Jewish Virtual Library - JVL

Jewish Virtual Library - JVL The Jewish Virtual Library (JVL) is the most comprehensive online encyclopedia of Jewish history, politics, and culture

“At first blush, the answer to the question in the title is clear from the fact that U.S.-Israel relations are closer th...
05/29/2026

“At first blush, the answer to the question in the title is clear from the fact that U.S.-Israel relations are closer than ever, evident from the joint fight against Iran and the reversal of nearly a century of misguided Middle East policy directed by Arabists. Alas, like vampires, the Arabists are seemingly impossible to kill and have found homes in the media and academia, awaiting the return of Democrats to power and their reincarnation again as decision-makers.”

This week in The Times of Israel, Dr. Mitchell Bard looks at how, in spite of military efforts, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have influenced the erosion of support for Israel in the U.S. Read more at https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/have-trump-and-netanyahu-cemented-the-u-s-israel-alliance-or-destroyed-it/.

On this day in 1948, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was established.After Israel declared independence, the new governm...
05/28/2026

On this day in 1948, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was established.

After Israel declared independence, the new government made the decision to establish a single, loyal armed force rather than the various armed Jewish defence organizations that operated independently prior. On May 28, 1948, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion signed an ordinance establishing the IDF, which would be composed of “land forces, a navy and an air force.”

For more on the history of the IDF, visit https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-founding-of-the-israel-defense-forces.

This Jewish American Heritage Month, the Jewish Virtual Library - JVL is excited to highlight iconic Jewish Americans al...
05/27/2026

This Jewish American Heritage Month, the Jewish Virtual Library - JVL is excited to highlight iconic Jewish Americans all throughout May.

This week, we’re spotlighting Bob Dylan. Dylan was born in Minnesota in 1941, and attended the Zionist Herzl Camp where he played guitar, piano, and harmonica with other campers. His career first began to take off in the 1960s, and he soon became a key figure in folk and rock-n-roll. Many of his songs, from “Highway 61 Revisited" to “Not Dark Yet” to “Neighborhood Bully” allude to Judaism and Israel.

For more about Bob Dylan, visit https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/bob-dylan.

❌ Myth: There is no legal barrier to normalization with Israel in the Middle East.✅ Fact: While several Arab states have...
05/26/2026

❌ Myth: There is no legal barrier to normalization with Israel in the Middle East.

✅ Fact: While several Arab states have signed peace agreements or normalization accords with Israel, legal and institutional barriers to contact with Israelis remain widespread across the Middle East, and in some cases are codified in law with criminal penalties.

In countries that have not normalized relations with Israel, restrictions can be sweeping. In Lebanon, for example, anti-normalization provisions rooted in the 1955 boycott law prohibit virtually all economic, cultural, and social contact with Israelis. Violations can carry prison sentences of three to ten years, along with fines and professional sanctions.

For more myths and facts, visit https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/myths-facts-online-exclusives.

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, including re...
05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, including remarkable Jewish American personnel from throughout history.

Visit https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-medal-of-honor-recipients to view Jewish Medal of Honor recipients, including those who died while in the military.

“Some readers may remember that U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North testified at televised congressional hearings on the I...
05/22/2026

“Some readers may remember that U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North testified at televised congressional hearings on the Iran-Contra scandal in 1987. At one point, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) suggested that North speak for himself, admonishing his lawyer, Brendan Sullivan, for constantly objecting to questions posed to the colonel. ‘Well, sir,’ Sullivan responded, ‘I’m not a potted plant. I’m here as the lawyer. That’s my job.’ The line has endured because it captures something fundamental: People in positions of power are not decorative—they act, decide and bear responsibility.”

This week in JNS.org, Dr. Mitchell Bard looks at how both sides of the political spectrum have come to view Trump as a “potted plant.”

Read more at https://www.jns.org/opinion/column/mitchell-bard/trump-is-not-a-potted-plant.

Shavuot isn’t complete without dairy dishes. Visit the Jewish Virtual Library - JVL and find all the recipes you need to...
05/22/2026

Shavuot isn’t complete without dairy dishes. Visit the Jewish Virtual Library - JVL and find all the recipes you need to celebrate Shavuot, from Georgian cheese bread to classic fruit-topped cheesecake.

Get cooking at https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/shavuot-foods.

Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, begins this evening. Visit the Jewish Virtual Library - JVL to read about why we celebra...
05/21/2026

Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, begins this evening. Visit the Jewish Virtual Library - JVL to read about why we celebrate, explore traditions and customs, and find information on Shavuot celebrations throughout history.

Learn more at https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/shavu-ot. Happy Shavuot!

05/20/2026

In “The Fracturing Consensus: American Public Opinion on Israel After Gaza,” a webinar from the Jewish Virtual Library - JVL, we looked at the data of how U.S. support for Israel has shifted over the past few years, and Dr. Mitchell Bard shared insights into why this support has faltered.

Comment below your biggest takeaway from this webinar.

This Jewish American Heritage Month, the Jewish Virtual Library - JVL is excited to highlight iconic Jewish Americans al...
05/19/2026

This Jewish American Heritage Month, the Jewish Virtual Library - JVL is excited to highlight iconic Jewish Americans all throughout May.

This week, we’re spotlighting Steven Spielberg. As an award-winning director and producer, Spielberg had a hand in many of the biggest films of the 20th century, from Jaws and E.T. the Extra Terrestrial to series including Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park. His 1993 film Schindler’s List earned him his first Academy Award for Best Director and highlights his engagement with his Jewish identity.

For more about Steven Spielberg, visit https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/steven-spielberg.

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