Opinion

If history has taught us anything, it’s that when you hate Jewish people more than you love yourself, you wind up losing.

Former President Barack Obama criticized the founding of Israel, not because Jews didn’t deserve a refuge, but because the founders of Israel “took land” from the Palestinians. Did they?First, a preamble. Jews deserve Israel not only as a refuge, but because Jews are indigenous to the Land of Israel.

In the final week of this election season, it’s hard to see beyond politics. The attack ads have been coming hard and fast (love that mute button!) and the stakes are high. Voters are concerned about existential issues.

When Hamas released hostages, no one called the Hamas operatives “humanitarians.”But when Russia released a hostage, President Trump’s envoy Steven Witkoff called Vladimir Putin a humanitarian. The character of Hamas was measured by the fact that it kidnapped hostages to begin with. Putin’s character is measured by the fact that he arrested Stephen Hubbard to begin with.

It’s a tradition. Whenever I’m at my old stomping grounds, I pop by my former neighborhood’s falafel joint. Now I know — everyone claims their falafel place is the absolute best. But, without getting into the merits of the various amazing falafel joints across Jerusalem, and Israel, trust me.

Enjoy reading and deciding on the 14 statewide ballot measures in Colorado’s upcoming election. If Constitutional Amendment 85 passes, there will be no more ballot measures in the next election, or in any election. Zippo. Zilch. Amendment 85 reads: “Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution . . . requiring all state and local ballot questions to be written in plain language and at no more than an 8th-grade reading level . . .?”

Sure, AI may one day take over the world and kill us all, but in the short run, it will rot our brains, destroy our ability to think, and make us more addicted to the internet than ever before. I know because I am an AI addict.

We don’t know who will win in America’s upcoming midterm elections, Nov. 3. We don’t need to know who will win Israel’s national election, Oct. 27. Benjamin Netanyahu will still be prime minister. It’s not prophecy. It’s how Israel’s parliamentary system works.

Shoutout to my friend Dr. Lisa Greenstein Sokol! Her son, Moshe, is a first-grader at Hillel Academy, and she’s arranged for a number of in-person guest visitors to share their professions with the students. I was honored that she asked me and I was exicted to spend time at my old stomping grounds, sharing what a newspaper is with these young minds.

Denver’s Rabbi Kagan Israel Meir Hakohen Kagan — the dean, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Chaim, whose soul ascended upward this week —bore the precise name of the Chofetz Chaim. And he was held in that same esteem in our community. Respected and beloved — universally.