Friday Features – July 25, 2025
Yesterday, White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff realized that “Hamas does not appear to be acting in good faith.” Shocking, I know. We continue to pray for our hostages – and for the eradication of this evil terrorist group once-and-for-all. Visit JewishNewsWire.com 24/7 to catch-up and keep-up.
Beyond the headlines, there are many fascinating, in-depth stories you may have missed. Let’s take a look at three.
1. Meet Humble Servant Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir: The IDF’s Unique Chief of Staff
Source: Jerusalem Post, by Zvika Klein & Yonah Jeremy Bob
He certainly looks the part of a fearsome army chief. And he has already delivered. Since taking over the IDF’s leadership on March 5, 2025, Zamir has restored deterrence by pairing humility with audacity.
He accomplished what seemed impossible: Defang Iran, Israel’s most vicious enemy, in the most ingenious way, which will be taught in military academies for decades to come. “We acted before it was too late,” Zamir said. “Because security delayed becomes insecurity multiplied.”
His appointment capped a career spent juggling front-line commands, deep strategic planning, and day-to-day political liaison work at the highest levels.
- Not the traditional IDF chief: Born in Eilat, Zamir is the first Yemenite-descended citizen to hold the post, and the first tank commander to lead the army in 40 years. Most “Ramatkals” (the Hebrew title) have been commandos, with many having served in the famous Sayeret Matkal.
- His resume balances tank grease with ivory-tower theory: After getting his masters in National Security from the University of Haifa, Zamir studied Executive Management at the Wharton School at UPenn. Then he commanded numerous tank brigades and divisions, on many fronts. His blend of field grit and strategic polish propelled him in 2012 to be the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary.
- “When dawn breaks, Israel must be ready to fight alone and still prevail.” Most recently Zamir ran Israel’s massive Ministry of Defense, where he promoted his agenda of encouraging more and more “Blue and White” production of ammunition and military technology in Israel, after a non-official arms embargo on Israel hampered the IDF’s fighting ability.
- A post-Oct. 7 doctrine: Zamir argues that Israel can no longer afford “small and smart” boutique forces. The Oct. 7 massacre convinced him that the country needs mass, mobility and manufacturing independence. At the same time, he champions hi-tech warfare, artificial-intelligence targeting, autonomous drones, and rapid-fire precision artillery, believing that a larger IDF need not be a slower one.
- Always with an eye to the future: In 2018, Zamir co-authored the IDF’s “Momentum Plan,” which prepared Israel for simultaneous wars in the North and South. In 2022, while a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, he identified the Houthis as a severe threat to Israel, despite their nearly 2,000 km. distance.
- Under-the-radar diplomat: Several colleagues say Zamir has expertise regarding a number of Middle Eastern countries, where he has established deep personal relationships and a profound understanding of local culture. He has frequently visited those countries, which cannot be published due to their sensitivity.
- A different personality: Zamir does not display the arrogance and hubris that once defined Israel’s elitist political and defense establishments. Upon launching the war against Iran, Zamir struck a tone different from his predecessors: “The campaign is underway. Let us meet it with humility, unity, steadiness, and faith in the justice of our cause.” Fellow officers describe a commander who “listens more than he talks.”
2. Jewish Life Thrives – Even in Places One Would Least Expect
With global anti-Semitism dominating the news of late, it’s heartening to see Jews flourishing, even in some small communities in out-of-the-way places.
- Tbilisi, Georgia: The former Soviet republic is a warm haven for Israelis and Jews, with vibrant traditions, Hebrew signage and Chabad-led communities thriving in Tbilisi and beyond. Jews first arrived here during the First Temple period, dating to the 5th-6th centuries BCE. Today, Georgia’s Jewish population is relatively small, estimated at 3,000-5,000, mostly concentrated in Tbilisi, with active institutions and schools. Rabbi Meir Kozlovsky has run the Tbilisi Chabad for 20 years with his wife Tzipli. Shabbat dinners often attract over 200 guests. The Or Avner Jewish Day School has 160 students. The Georgian government has named the street adjacent to the school, “Georgian-Jewish Friendship Avenue.” Read the full story, in Yedioth Ahronoth.
- Sterling, Illinois: If ‘you build it, will they come?’ Jewish farmer Nik Jakobs (pictured above) drove 600 miles to White Oak, PA, to rescue sacred items from the closing Temple B’nai Israel – including the ark, Torah scrolls, stained glass, and many ritual objects. Now, he’s building Temple Sholom – a 3,000 sq. ft. synagogue and museum – on a two-acre cornfield in the middle-of-absolute-nowhere, in western Illinois. “I feel honored to be a small part of taking some of the nostalgia of this building to Sterling, Illinois,” said Jakobs. Jonathan Beck, a member of the last minyan of Temple B’nai Israel, had a profound thought on how Jewish culture can be transformed rather than lost: “We are a cog in the Jewish diaspora. There is no beginning or end to Judaism. It’s like a wheel. It goes around.” Read the full story, in Forward.
- Trondheim, Norway: Just south of the Arctic, the 100-year-old Trondheim Synagogue has so far survived the Nazis, modern anti-Semitism, geographical isolation – and some particular halachic challenges. How does one observe Shabbat when there are 20 daylight hours in the summer, and just four in the winter? The community has developed a fixed Shabbat schedule, beginning Fridays at 5:30 p.m. and ending Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. “It’s been our rule for 120 years,” said John Arne Moen, president of the community. “We are the only Orthodox synagogue in the world doing it this way.” There are about 200 Jews attending synagogue, including many young members. The Jewish Museum of Trondheim sees around 7,000 visitors annually. Read the full story, in Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
3. Jews Are Defying Stereotypes with Success in International Sports
Source: Yedioth Ahronoth, by Yair Kattan
Jews are dominating the sports world. Well … not quite. But while our numbers are small, Jewish stars have been making a major impact.
In baseball, Alex Bregman is having a banner year with the Red Sox, even with a brief injury absence; and pitcher Max Fried just signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the New York Yankees, a record for a southpaw pitcher.
In basketball, American Jew Danny Wolf and Israeli Ben Saraf were both picked by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA draft; and Deni Avdija, born in Kibbutz Beit Zera in Israel, averaged 16.9 points/game for the Portland Trailblazers last season.
Here are some lesser-know Jewish sports stars:
- Matt Turner – soccer USA: Previously the goaltender for the famous Arsenal team, as well as for the U.S. Men’s National Team, Turner recently discovered his Jewish roots in 2015 through family records tracing back to Lithuania and Poland.
- Elina Svitolina – tennis Ukraine: Won the 2018 WTA Finals, and won the Olympic bronze medal at Tokyo 2020. She was raised by her grandmother, “a classic Jewish woman from Odesa.”
- Amit Elor – wrestling USA/Israel: Won the Olympic gold in 68kg freestyle wrestling in Paris 2024. Her father, Yair Makler, was an Israeli shot-put champion.
- Harry Sheezel (pictured above) – Australian rules football: Was selected third overall by North Melbourne in the 2022 draft. An alumnus of Mount Scopus Jewish College, he is proud to be a “role model for kids to hopefully follow in my footsteps.”
- Sienna Green – Water Polo Australia/USA: She won the Olympic silver medal in Paris 2024, as the youngest member of the team at 20. She is currently attending UCLA and aims for gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Read the full story. On a related note, former Philadelphia Eagles running back Calvin Murray is now Yosef Murray, Orthodox Jew. It’s quite a story. He converted, along with his wife Emunah, six years ago. “We felt that Judaism gave us a meaningful life and we yearned for intimacy with the creator and sustainer of the entire universe,” said Emunah. “And there was no way to do that except to become Orthodox Jews.”