Posts by Leor Sinai
The Global Jewish-Israel Syntheses Imagine: We Are All Israeli
I was thinking, growing up, my world was a tapestry of hyphenated identities. There was my Russian-American friend, my Italian-American neighbor, my Chinese-American classmate, my Polish-American cousin, and my African-American neighbor. Each wore their heritage proudly, their identities anchored in the lands from which their ancestors came. But I was simply Jewish-American. And increasingly, I’ve…
Read MoreColonization vs. Decolonization
Historical Patterns of Conquest and Return in the Middle East The narrative of colonization and decolonization has become central to contemporary geopolitical discourse, yet its application to Middle Eastern history reveals complex patterns that challenge simplified frameworks. Understanding the historical trajectory of Islamic expansion from Arabia through the Middle East and into Europe, contrasted with…
Read MoreThe Voice That Calls: Jewish Awakening in Our Time
Imagine being awakened at 4 AM by a voice calling you to something urgent, something that cannot wait for a more convenient hour. This is the essence of selichot – a voice that calls us from the comfortable darkness of spiritual slumber into the demanding light of self-examination and transformation. It is the voice that…
Read MoreTo Occupy or Not To Occupy Gaza
The morning of October 7, 2023, marked a watershed moment in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas militants breached the Gaza-Israel barrier in a coordinated assault that would fundamentally alter the strategic calculus for both sides and reignite the central question of Gaza’s governance: should Israel reoccupy the territory it evacuated in 2005? As Israeli and…
Read MoreThe Miracle of Persistence: Lessons from a People Who Refuse to Disappear
In an age when entire civilizations have risen and fallen, when empires have crumbled to dust and languages have vanished into silence, there exists a phenomenon that challenges our understanding of historical inevitability. Am Yisrael, The Jewish People, represent something unprecedented in human experience: a small nation that has not merely survived but has advanced,…
Read MoreThe Modern Erev Rav: When Jewish Identity Becomes a Shield for Betrayal
At a time when Jewish unity, Ahavat Hinam vs. Sin’at Hinam (baseless love vs. baseless hatred), and acceptance of Klal Israel must be pursued, the topic of self-hating Jews and loyalty to the land and people of Israel is on the minds of many. In my heart of hearts I pray, and in my day…
Read MoreApproaching encounters with curiosity and not with judgement
Teens across Israel and in Jewish communities throughout America participate in transformative encounters that shape their Jewish identity, their relationship with peoplehood, their relationship with Israel and their overall worldview. Yet despite the profound impact these cross-cultural meetings can have, a significant asymmetry exists in how these young people are prepared for their encounters with…
Read MoreIs a Mass Jewish Migration on the Horizon?
Today’s rising antisemitism follows familiar patterns previous generations would recognize. What’s different is the ending. For the first time in two millennia, Jews facing persecution don’t need to find another exile—they can go home. From Wandering to Coming Home Is a mass jewish migration on the horizon? Throughout history, Jewish communities have lived with an…
Read MoreSinai Strategies Suggests: Fake It Till You Make It? Why Not Just Be You?
We’ve all heard the advice: “fake it till you make it.” It rolls off the tongue with the confidence of conventional wisdom, promising that pretending to be something we’re not will eventually transform us into that very thing. But here’s a radical question worth considering: Why fake it at all? Why not simply be you?…
Read MoreThe New Middle East: Israel’s Path to Regional Transformation
History is unfolding before our eyes. We are witnessing the emergence of a fundamentally transformed Middle East, with Israel ascending as the region’s dominant power. Still engaged in a multi-front battle for survival and now in direct conflict with Iran, Israel is pioneering a new era of regional dynamics. While global diplomatic strategies have traditionally…
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