Jonathan Silver
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Articles by Jonathan Silver
New geographies of the special economic zone? Infrastructural bundling and local contingencies on the China-Pakistan economic corridor
ABSTRACT This paper examines the geographies of a new phase of special economic zones (SEZs) tied to the Belt and Road Initiative. Drawing on analysis of Pakistan, we make two key arguments: Firstly, that a new wave of SEZs is increasingly bundled into broader infrastructure corridor initiatives.
“But we don't know, it could come back” temporalities and times of the Unbuilt Lamu Coal Power Plant
ABSTRACT Global infrastructure projects promise to transform economies, territories, and societies at pace and scale. However, many remain unbuilt and in states of (un)realization; not completely canceled but abandoned, delayed, or facing ongoing challenges in being delivered. Our intention in this paper is to think more about the different kinds of time that swirl around these unbuilt projects. We propose approaching the unbuilt through a three-part analytical approach.
America’s Hebraic Awakening
Yosemite Valley with Bridal Falls and Half-Dome in the Distance, chromolithograph after a painting by Thomas Hill, c. 1860. (Photo by VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images) Monthly Essay July 2026 A generational summons for American Jews and Christians. I. Is America Exceptional? In a single afternoon, a visitor to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem can walk through several thousand years of Jewish life. The Ketef Hinnom scrolls, with their priestly blessing, predate the Babylonian exile.
What Role Should Tanakh Play in Jewish Education?
Jerusalem Israel. Yeshiva students in the Hurva Synagogue Response To June’s Essay July 10, 2026 Join Chaim Saiman, Rabbi Ya’akov Trump, and Jonathan Silver for a conversation about how and why Tanakh was sidelined in Jewish education, and why it’s now making a comeback. By Ya’akov Trump, Chaim Saiman, Jonathan Silver Jews are the people of the Book.
The General Theological Seminary Appoints Five New Faculty Members and Grants Tenure to Two
NEW YORK, June 23, 2026 - The General Theological Seminary (GTS) is pleased to announce the appointment of five additional faculty members through joint appointments with Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS). The new faculty members, who bring expertise in areas including church music, ethics, and preaching, reflect the growing collaboration between the two seminaries under their Affiliation Agreement. Marty Wheeler Burnett, D.Min., Professor of Church Music; the Rev.
‘EVERYTHING IS BEING DISTURBED’: Unsettling the Spaces of Global Infrastructure along the Northern Corridor
The authors would like to thank the reviewers and editors for kind, generous and incisive comments. This article was funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme as part of the GlobalCORRIDOR project (grant agreement ID: 947779). Data availability statement Research data are not shared. References (2021) Building on the ruins of empire: the Uganda Railway and the LAPSSET corridor in Kenya.
A New Generation of Jewish Parents Discuss Ruth Wisse’s “Despair Not!”
Response To January’s Essay January 29, 2026 Raising Jewish children in a changed America.
Mosaic’s Defining Essays from 2025
Rally for the hostages, New York City, March 10, 2024. (Noam Galai/Getty Images) Observation January 26, 2026 Reflections on Israel, America, and the West that remind us that we are not captive to fate. By Jonathan Silver October 7, 2023 could have been the beginning of Israel’s end. The Hamas massacre was devastating, but what might have followed in the hours and days afterwards could have been many times worse.
Mosaic’s Defining Essays from 2025
October 7, 2023 could have been the beginning of Israel’s end. The Hamas massacre was devastating, but what might have followed in the hours and days afterwards could have been many times worse.
The Mind and Man Behind Philologos
Jozef Israels, "Jewish Scribe," 1902. Response To December’s Essay January 8, 2026 A conversation about Jews and language. By Hillel Halkin, Jonathan Silver, Andrew Koss From 1988 until last September, Hillel Halkin—using the pseudonym Philologos—wrote regular columns exploring Jewish language, fielding etymological and semantic questions from countles readers. Those columns began appearing in Mosaic in 2015. In December, we published an essay by Halkin examining his career as Philologos.
American Jews and the Rise of Anti-Semitism: What We’ve Learned and What Comes Next
Response To October’s Essay November 6, 2025 A conversation about how to fight anti-Semitism in America. By Jack Wertheimer, Jonathan Silver, David L. Bernstein For decades, American Jewish leaders have invested immense energy and resources into fighting anti-Semitism—through education, advocacy, dialogue, and political engagement. Despite these efforts, anti-Jewish hostility erupted across the country after October 7, with little sign of slowing down since.
A Win for Loyalty and Payments Innovation: Engage People Wins Finovate Award for Best Consumer Payments Platform
I'm thrilled to share that Engage People was recently recognized at the 2025 Finovate Awards, where our Access Plus platform won the award for "Best Consumer-Facing Payments Solution." This honor celebrates our mission to redefine loyalty by making points as easy and accessible to use as cash or credit. The Finovate Awards, presented at FinovateFall by Informa Connect, shine a spotlight on innovations that are shaping the future of financial technology.
Edited by Elia Apostolopoulou, Han Cheng, Jonathan Silver and Alan Wiig
Introduction: The World Transformed - Grounding the Belt and Road Initiative - Elia Apostolopoulou, Han Cheng, Jonathan Silver and Alan Wiig 1.The Contested Coal-Fired Power in the Belt and Road Initiative: Indonesia as a Case Study - Bowen Gu 2.Dynamics of Grassroots Collectivism in Thailand’s Special Economic Zones: Cases of Natural Resource Conflicts within the Belt and Road Initiative - Ratchada Arpornsilp 3.Railways of Hope, Railways of Conflict: Governance of the Domestic Environmental...
The ‘Gaza Riviera’ is a fantasy plan that relies on urbicide and expulsion
THE US and Israel have sparked international condemnation over their leaked vision for the reconstruction of a shattered Gaza. The urban development plan seems to have evolved since its emergence earlier in the year. It now includes economic drivers such as blockchain-based trade initiatives, data centres and “world-class resorts”.
The ‘Gaza Riviera’ is a fantasy plan that relies on urbicide and expulsion
The majority of Gaza's urban sites will have to be rebuilt from the ground up. Anas-Mohammed/Shutterstock The US and Israel have sparked international condemnation over their leaked vision for the reconstruction of a shattered Gaza. The urban development plan seems to have evolved since its emergence earlier in the year. It now includes economic drivers such as blockchain-based trade initiatives, data centres and “world-class resorts”.
The ‘Gaza Riviera’ is a fantasy plan that relies on urbicide and expulsion
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The ‘Gaza Riviera’ is a fantasy plan that relies on urbicide and expulsion
By Jonathan Silver, Professor of Urban Geography, University of Sheffield The US and Israel have sparked international condemnation over their leaked vision for the reconstruction of a shattered Gaza. The urban development plan seems to have evolved since its emergence earlier in the year. It now includes economic drivers such as blockchain-based trade initiatives, data centres and “world-class resorts”. Read complete article © The Conversation -
The ‘Gaza Riviera’ is a fantasy plan that relies on urbicide and expulsion Original
The US and Israel have sparked international condemnation over their leaked vision for the reconstruction of a shattered Gaza. The urban development plan seems to have evolved since its emergence earlier in the year. It now includes economic drivers such as blockchain-based trade initiatives, data centres and “world-class resorts”.
New York State Attorney General approves lease agreement with Vanderbilt University — General Theological Seminary
NEW YORK, August 11, 2025 – The General Theological Seminary (GTS) today announced it had received approval from the New York State Attorney General to lease the Close to Vanderbilt University. The 99-year lease will enable GTS to expand its innovative hybrid Master of Divinity (MDiv) program, while securing its presence at its historic home in New York City for decades to come.
Staff Augmentation - Services - Planet Argon
Don’t let limited time, skill gaps, or budget constraints stall your roadmap. With staff augmentation support through onshore or nearshore options, you can bring in seasoned Ruby on Rails, Laravel, or front-end developers who integrate seamlessly with your team. Whether you’re facing a hiring freeze, a deadline crunch, or need to cover parental leave, we can help you stay on track without overextending your team.
Allegheny County police investigate Pittsburgh police in-custody death
Allegheny County Police homicide detectives are investigating the death of an unidentified man overnight while in Pittsburgh police custody. The man was behaving erratically and trying to get into a city police vehicle and was “taken to the ground” by Pittsburgh police around 2:53 a.m. Friday in the city’s Mt. Washington neighborhood, according to county police. He went into cardiac arrest while being treated by paramedics and died at a hospital, county police said.
Federal grand jury indicts man previously arrested for Trump assassination threats
A federal grand jury has indicted a Butler County man already in custody on charges of threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump and other federal officials. Shawn Monper, 32, of Butler Township was arrested last month and accused of posting threats to YouTube under the name “Mr Satan” between Jan. 15 and April 5.
Jury finds Pitcairn man guilty of first-degree murder in slaying of Uber driver
The Pitcairn man charged with killing an Uber driver and mother of four was found guilty Monday of first-degree murder. The jury deliberated for about four hours Friday and briefly Monday morning before announcing their verdict. Calvin Crew, 24, will serve the rest of his life in prison with no chance for parole when he is formally sentenced on May 5. The jury found Crew guilty of the shooting death of Christina Spicuzza, 38, of Turtle Creek on Feb. 10, 2022.
Taco Bell manager found guilty of first-degree murder in Harrison man's death
A former Taco Bell manager was found guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder for killing an employee after a dispute at the fast-food restaurant in Scott where they worked. Zairyre Simmons faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole in the 2022 shooting death of Dorian Carver. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 1. A jury returned the guilty verdict early Tuesday afternoon after about nine hours of deliberations, which began Monday.
Pittsburgh woman settles civil rights lawsuit against city, Allegheny County for $70K
A Pittsburgh woman who sued Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh over claims of civil rights violations, false arrest and violent treatment has settled her federal case for a total of $70,000. The county last week paid Joanna Obuzor, 41, of the city’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood, $62,500 after approval from the law department and the county manager. That Jan.
State of the Retail Industry 2025
With food-at-home prices still 25% higher than pre-pandemic levels, 58% of U.S. households remain 'extremely concerned' about inflation, driving a renewed focus on sales, coupons, and value-driven offers from grocers and restaurants. In 2024, Thanksgiving fell on November 28th, the latest possible date, significantly shortening the traditional holiday shopping season.
The unending corridor: Critical approaches to the politics, logics and socio-technics of urban corridorisation
Introduction So if you find nothing in the corridors open the doors, and if you find nothing behind these doors there are more floors. In Franz Kafka’s short story ‘The Advocates’, the reader is led into an endless maze-like world of corridors in which the protagonist is constantly searching for someone to legally represent them for some unspecified reason.
That's a Wrap: 2024 Events Recap
As we reflect on 2024, it's clear this year has been nothing short of transformative. Engage People had the privilege of connecting with the best in the loyalty industry at several events. From presenting alongside our partner Fiserv at LoyaltyExpo to exploring the future of loyalty programs at the Loyalty Summit, our team stayed at the forefront of the conversations shaping the industry. We also took in and held influential discussions at CRMC, Finovate, Fintech Meetup and Shoptalk.
Looking Ahead at Loyalty and Payments for 2025
As someone who has been in the loyalty and payments industry for years, I can confidently say that 2025 feels like a turning point. The pace of innovation is relentless, and the changes reshaping how businesses engage and reward customers aren't slowing down anytime soon. With loyalty programs and payment solutions becoming a regular part of our everyday lives, I wanted to share a few key trends I think will define the year ahead.
Invertir en la transición energética: una oportunidad sin precedentes
Jonathan Silver, presidente del Consejo sobre Cambio Climático, y Scott McMurtry, director general para Clientes Institucionales y Soluciones de Producto, presentan algunas estimaciones que ponen en relieve la importancia de las oportunidades de inversión en transición energética. Comentario patrocinado por Apollo Global Management. Regístrate en FundsPeople, la comunidad de más de 200.000 profesionales del mundo de la gestión de activos y patrimonios.
Pittsburgh police Chief Scirotto to step down Nov. 1 amid refereeing controversy
Pittsburgh police Chief Larry Scirotto is resigning Nov. 1, capping more than a week of controversy over his decision to return to part-time refereeing at NCAA basketball games. The pending resignation was confirmed Friday by city Councilman Anthony Coghill and Cara Cruz, a police bureau spokeswoman. Coghill said he learned of Scirotto’s plans from Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt.
Trump to hold rally Saturday in Latrobe
Former President Donald Trump will hold a rally Saturday in Latrobe. Trump, the GOP nominee for president, is scheduled to appear at 6 p.m. at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity. Trump’s visit will come two weeks after he last appeared in the region. On Oct. 6, Trump returned to Butler County for the first time since a gunman opened fire July 13 during a rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds.
Planet Argon - Fractional Ruby on Rails Development
Our fractional development services are a flexible and cost-efficient way to get your development work done without adding full-time in-house engineers. Think of it as a development support retainer, where we’ll work on your projects for a set number of hours per week or month to add new features, squash bugs, modernize your app, or improve performance. If you’re unsure of exactly what you need, we’ll help you identify key objectives and work out a plan.
Empowering GBS leaders to turn innovation intentions into successful implementations
Global business services (GBS) leaders see innovation as a top strategic and operational priority. Now they need better ways to drive change in their organizations. Global business services (GBS) centers face two major challenges today: economic uncertainty and generative artificial intelligence. This blog post will focus on the second challenge.
Vance to speak Wednesday in Erie
U.S. Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, plans to hold a rally Wednesday afternoon in Erie. The visit by the Ohio politician, announced Monday, will take place two days before former President Donald Trump, the GOP’s nominee for president, will appear in Johnstown. At the Erie event, Vance is expected to hammer Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, on the economy and energy policy, according to a statement from the Trump-Vance campaign.
'A failure on multiple levels': Records reveal security lapses at Trump rally
Five days before Donald Trump took the stage at the Butler Farm Show grounds for a rally, the Secret Service was busy rolling out its strategy to protect the nation’s 45th president. The advance planning was hardly unusual as part of the agency’s mission to guard the nation’s current and former leaders. On July 8, Pittsburgh-based agents drove to Butler County to walk through the fairgrounds, accompanied by local police and Trump campaign staffers.
Ex-nurse Pressdee pleads guilty to killing nursing home patients
Ex-nurse Heather Pressdee is now officially a killer in the eyes of the law. Pressdee, 41, of Harrison, pleaded guilty Thursday morning to three counts of first-degree murder and 19 counts of attempted murder for a diabolical spree in which she purposely administered lethal doses of insulin to nursing home patients. The plea in Butler County Common Pleas Court was long expected and comes just shy of a year after she was arrested by the state Attorney General’s Office.
Head-on collision in Leetsdale kills 1 driver
One person was killed Wednesday morning in a head-on crash in Leetsdale. The collision between an SUV and a pickup happened around 8:06 a.m. at Ohio River Boulevard and Ferry Street. The man driving the SUV was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to Allegheny County Police, who are investigating. His name has not been released by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Police said the other man driving the pickup is in stable condition at the hospital.
Post-Holiday Sales Are Down: What Can Retailers Do to Win the 2024 Season?
While retailers typically put a significant emphasis on post-holiday sales, they didn’t resonate with shoppers after the 2023 holiday season. During the week after Christmas, year-over-year sales were down across the board, with only computer software sales seeing an increase from 2022. Department stores, cosmetics stores and clothing stores saw some of the largest declines, indicating that consumers weren’t eager to shop following the holidays.
Post-Holiday Sales Are Down: What Can Retailers Do to Win the 2024 Season?
While retailers typically put a significant emphasis on post-holiday sales, they didn't resonate with shoppers after the 2023 holiday season. During the week after Christmas, year-over-year sales were down across the board, with only computer software sales seeing an increase from 2022. Department stores, cosmetics stores and clothing stores saw some of the largest declines, indicating that consumers weren't eager to shop following the holidays.
'You're talking to the victim here.' 18,500 missing bobbleheads plunged Penguins into crisis mode
On Tuesday, two days before a giveaway of Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads, the Pittsburgh Penguins learned that the truck carrying the toys had been stolen, plunging the front office into a whirlwind of activity. The 18,500 tiny likenesses of No. 68, complete with hand raised in a salute, had disappeared after being shipped by boat to Los Angeles from China, Kevin Acklin, the Penguins’ president of business operations, said Friday.
The value of innovation in global business services
Global business services organizations need to move beyond the status quo. Here’s how. Facing economic uncertainty and fluctuating demand, companies across the world are restructuring their corporate functions. The goal: to take advantage of new technologies to improve the productivity, flexibility, and agility of their business operations.
Jury convicts Garfield man of killing U-Haul worker
A jury Monday convicted a Garfield man of second-degree murder in the 2021 shooting of a college student working a summer job at a U-Haul rental center. Braijon Burton, 24, will be sentenced May 6 in the killing of Jacob Jaillet. Second-degree murder, which is a killing carried out during the commission of a felony, carries a mandatory life sentence without parole. Jurors deliberated about 10 hours over two days before delivering their verdict Monday afternoon.
Pittsburgh halts free spay/neuter program after finding inappropriate use
Pittsburgh has abruptly paused its taxpayer-funded spay and neutering services for pet dogs and cats after discovering “inappropriate” abuses of the free program. A recent evaluation of the service exposed problems, the city announced Tuesday.
Zappala sworn in as Allegheny County DA for 7th term
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. was sworn in Thursday to his seventh term in office. It was a notable achievement for Zappala, the Democrat who won only by running on the Republican ticket after he lost both the endorsement by his party and the primary. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Todd administered the oath of office in the court’s ornate chambers in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Man dies in Parkway East crash that closed outbound Squirrel Hill Tunnel for hours
Dec. 17—A Plum man died Sunday afternoon when his SUV drove off the Parkway East on the Swissvale side of the Squirrel Hill Tunnels and traveled down a steep, wooded embankment, coming to rest in a ravine about 200 feet below the road surface. The accident snarled traffic for hours and led to the closure of the outbound lanes of the tunnel between the Beechwood Boulevard and Swissvale/Edgewood exits. Pennsylvania State Police identified the driver as Ronald Russell Richards, 50.
Steelers cut practice squad player after domestic violence arrest
The Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday released a player from their practice squad several hours after police charged him with assaulting his girlfriend. Pittsburgh police said Tariq M. Carpenter, 24, threw his live-in girlfriend to the ground and held her down against her will during an argument around 8 a.m. in their apartment in the city’s Crawford-Roberts neighborhood. Carpenter is 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, while his girlfriend is 5-foot-6, 115 pound, according to a criminal complaint.
Steelers cut practice squad player after domestic violence arrest
The Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday released a player from their practice squad several hours after police charged him with assaulting his girlfriend. Pittsburgh police said Tariq M. Carpenter, 24, threw his live-in girlfriend to the ground and held her down against her will during an argument around 8 a.m. in their apartment in the city’s Crawford-Roberts neighborhood. Carpenter is 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, while his girlfriend is 5-foot-6, 115 pounds, according to a criminal complaint.
Outbound Squirrel Hill Tunnel reopens following fatal Parkway East crash
Dec. 17—The outbound Squirrel Hill Tunnel has fully reopened after being closed for several hours Sunday afternoon due to a crash that was reportedly fatal. The accident occurred around 12:15 p.m. on the Swissvale side of the tunnels along Interstate 376. The eastbound lanes between the Beechwood Boulevard and Swissvale/Edgewood exits remained closed until about 4:15 p.m. Inbound traffic was not affected.
Police probe death of man who collapsed after being pepper sprayed
Police in Washington County are investigating the death Saturday of a 69-year-old man who authorities said collapsed shortly after being hit with pepper spray during a dispute. Harry Doleno of Canonsburg was sprayed around 12:40 p.m. on Seward Drive in Union Township, according to the county coroner. The assailant was not identified. Monongahela police are investigating. The chief was not available for comment, according to an officer who answered the phone Sunday at the department.
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