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What It Really Means to Be the ‘People of the Book’
The room full of Torah scrolls in Miami. Photo: Pini Dunner.
This week, Jewish communities worldwide will read Parshat Yitro, which recounts one of the most defining moments in Jewish history — God’s giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. These directives weren’t just words; they were the first written texts of Jewish tradition, forming the foundation of the Five Books of Moses, known as the Torah — the cornerstone of the Jewish faith. It was this moment that earned the Jews the title “People of the Book.”
But what does being “the People of the Book” really mean? It’s a title we’ve embraced for centuries, and it carries more than one meaning. We’re the people who received the book — the Torah, a divine blueprint for life. We’re also the people whose story is told in the book — the Bible is our collective narrative.
And perhaps most importantly, we’re the ones who’ve placed books at the center of our culture and identity — studying them, teaching from them, and passing their wisdom down through generations. Books aren’t just tools for us — they’re at the heart of what it means to be Jewish.
Clearly, books have always been at the core of Jewish life, tools to uplift and guide. But this week, books hit the headlines for a very different reason. In East Jerusalem, two booksellers, Mahmoud Muna and Munir Muna, were arrested at their widely known bookselling establishment, Educational Bookshop.
Israeli police claim the shop was selling books containing incitement and support for terrorism, and the two owners are being held on charges of disrupting public order. Cue the predictable global outrage: protests, op-eds, and online campaigns demanding the release of these “innocent booksellers.” The shop, after all, is described by its supporters as a “place of coexistence” and “a cultural hub.” But, as it turns out, that is not quite the whole story.
A post by my friend Saul Sadka on X (formerly Twitter) really made me stop and think. Saul met Mahmoud Muna five years ago when he joined a delegation from a center-left American Jewish group visiting the bookstore. The goal of the visit was dialogue, to create an atmosphere of understanding by “hearing the other side.”
But what Saul experienced was something else entirely. Instead of a pleasant bridge-building conversation, he and the group got an hour-long lecture dripping with thinly veiled antisemitism. Mahmoud sneered at the group’s efforts at coexistence and peppered his talk with tropes about Jewish power and “oblique references to their lack of connection to the land.”
Most of the delegation nodded along, possibly because they didn’t detect the malice in the subtext. But Saul and a few others left feeling sick to their stomachs.
“It wasn’t just antisemitic,” Saul wrote. “It reeked of genuine animus. He really enjoyed watching the Jews nodding along, completely unaware they were being mocked.” What struck me most was not only that this wasn’t dialogue but that it was derision disguised as intellectualism — because it took place in a bookshop and was delivered by a supposedly well-educated bookshop proprietor.
And this brings us to the heart of the matter. For Jews, books are sacred not simply because they exist, but because of what they contain and how they’re used. From the moment we received the Torah at Mount Sinai, books have been tools to build a better world — guiding us to live with purpose and integrity.
Contrast that with people like the Munas, who use books to spread hate, justify violence, and incite division. In their hands, books become weapons. That’s what the police claim was happening at the Educational Bookshop, and Saul’s experience suggests those claims are far from baseless. It makes you wonder — not just about the books they were selling but also about the books they chose not to sell.
Of course, the world’s reaction has been as predictable as ever. Mahmoud and Munir Muna have been cast as martyrs of free speech, celebrated as cultural icons targeted by an oppressive regime. No one seems to care about the content of the books they’re accused of selling. No one considers the harm such incitement can cause. The narrative is already fixed: Israel is the villain, and the booksellers are the victims.
But here’s the thing: not all books are created equal. And not everyone who champions books is a true “person of the book.” Being “people of the book” isn’t about celebrating any book just because it has words on a page. Like anything good, books can also be misused for bad.
The Torah, given at Sinai, is the original good book. It’s not just a collection of opinions or ideas — it’s a guide for living, a set of timeless truths meant to ground us and elevate us. That’s why Jews have spent millennia studying it, debating it, and teaching it — not to tear others down, but to build ourselves and the world up.
But when books are turned into tools of destruction — when they’re filled with hate and used to justify violence — even the staunchest advocates of free speech have the right to stand up and say, “Not on our watch.” And that’s exactly what’s happening here.
The Educational Bookshop, far from being a “center of coexistence,” appears to have been a hub for something far more sinister. Mahmoud and Munir Muna are not champions of free speech; they seem to be peddlers of incitement, hiding in plain sight behind the veneer of intellectualism.
The story of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai reminds us that being “people of the book” is a mission, not merely a title. It’s about holding the written word to the highest standard — using it to enlighten, not to inflame.
Each year, as we read the Ten Commandments in synagogues around the world, we are reminded of our sacred duty to recommit to that mission. We must stand against those who twist the power of books, making it clear that the book is not a prop for the basest human instincts. Books are tools — and how we choose to use them defines who we are.
Mahmoud and Munir Muna may run a bookstore, but that doesn’t make them “people of the book.” For them, books appear to have become weapons — tools to ensnare others in pseudo-intellectual justifications for hatred and violence.
We can never accept such a betrayal of the written word. For us Jews, books are sacred tools to enhance life, uplift society, and bring light to the world. And that’ s a difference worth standing up for — and fighting for.
The post What It Really Means to Be the ‘People of the Book’ first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After Going to War with Iran, the US Must Keep Up the Pressure to Achieve Its Goals
People attend the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 28, 2025. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
One of the consolations of an ancient society is that it provides long memories. For authoritarian leaders, that means the ability to patiently nurse old grudges and mete out revenge when the time is right.
After declaring victory in the 12 Day War with Iran, it would be wise for the US not to make the mistakes it made in dealing with China and post-Soviet Russia. That means working with Israel and other allies to do whatever can be done to help the Iranian people topple the Ayatollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-led regime from within.
Until very recently, American policymakers badly misread the intentions of China’s leaders. The American side assumed that a prosperous China would become a kind of Belgium at scale — a good global citizen, reliable ally, and trading partner. For the Americans, that idea seemed reasonable. After all, that’s what happened with post-Imperial Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
But the Chinese had learned different lessons from their much-longer history.
China boasted a massive navy in the early 15th century, and then inexplicably dismantled it. European powers filled the vacuum by taking much smaller ships across the Atlantic, colonizing the Americas, and prospering. For China, what came next was a series of humiliations that reduced them from accounting for one-third of the global economy in 1820, to the Opium Wars, to the poverty that plagued the country throughout the 20th century.
The lesson the Chinese learned from all this? Become an outward-looking superpower, dominate other countries that are resource-rich and institution-poor, and the bad times will be a minor blip in a long story of global hegemony.
Having spent decades helping China’s authoritarian leaders pursue their dream, the US is now scrambling to contain it.
Similarly, when Vladimir Putin emerged from the wreckage of Russia’s debt default in 1998, Western leaders assumed he wanted to make Russia a normal country and bring back foreign investment. As it turned out, what Putin really wanted was to be a Tsar.
History may not be destiny, but it certainly informs an adversary’s perception of itself.
There’s no question that Israel and the United States achieved impressive results in their brief war with Iran. The IRGC knows that it has been infiltrated by the Mossad, and the costs of the regime’s bad behavior have been personalized rather than imposed on the wider Iranian public.
No number of hasty executions of alleged Israeli spies will change the reality that the Israelis have freedom to operate, not just in Iranian skies, but in the highest reaches of Iranian society.
The physical infrastructure and human resources associated with Iran’s nuclear program have also been badly degraded, with promises for more of the same if there are signs that the program is starting up again. Top nuclear scientists have options, including emigration, and tend to prefer to stay alive. They are not like the suicidal membership of the terror proxies that Iran has nurtured in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen.
As long as the Americans and Israelis maintain credible deterrence, pursuing nuclear weapons will remain dangerous work.
But Iran’s leadership has signaled that their ambitions remain what they were before the defeats of the past year, and it would be a mistake not to take them at their word.
To convince themselves that they’re merely down but not out, they will likely look back to the first time their country warred with a stubborn democracy – 2,500 years ago.
In 490 BCE, Darius I hoped to subjugate the burgeoning democracies of Greece to Persian rule and punish the Athenians for supporting the Ionians in their revolt against him. Darius had superior numbers, but the Greeks had a better strategy and managed to encircle the Persians in the Battle of Marathon. The Persians suffered more than 6,400 casualties against just over 200 Greek dead, and promptly retreated back to Asia.
Marathon may have been a decisive Persian defeat, but the loss of blood and treasure was relatively small, and as a result, the loss did little to undermine Persia’s ability to wage war in the future.
War came soon enough.
In 480 BCE, Xerxes I, Darius’ son, brought an obscenely large army — estimated to be between 70,000 and 300,000 troops — to ensure that he could overwhelm the Greek defenses. A heroic army, led by King Leonidas and 300 Spartans, held off the invading Persians at Thermopylae in order to give the Greeks time to plan their next move.
After much debate, it was agreed that Themistocles would lead the Athenian fleet to a decisive battle off the island of Salamis. It was a risky move, and the future of what subsequently came to be known as Western civilization hung in the balance.
The outnumbered Greeks prevailed once again, largely due to superior tactics and an ability to swim. Salamis was the beginning of the end for the Persian campaign in Greece, and the following year, they were pushed out entirely.
The lessons of prior millennia have their limits. But there’s no question that the leaders of today’s Iran have broad regional ambitions, and they intend to pursue them with the unyielding resolve of the emperors who came before them.
We are now very likely in something akin to the period between Marathon and Salamis, in which a dented but not broken Iran will decide when, where, and how to attack next.
Fortunately, the regime is despised by its people, and that remains its Achilles’ heel. If Israel and the US don’t wish to be at war with Iran again, they shouldn’t proclaim victory too soon and ought to do everything they can to help the Iranian people topple the regime.
Ian Cooper is a Toronto-based lawyer.
The post After Going to War with Iran, the US Must Keep Up the Pressure to Achieve Its Goals first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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The Last Guardian of Morality in a Broken World
People wave Israeli flags following the release of hostages who were seized during the Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and held in the Gaza Strip, in Ofakim, Israel, Nov. 30, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
In an era where propaganda often shouts louder than truth, where emotions replace facts, and where fear overrides reason, one country continues to stand firm in the face of global hypocrisy — the State of Israel. Its unwavering stance against terror, and its moral clarity in a confused world, deserve attention and admiration, especially at a time when so many powerful nations have chosen silence over action.
Over the past 25 years, Europe has been the target of a relentless series of terrorist attacks, nearly all committed by Islamist extremists. Cities like Madrid, London, Paris, Nice, Berlin, Stockholm, and Brussels have suffered horrifying tragedies at the hands of individuals radicalized by a violent strain of Islam, one that rejects Western values and democracy.
These attacks weren’t random acts of madness. They were part of a well-established pattern: suicide bombings on trains, mass shootings in concert halls, trucks used as weapons in public spaces. These were targeted assaults on freedom, modernity, and everything the West claims to represent.
Yet somehow, as the list of victims grows, the outrage fades. Western governments issue bland statements, lay flowers, light candles, and move on. Even worse, many of these same governments channel their energy not into confronting radicalization, but into condemning Israel, a country that is actively fighting this very ideology.
Who’s Really Fighting for Human Rights?
Israel is regularly accused of war crimes and even genocide, a term that is increasingly misused by activists and institutions who either don’t understand its historical weight or weaponize it for political gain.
Let’s be clear: genocide is not a tragic byproduct of conflict. It is the systematic extermination of a people. The Jewish people endured it, within living memory, under the Nazi regime. And now, while the world recycles the empty phrase “Never Again,” Israel is the one country acting to prevent a similar fate for others.
Take the Druze community in Syria. This minority group is under brutal attack by Islamist militias abducted, tortured, humiliated, and executed. Their only protection? Israel. While international organizations hold press conferences, issue non-binding resolutions, and express “deep concern,” Israel has stepped in with real action. Because Israel understands the cost of indifference.
What makes Israel different is not its strength, but its moral compass. Despite global criticism, sanctions threats, and relentless smear campaigns, it continues to act on principles—protecting life, upholding freedom, and defending the weak. These are not easy decisions. Israel pays a diplomatic and public relations price for every operation it launches to stop terror or defend minorities. But it chooses to act regardless.
Compare this to the so-called “enlightened” West: the UN, the EU, and major European nations. They have the resources, the platforms, and the military might but not the will. Their inaction in the face of rising extremism is not neutrality. It’s surrender.
Why is Israel punished for its moral clarity? Because it reminds the world of its failures. It exposes the cowardice of international bodies that stand idly by. It challenges the dominant narrative that appeasement leads to peace. And it rejects the twisted logic that labels self-defense as aggression.
But for those who still care about facts, justice, and moral responsibility, Israel remains a symbol of hope. Not because it is flawless — no country is — but because it dares to confront the evil others tolerate. It refuses to accept that terrorism is inevitable. And it will never stand by while minorities like the Druze are massacred.
The international community may continue to betray its own values. The media may distort the truth. Activists may chant slogans without understanding the consequences. But history will remember who stood up when others sat down. Who acted when others watched. Who protected the vulnerable when others turned away.
That country is Israel.
The post The Last Guardian of Morality in a Broken World first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Beyond the Crown: What I Learned at Miss Universe Israel 2025
Melanie Shiraz being crowned Miss Israel 2025. Photo: Simon Soong | Edgar Entertainment
This year has been nothing short of magical, and I’ve been completely full of Israeli pride wherever I go. As the titleholder of Miss Netanya 2024, I had the honor of returning to the Miss Universe Israel 2025 stage — not just to cheer, but to welcome the contestants at the opening-night gathering. The event kicked off a full week of rehearsals, excitement, and unforgettable moments leading up to the crowning of the next Miss Israel.
The sash ceremony was filled with Jewish pride, as Israeli and American Jewish women stood side by side with one mission: to represent their Israeli cities and compete for the crown.
Over the course of the week, I had the privilege of getting to know many of them personally through conversations and video interviews, and they truly inspired me. Each carried her own unique story — from Miss Be’er Sheva, a professional equestrian, to Miss Tel Aviv, who told me how much she loves meeting new people along the Tayelet, the seaside promenade in Tel Aviv. Every woman who stepped onto that stage represented her city with grace and courage.
On the final night, Miss Israel 2024, Ofir Korsia, passed the crown to the new queen, Melanie Shiraz, who represented Caesarea. Though she lives in Tel Aviv, she shared with me that Caesarea has always been her favorite place in Israel — a symbol of beauty and history — and that’s why she chose to represent it.
One of the most unforgettable moments came just after her crowning, when Miss Universe Persia stood on stage alongside Miss Israel to show her love and support. It was a powerful, moving reminder that even between countries like Iran and Israel — where politics so often divide — love and respect can still shine through.
Getting to know Melanie before the show, I was struck by her warmth, kindness, and humility as she shared her journey with me:
“Even though I grew up in the US, Israel has always felt like home. At UC Berkeley, I took on leadership roles and proudly advocated for Israel and the Jewish community on campus. After graduating with a degree in Data Science and Interdisciplinary Studies focused on Israel, the first thing I did was book a one-way ticket here. I came back because I wanted to feel that deep sense of belonging you can only find in Israel. This crown isn’t just about beauty — it’s about showing the world that Israeli women are smart, strong, bold, and full of heart. That’s what I hope to represent as Miss Israel 2025.”
She made me proud to be both Israeli and Jewish.
This journey reminded me that what’s most important is the stories we share, the friendships we build, and the deep bond between Israeli and American women who proudly represented Israel together. That unity — rooted in our shared identity and love for our homeland — is the heart of who we are as Jews and what we strive to show the world.
Ayelet Raymond is an Israeli activist and the creative force behind the @Kosher_Barbie social media persona. She also holds the title of Miss Netanya in Miss Universe Israel 2024.
The post Beyond the Crown: What I Learned at Miss Universe Israel 2025 first appeared on Algemeiner.com.