Yaakov Menken
As seen in:
MSN,
Aol,
Fox News,
New York Post,
Newsweek,
The Times of Israel,
Observer,
The Jerusalem Post,
The Epoch Times,
Washington Times
and
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Yaakov Menken
Marking Three Years of Lies and Slander
Three years ago today, Hamas terrorists crossed into Israel and murdered some 1,200 people, most of them civilians: in their homes, on their kibbutzim, and at a music festival. They raped, they burned, and they dragged 251 hostages back into Gaza. It was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, and it was documented in more detail than any massacre in history, by the perpetrators themselves: they livestreamed every atrocity they could.
Turning the word ‘genocide’ against its creators
(Sept. 25, 2026 / JNS) The International Court of Justice is preparing to lower the legal threshold for “genocidal intent”; not in South Africa’s case against Israel, which everyone is watching, but Gambia’s suit against Myanmar, which gets less than 1% of the coverage. If you have rarely, if ever, heard of the Rohingya, a stateless Muslim ethnic group facing a systematic military campaign of mass killings, sexual violence and village burnings, that is exactly the point.
Gaza's star witness just testified: There Was No Genocide
Rabbi Yaakov Menken, a Princeton alumnus, is the Managing Director of the Coalition for Jewish Values, a public policy institute reflecting traditional Jewish thought. He is also the Chief Architect of Torah.org and other outreach websites, and co-editor of Cross-Currents, a journal of Orthodox Rabbis on Torah and current events. For two years, Motaz Azaiza was the West's eyes in Gaza. TIME named him one of its 100 most influential people. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Queen Esther saved her people. Michigan’s attorney general just threw them under the bus
As the summer came to an end, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel stood before a room of Jewish Democrats and reached for the Book of Esther.
Charlie Kirk stood with the Jewish People. We must stand for his legacy
Rabbi Yaakov Menken is the Executive Vice President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, the largest rabbinic public policy organization in America. He is thus the spokesperson for the beliefs and interests of over 2,500 American rabbinic leaders promoting traditional Jewish values in American public policy. One year ago, the voice of Charlie Kirk was silenced by an assassin’s bullet.
An endorsement ends any ‘shomer’ myth
(Aug. 11, 2026 / JNS) Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s narrow victory in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary was a clarifying moment. By endorsing the winner, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) abandoned all pretense of serving as a shomer, or “guardian,” of the beleaguered Jewish community. It is not just that Schumer indicated that he would endorse even an antisemite for political gain; it is that he did.
Mamdani’s anti-Israel madness all hinges on the ‘Palestine’ lie
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s bogus threat against Israel’s prime minister revealed something essential about his political career — and even more about his sycophants. When Mamdani promised to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu should he set foot in the United States, only to admit that this would be both impossible and illegal just days later, his fan club did not blink, much less assess whether he was prone to reckless, false claims. They simply moved on.
CUFI reminds us that the Jewish People are not alone
There are moments when you leave a gathering feeling not simply encouraged, but genuinely inspired. Less than three years after the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, and amid a worldwide resurgence of antisemitism, attending Christians United for Israel's annual conference was one of those moments. This is not simply because CUFI is home to millions of admirers and supporters of the beleaguered Jewish community, but because of the courage found among them.
The argument by FACE Act defendants is unconstitutional Original
(June 19, 2026 / JNS) In the federal FACE Act case born from the mob that blocked access in November 2024 to a synagogue in West Orange, N.J., the defendants are asking the courts to abandon the constitutional protections of religious freedom that make America great, while disregarding Jewish law, prayer and lived experience. One could hardly seek better proof that the defendants in this instance discarded both the law and America’s founding principles in their pursuit of antisemitic bigotry.
Tucker Carlson did us a favor
When Tucker Carlson described the Book of Esther as celebrating a “genocide of Persians," he did the world a favor. Not because his perspective was correct or well-informed, but just the opposite. His obvious lie, so clearly detached from reality, unwittingly revealed the true nature of the more contemporary charges of genocide leveled at the same People of Israel. The Book of Esther offers no possibility for error regarding who was responsible for the violence.
There’s No Academic Freedom to Incite Hatred
Today, even with President Trump’s victory, leftist elites have their tentacles in every aspect of our government. The Daily Signal’s own Tyler O’Neil exposes this leftist cabal in his new book, The Woketopus: The Dark Money Cabal Manipulating the Federal Government. In this book, O’Neil reveals how the Left’s NGO apparatus pursues its woke agenda, maneuvering like an octopus by circumventing Congress and entrenching its interests in the federal government.
Western Wall debate must not overshadow prayer, unity during times of war - opinion
ByYAAKOV MENKEN, JONATHAN GUTTENTAGMARCH 24, 2026 16:00 As we prepared this piece for submission, Israelis were repeatedly forced to seek shelter, while gunmen attacked Jews in both Israel and the United States. We pray for all of our safety. We also find it particularly distressing to discuss attacks upon the layout and usage of the Western Wall prayer area, which was recently closed due to missile threats, at this time.
Racist remembrance dishonors MLK
This year, the annual “All Peoples Celebration” run by Alliance San Diego (ASD) had a glaring omission: A Jewish religious leader was disinvited, due to his support for Zionism.
Jew-hating California mayor must go
A big swirling bucket of the latest rumors, celebrity news and Hollywood gossip. The premier celebrity gossip app. The only apps that gives you a comprehensive real time celeb news stream. Gossip Bucket aggregates and streams the latest gossip news and headlines from the top sources in one place.
Jew-hating Richmond mayor Eduardo Martinez must go
Eduardo Martinez, mayor of Richmond, California, is unfit to serve in any official position. Sometimes it is best to put things simply: Eduardo Martinez, mayor of Richmond, CA, is a Jew-hating bigot unfit to serve in any official position. Were his hatred against any other minority group, he would have been expelled long ago. But because he hates Jews, other elected officials are wringing their hands.
Jew-hating California mayor must go
Eduardo Martinez, mayor of Richmond, California, is unfit to serve in any official position. Sometimes it is best to put things simply: Eduardo Martinez, mayor of Richmond, CA, is a Jew-hating bigot unfit to serve in any official position. Were his hatred against any other minority group, he would have been expelled long ago. But because he hates Jews, other elected officials are wringing their hands.
Rabbi Menken: Heritage's Dangerous Moment for Conservatives
OPINION The decision by Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, to stand beside Tucker Carlson at the moment the latter descended into explicit antisemitic rhetoric is not just unfortunate. It's a clarifying moment for conservatives, a test of moral seriousness. So, for that matter, is the Heritage Foundation's apparent decision, through its Trustees, not to terminate Roberts as its president.
'The Forward' takes education backward
Rabbi Yaakov Menken is managing director of the Coalition for Jewish Values. A few years back I commented that were he still around, The Forward would be criticizing Chairman Mao for being insufficiently left-wing. This defining characteristic of the outlet was evident recently in their celebration of a film purporting to depict the 'failures' of Chassidic education. Jewish education is undergoing a renaissance.
Rabbi Yaakov Menken in JNS: ‘The Forward’ takes education backward
Jewish education is undergoing a renaissance. Burgeoning antisemitism on campus has made Chabad houses the first destination for Jewish students under siege, while one of the hottest trends among teenagers in Israel is, of all things, Shabbat observance. And for the first time, this year, the majority of Jewish Israeli first-graders entered a religious school.
‘The Forward’ takes education backward
(Oct. 26, 2025 / JNS) Jewish education is undergoing a renaissance. Burgeoning antisemitism on campus has made Chabad houses the first destination for Jewish students under siege, while one of the hottest trends among teenagers in Israel is, of all things, Shabbat observance. And for the first time, this year, the majority of Jewish Israeli first-graders entered a religious school.
‘The Forward’ takes education backward
Jewish education is undergoing a renaissance. Burgeoning antisemitism on campus has made Chabad houses the first destination for Jewish students under siege, while one of the hottest trends among teenagers in Israel is, of all things, Shabbat observance. And for the first time, this year, the majority of Jewish Israeli first-graders entered a religious school.
Trump’s first six months: Moral clarity and action for the Jewish people Original
(Aug. 3, 2025 / JNS) The Trump administration unveiled a massive agreement with Columbia University last week, settling numerous complaints regarding the antisemitic environment that the university permitted and fostered on campus. The deal includes more than $200 million in fines, plus a $21 million fund for Jewish and other employees.
Is Ilhan Omar the New Standard-Bearer for Democrats?
[Want even more content from FPM? Sign up for FPM+ to unlock exclusive series, virtual town-halls with our authors, and more—now for just $3.99/month. Click here to sign up.] From even before her election to Congress, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has targeted Jewish Americans, demonized America’s allies, and apologized for terrorists—only to be shielded time and again by others in the Democratic Party.
Is Ilhan Omar the New Standard-Bearer for Democrats?
From even before her election to Congress, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has targeted Jewish Americans, demonized America’s allies, and apologized for terrorists—only to be shielded time and again by others in the Democratic Party. Now, however, the present Democratic leadership has decided to make matters worse, slandering those who stand up to her bigotry and asserting that this racist is, instead, a victim of racism. This represents a dangerous turning point for America.
Getting it right on antisemitism
OPINION: Within the past two months, domestic terrorists have been accused of firebombing the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion, murdering two individuals outside a Jewish museum in Washington and using an improvised flamethrower at a rally in Boulder, Colorado, that was held to support bringing home Israeli hostages.
It’s Time To Dispel The ‘Islamophobia’ Myth Once And For All
Last week, I was honored to be appointed by President Donald Trump to serve on the Advisory Board of Religious Leaders for the newly established U.S. Religious Liberty Commission. The commission is tasked with an issue I’ve thought a lot about in my capacity as a Jewish leader: I believe that all Americans have the freedom to worship as they choose, and think it’s crucial we protect religious freedom for all — including Muslim Americans who love this country and support its values.
Democrats have abandoned the fight against campus antisemitism
(May 19, 2025 / JNS) Fighting hate should never be a partisan issue. Yet a recent House committee hearing on antisemitism on college campuses showed how embarrassingly one-sided that fight against bigotry has become. With Jew-hatred being normalized in universities across the country, Republicans have focused on the problem while Democrats have demonstrated, to a truly stunning degree, that they didn’t care. It follows a pattern of indifference. In January 2024, Sen.
YAAKOV MENKEN: Are Progressive Rabbis Against Fighting Antisemitism?
Antisemitism is not a political tool; it is an enduring and deadly threat that has plagued Jewish communities for millennia. Yet rabbis on the left—whom, almost to a one, lack traditional Jewish training—have chosen to minimize its severity and distort its reality.
YAAKOV MENKEN: Are Progressive Rabbis Against Fighting Antisemitism?
Antisemitism is not a political tool; it is an enduring and deadly threat that has plagued Jewish communities for millennia. Yet rabbis on the left—whom, almost to a one, lack traditional Jewish training—have chosen to minimize its severity and distort its reality.
Student Visa Privileges End Where Support of Terrorism Begins
Protesters are getting exactly what they asked for when they waved Hamas flags, burned American flags, and turned college campuses into breeding grounds for extremism. They wanted attention, and now they’ve got it—in the form of overdue accountability. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is doing what weak leadership failed to do for years: enforce our laws, protect our national security, and call out academic institutions that have turned a blind eye to terror apologists in their midst.
YAAKOV MENKEN And YOEL SCHONFELD: Chuck Schumer Only Fights Antisemitism When It’s Convenient
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has a new book out, titled “Antisemitism in America: A Warning.” He describes therein how bigotry against Jews is growing on both political sides, and writes that he felt a change in his responsibility as a Jewish American leader after the antisemitic Hamas pogrom of Oct. 7.
President Trump’s Powerful Message to Tehran
President Trump’s airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels send a powerful message, far beyond preventing the harassment of U.S. ships and commerce in the Red Sea. Without exaggeration, the president is responding to a serious threat to global stability. The Houthis and their main sponsor, the Islamic Republic of Iran, aim to reduce civilization to an Islamic caliphate, and would then simply fight among themselves for dominance. Appeasement was never the answer.
Nothing humanitarian about aid to Gaza
Trucks in Zikim, in southern Israel, with humanitarian aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Nov. 28, 2024. Photo by Oren Cohen/Flash90. Rabbi Yaakov Menkenis managing director of the Coalition for Jewish Values. an organization representing over 2000 Orthodox rabbis. (JNS) Provoking outrage from the United Nations, human-rights organizations and Arab governments, Israel is blocking further aid and electricity to Gaza.
Nothing humanitarian about aid to Gaza
Provoking outrage from the United Nations, human-rights organizations and Arab governments, Israel is blocking further aid to Gaza. It comes as the first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has ended and Hamas refuses to agree to a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire extension. But even without this valid reason, and despite the condemnations, Israel has adopted the morally correct approach.
The Blogs: The Revealing Response to Project Esther
Heritage Foundation by Mike Licht with CC BY 2.0 license, on Flickr. When non-Jewish groups work to fight antisemitism, they should expect to earn grateful appreciation from the Jewish community. This is especially true today if they have the ear of the incoming Trump Administration. But if those groups are politically conservative, some on the Jewish left are sadly unwilling to check their own partisanship in favor of basic Jewish and humanitarian interests.
Buddy Carter, Yaakov Menken, Liz Murrill, Ryan Walters
On today’s program: Buddy Carter, U.S. Representative for the 1st District of Georgia, previews Congress’s lame duck agenda, House Republicans’ leadership votes, and shares how the legislative body will tackle the looming fiscal cliff. Rabbi Yaakov Menken, Managing Director of the Coalition for Jewish Values, comments on the steps the new Trump administration needs to take to provide leadership regarding the issue of combatting anti-Semitism.
Does Bank Associate with Groups Sponsoring Terror?
Does Bank Associate with Groups Sponsoring Terror? Amalgamated Bank targets neutral groups to advance its partisan agenda — an agenda funded through its financial relationships with major Democratic campaigns and the DNC. Read Full Article »
Amalgamated Bank’s ‘hate’ crusade hypocrisy exposed
Amalgamated Bank is one of the smaller and lesser-known U.S. financial institutions, controlling less than $10 billion in assets. Yet it has scored numerous high-powered clients, such as Harris for President and the Democratic National Committee, plus a host of Democratic legislators and candidates. That’s no coincidence: Amalgamated is a partisan, agenda-driven institution.
The Good Ol’ Boys Have Had Enough
Last week, Toyota became the latest major corporation to drop the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI), and otherwise pull back from the grievously-misnamed regimen of racial bias, intolerance, and antisemitism called “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI). Same-sex unions are still outlawed in Japan, so one might think that Toyota is responding to the demands of that country’s more conservative culture.
Fund the Police
Posted on September 6, 2024 (5784) By Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Series: Lifeline | Level: Beginner One of the most cited phrases in the Torah is found in the first sentences of this week’s reading: “justice, justice shall you pursue” [Deut. 16:20]. But this is not, despite what you may have read elsewhere, a license for each individual to elevate his or her own opinion of what is just and correct to a Biblical mandate. On the contrary, it is a demand that we follow the true Arbiter of right vs.
The DNC’s Platform Problem
It could be that corporations are the only ones who can step on the brakes, preventing the party from lurching further into anti-Israel and anti-Semitic territory By: Rabbi Yaakov Menken At this writing, businesses in downtown Chicago have been boarding up their windows in preparation for “mostly peaceful” protests during the Democratic National Convention.
The DNC’s platform problem
At this writing, businesses in downtown Chicago have been boarding up their windows in preparation for “mostly peaceful” protests during the Democratic National Convention. The purpose of these protests is ostensibly apolitical, given that the protesters intend to oppose the current position of both major American political parties and the Robert Kennedy Jr. campaign: supporting Israel in its battle against a genocidal, antisemitic adversary.
It’s quite clear: Wikipedia hates Israel, Jews - The Jewish Star
Media Bias Posted Wednesday, August 7, 2024 12:00 am The online encyclopedia is big tech’s antisemitic propaganda arm.” Candace Owens launched into a rant on her YouTube show last week, claiming that the Star of David is tied to child sacrifice and black magic. She “explained” that King Solomon, builder of the Holy Temple, had a ring that he used to command demons. All of this, she said, shocked her “to the core” — but if it’s on Wikipedia, it’s gotta be true.
Wikipedia hates Israel and Jews
Candace Owens launched into a rant on her YouTube show last week claiming that the Star of David is tied to child sacrifice and black magic. She “explained” that King Solomon, builder of the Holy Temple, had a ring that he used to command demons. All of this, she said, shocked her “to the core” but “if it’s on Wikipedia … that just must mean that it’s such an irreversible fact.” This was not the first time Owens based one of her wilder conspiracy theories on the ubiquitous online resource.
Progressive Causes are Corporate Malfeasance
For years, progressives have insisted that corporations place left-wing goals ahead of core business interests. It turns out that this pursuit of utopia produces negative results that even exceed the expected costs—and those in C-suites would do well to take note before offended customers, and shareholders, hold them to account.
Prêt à Discriminer
Today’s corporations must not only make the right decisions, but also ensure that they look right in the eyes of stakeholders. Shareholders and consumers expect businesses to demonstrate “social responsibility” beyond the bottom line. So you might imagine that a family-owned firm whose owners once cavorted with Hitler would make special efforts to avoid even the least appearance of antisemitism in any corner of its corporate empire.
Glenn Grothman, Yaakov Menken, Christina Bobb, Walt Heyer
On today’s program: Glenn Grothman, U.S. Representative for the 6th District of Wisconsin, discusses the foreign aid and national security legislation passed by the House of Representatives. Rabbi Yaakov Menken, Managing Director of the Coalition for Jewish Values, reacts to the continued anti-Semitic violence and demonstrations taking place on U.S. college campuses.
ADL's Partisanship Damages Efforts Against Antisemitism
For over a century, the Anti-Defamation League has enjoyed a reputation as the preeminent Jewish organization combating antisemitism and all forms of hate. Its acronym, ADL, has “household name” status—and not just in Jewish homes. This makes its current penchant for partisanship extraordinarily dangerous for, and beyond, the Jewish community.
Seize the Moment
Posted on December 22, 2023 (5784) By Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Series: Lifeline | Level: Beginner “And Yosef could no longer hold back, from all those standing around him…” [45:1] For months, Yosef had kept up appearances. He treated his brothers coldly, as if he did not know who they were. Now, however, he “could no longer hold back.” He declared himself to be their brother, and immediately asked, “is my father still alive?” Why did Yosef wait all this time?
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Yaakov
Contact Yaakov, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack