragile miracle has space for this diversity – indeed, it requires it for its completion.

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