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Articles by Ron Kronish
Is Israel a democracy for Jews only?
THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard...
The imperative to love ‘the stranger’ within our midst
You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall not take revenge or feel resentment against the children of your people; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:17-18)…. When strangers reside with you in your land, you shall not wrong them. The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I the ETERNAL am your God.
The imperative to love yourself and the “stranger” within your midst
You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall not take revenge or feel resentment against the children of your people; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:17-18)…. When strangers reside with you in your land, you shall not wrong them. The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I the ETERNAL am your God.
Elijah, Where are you? We need you now!
Harachaman, May the Merciful One send Elijah, the prophet, to announce good news about redemption and comfort, just as You promised. (the prayer for Elijah, in A DIFFERENT NIGHT, the Family Participation Haggadah, by Noam Zion and David Dishon) A few days ago, we Jews symbolically welcomed Elijah into our homes and communities at our seders in Israel and around the world.
Book Review | Can Peace Come Tomorrow?
Tomorrow Is Yesterday: Life, Death and the Pursuit of Peace in Israel/Palestine By Hussein Agha and Robert Malley Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 258 pp. Even before recent upheavals, the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians had been essentially frozen for more than two decades, since the failure of the second Camp David Summit in the summer of 2000.
The effects of war in Israel
People all over Israel are living in constant fear of missiles, rockets, shrapnel, and sirens. The whole country is in trauma and anxiety once again! Moreover, one third of the citizens of Israel don’t have “safe rooms” in their homes or shelters in their apartment buildings . Most communities of Israeli Arabs do not have either one. And Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank have none of the above (inequality in this issue is very glaring).
10 Questions/Worries about this War
I have been thinking a lot about this war as we enter its third week. Below are some of the questions and issues on my mind. The current USA-Israel war against Iran will most likely not achieve its over-ambitious goals of “regime change” or “destruction (“obliteration”) of Iran‘s nuclear capability or” eliminating” all their ballistic missiles. It will diminish these threats but will probably not eliminate them. Therefore, none of the so-called “goals” of this war are likely to be achieved.
Do we care about killing too many innocent people?
So the Jews struck at their enemies with the sword, slaying and destroying; they wreaked their will upon their enemies…..in the fortress of Shushan, the Jews killed a total of five hundred men (and they also killed the ten sons of Haman , the foe of the Jews)…..and the Jews in Shushan mustered again on the fourteenth day of Adar and slew three hundred men in Shushan…….and the rest of the Jews, –those in the king’s provinces—likewise mustered and fought for their lives.
The Blogs: On the dangers and risks of this war
Many people have asked me for my perspective on this latest war between American/Israel and Iran under the “leadership” of Trumpenyahu (the name for the two “leaders” who have been cooking up plans for this war craftily for a long time). So here it is: The Israeli media and large segments of the Israeli population are absolutely salivating with excitement and messianic fervor.
The Blogs: Remembering the Amalek within us
This coming Sabbath in the Jewish calendar is known as Shabbat Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembering. It is the Sabbath that precedes the holiday of Purim, which Jews around the world celebrate next week, to remember how they were saved from the evil machinations of a Persian man named Haman, who sought to annihilate the Jews of Persia (today’s Iran!), according to the Biblical story as told in the book of Esther, which is read in full on this holiday.
The Blogs: From despair and destruction to hope and renewal
He who saves a single life is as if he saved the whole world.
The Blogs: A political party with a vision for our future
Yair Golan, chairperson of The Democrats, political party in Israel, courtesy of wikicommons images THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it...
The Blogs: Many unanswered questions , especially: is the war over yet?
Damage in Gaza during Israel-Hamas war, courtesy of wikicommons images The news in Israel lately is swirling with so many unanswered questions. Here are some of them: Are we getting ready for World War III in the Middle East ? Will DJT attack Iran? With Bibi’s help? Alone? How will Iran react? Against US bases in the region? Against Israeli military and civilian sites?
The Blogs: An Israeli Rabbi who Actively Seeks Peace
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. (Psalms 34:14) There are few rabbis in Israel who actively and consciously seek and pursue peace as part of their daily agenda.
The Blogs: Offering Hope for Israeli Jewish and Palestinian Arab Youth in Jerusalem
The conventional wisdom of late in Israel is that no one is talking to anyone from “the other side” (Palestinian Arabs vs Israeli Jews) since the Hamas-Israel War began on October 7th, 2023. However, through publications and interviews with leaders of an important interfaith youth movement for peace in Jerusalem in recent weeks, I have learned that this is not the case. On the contrary, interfaith peace education is doing rather well at Seeds for Peace Jerusalem, formerly known as Kids4Peace.
The Blogs: A Christian Peacebuilder in Jerusalem: Rev. Maria Lepakari and the Felm Center
As I like to say often, “Even though I am Jewish I have some good news for you!” (This is an old Jewish joke, based on the idea that Jews are so used to sharing mostly bad news!) The good news today (and in the weeks ahead) is that there are still people in Jerusalem (and all over Israel) who believe in peace and are working towards peace in creative and committed ways. One of them is Rev.
The Blogs: Naama Lazimi: A feminist, social democrat and pro-peace Member of Knesset
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege and pleasure of hearing MK Naama Lazimi speak to a group of about 75 activists affiliated with the new political party, The Democrats (a merger of Meretz and Labor), to which I belong, at a special meeting in the center of Jerusalem. I was positively impressed and inspired by both what she said and how she said it. She spoke with passion and persuasion on all the issues of the day in a committed and convincing fashion.
The Blogs: Rabbi Gilad Kariv—a pioneering, serious legislator in Israel’s parliament
Not long ago, I was giving a zoom talk to adult members of a Reform synagogue in the USA in which I was trying to explain to them the basics about the complicated and convoluted political system in Israel.
The Blogs: About Meir Kahane, Kahanism, Ben Gvir and Bibi-ism
Please note that the posts on The Blogs are contributed by third parties. The opinions, facts and any media content in them are presented solely by the authors, and neither The Times of Israel nor its partners assume any responsibility for them. Please contact us in case of abuse. In case of abuse, Report this post. Bibi's masks. Item from a toy store. Photo: Sharon Online system. A few weeks ago, I had dinner in the NYC area with a rabbi and a young rabbinic intern.
The Blogs: Reconciliation in the land of the Bible, then and now
Please note that the posts on The Blogs are contributed by third parties. The opinions, facts and any media content in them are presented solely by the authors, and neither The Times of Israel nor its partners assume any responsibility for them. Please contact us in case of abuse. In case of abuse, Report this post.
The Blogs: War vs. Diplomacy
Since the “ceasefire” began over a month ago, on October 10, 2025, it seems that the extreme right-wing government of Israel has been itching to go back to war. Why? What is it that makes this government so trigger-happy, so much more interested in war than peace or diplomacy that could lead to peace or at least a long-term truce (what we call in Israel “quiet”). I have been asking lots of people this question lately and have been getting some interesting answers.
The Blogs: Reform/Liberal /Progressive Judaism is alive and well in the USA and the UK
I begin this blog post with an old Jewish saying: “Even though I am Jewish I have some good news for you!” I have recently returned from several weeks in the USA and London, where I was hosted by several thriving Conservative and Reform/Liberal/Progressive synagogues which are all doing very well. All of these synagogues had large crowds for religious worship and programs, and all of them were blessed with multigenerational attendance, including many young adults and youth.
The Blogs: Ten reasons why I voted for Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City
Please note that the posts on The Blogs are contributed by third parties. The opinions, facts and any media content in them are presented solely by the authors, and neither The Times of Israel nor its partners assume any responsibility for them. Please contact us in case of abuse. In case of abuse, Report this post. I voted for Zohran Mamdani last week in NYC (I am a citizen in the USA and in Israel) for mayor of New York City. Let me explain why.
The Blogs: Keeping hope alive after October 7th
Please note that the posts on The Blogs are contributed by third parties. The opinions, facts and any media content in them are presented solely by the authors, and neither The Times of Israel nor its partners assume any responsibility for them. Please contact us in case of abuse. In case of abuse, Report this post. Book review: WOMEN WRITE HOPE: Life Stories of Jewish and Arab Women Waging Peace amidst War. Project Concept and Development: Ghadir Hani and Dror Rubin. Editor: Dror Rubin.
The Blogs: It’s OK to be brokenhearted about the suffering on both sides
I first saw this sign (above) in a book by Ettay Flescher a few months ago, and it spoke to me very personally and directly (see my review of his book “The Power of Education to Transform Lives” ). I think that it undoubtedly applies to many conflicts but it especially is relevant for ours right now.
The Blogs: Denial, destruction, and defamation: The need for a wake-up call!
May this evil/tyrannical government be removed from the earth. (From the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur liturgy, author’s translation) Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens took to the streets of Israel again to protest the current Israeli government of denial, destruction, and defamation. The people of Israel are furious with this government for understandable reasons, and I am with them.
The Blogs: ENOUGH!
In recent weeks, I received a post by Rachel Goldberg-Polin many times from many friends in Israel and abroad. As you recall, she is the mother of Hersh, who was killed last year by Hamas along with five other hostages in a tunnel in Gaza. In some of the posts that I received, it came with the word ENOUGH in Hebrew, Arabic and English (see photo above). This simple word expressed the feelings of most of the citizens of Israel and most of the Jews in the world, and probably most of humanity by now.
The Blogs: Why I signed a letter with 1,000 rabbis to PM Netanyahu
Morally speaking, there is no limit to the concern one must feel for the suffering of human beings, that indifference to evil is worse than evil itself, that in a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible. (Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel) A few days ago, I participated in a Zoom call with American Jewish friends from the USA and Israel, in which some of my friends expressed extreme shock and even anger at what Israel is doing in the war against Hamas in Gaza.
The Blogs: End the war, bring all the hostages home
It seems that a partial deal to bring back only half the remaining live hostages and about half the number of dead ones, is in the offing and may occur soon, possibly even this week. This partial deal is the one that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his partners want, so that they can continue the war after a 60 day cease fire. But this is not the agreement that the people of Israel want.
The Blogs: The overwhelming majority of Israelis want the war to end now!
Do not stand idly by while your neighbor’s blood is shed. (Leviticus 19:16) A survey released over the weekend by Channel 12 News in Israel revealed that 82% of Israelis support a hostage deal that would include an end to the war (some reports in the Israeli media said that the number was 74%), while only 12% oppose it! This means that the vast majority of Israeli citizens have had enough of this endless war, and would like it to be over right now.
The Blogs: A strange distortion of Judaism has developed in the West Bank
The redemption of captives held for ransom takes precedence over sustaining and clothing the poor. You do not find a mitzvah greater than the redemption of captives, for captivity is in the same category as famine, drought, or exposure, and one stands in danger to one’s life. (Maimonides The Mishneh Torah , Laws and Gifts for the Poor 8:10) A very strange form of Judaism has been developing in the West Bank for many years.
The Blogs: An Open Letter to President Trump
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will be “very firm” with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the need to end the war in Gaza when the premier visits Washington next week. Speaking to reporters, Trump also said that Netanyahu “wants it too,” referring to a hostage-ceasefire deal that would bring an end to the Gaza war. Earlier Tuesday, the president repeated his prediction that a ceasefire and hostage release deal would be reached shortly.
Reviewing 'Above All, We Are Jews' by Michael A. Meyer
To learn more about this great American Reform rabbi, Jews and non-Jews alike will want to read this well-researched and highly accessible biography.
The Blogs: Too much rejoicing over the deaths of our enemies
In recent months, and especially during the last 10 days, there has been much euphoria among much of the Jewish citizens of Israel about the great accomplishments of the Israeli Air Force against Iranian military and nuclear sites. With the attack by the American Air Force Saturday night, on nuclear installations in Iran, the enthusiasm went “ballistic”! The politicians and the pundits were extremely enthusiastic. Prime Minister Netanyahu went wild. He was excited beyond belief.
The Blogs: Who are the major inciters of antisemitism today?
You might wonder who are the major inciters of antisemitism in the world today. Some of you may be surprised at the answer: It is the governments of the United States and Israel. After the brutal murder of the young Israeli couple last week in Washington DC, CNN reported that US President Trump said, These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end NOW! Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA.
The Blogs: Cruelty, immorality, and destructiveness in the expansion of the war in Gaza
A few years ago, a journalist by the name of Adam Serwer wrote an important book called Cruelty is the Point. It is a collection of essays that explains the historical background to the cruelty that the Trump administration is heaping upon so many groups in American society: immigrants, academics, medical researchers, federal workers in many fields, the poor and suffering in America and around the world.
The Blogs: Can fascism be resisted, repulsed and restrained in America and Israel?
I returned to Bibiland from Trumpland last week quite depressed after two months in the USA under the dystopian reign of King Donald and his lunatic cabinet of useless idiots and irrational Republican majorities in the House and Senate of the American Congress.
The Blogs: Bibi's final speech to the nation
I had a dream the other night that the current Prime Minister of Israel —Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, or Bibi, as he likes to be called—actually resigned and gave this speech to the nation: Citizens of Israel, I have some important news to share with you tonight.
A rabbi’s appreciation of Pope Francis: ‘A man of peace’
This story first appeared on AmericaMagazine.org and is republished here with full permission. When I first heard about the election of Pope Francis in March 2013, my first reaction was one of wonder and awe. The conclave of cardinals elected a man with a reputation for caring for the poor, the environment and persecuted minorities; the new pope was also someone clearly eager to continue the search for peace in many places, including in Israel and Palestine.
Passover 2025: Holding empathy for those seeking freedom like the Exodus
The retelling of the story of the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt and journey to the Promised Land of Israel is the essence of the Passover holiday, especially of the Seder on the evening before the first day of the holiday, and again on the evening before the second day in the Diaspora. All over the world, Jews retell this amazing story every year on this holiday, with a great variety of Haggadot from many different Jewish denominations and communities, both traditional and contemporary.
A rabbi’s appreciation of Pope Francis: ‘A man of peace’
Pope Francis prays at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on May 26, 2014. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) When I first heard about the election of Pope Francis in March 2013, my first reaction was one of wonder and awe. The conclave of cardinals elected a man with a reputation for caring for the poor, the environment and persecuted minorities; the new pope was also someone clearly eager to continue the search for peace in many places, including in Israel and Palestine.
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