Benjamin Kerstein Archives

Benjamin Kerstein

Benjamin Kerstein is a writer and editor living in Tel Aviv. Read more of his writing on Substack and his website. Follow him on Twitter @benj_kerstein. His books can be purchased here.

Billionaire Elon Musk. Source: Facebook.

Elon Musk and the inevitability of antisemitism

What do we do when a man cannot be criticized without antisemitic connotations?

Benjamin Kerstein

May 22, 2023

Rockets are fired from Gaza towards Israel, May 10, 2023. Photo by Atia Mohammed/Flash90.

Gaza-22

We have accepted the Catch-22 for long enough. New ideas for solving the Gaza dilemma are required.

Benjamin Kerstein

May 15, 2023

Anti-judicial reform protesters interrupt MK Simcha Rothstein during a panel on the Law of Return, Tel Aviv, April 24, 2023. Courtesy: Jewish Federations of North America.

Democracy vs. democracy

Democracy is not always the best or safest way to resolve disputes in which both parties have it on their side.

Benjamin Kerstein

May 8, 2023

Israelis protest against the Israeli government's planned judicial overhaul, in Haifa, March 27, 2023. Photo by Shir Torem/Flash90.

The battle over the meaning of Zionism

As a form of Jewish messianism, the movement will always be torn between the political and the religious.

Benjamin Kerstein

May 1, 2023

Soldiers place flags on the graves of fallen comrades at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem, April 23, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.

Our broken places

On Memorial Day, we pay respects to our brokenness, and on Independence Day, we celebrate that it has made us strong.

Benjamin Kerstein

April 23, 2023

Israelis protest in Jerusalem in support of the judicial reform program, March 27, 2023. Photo by Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90.

Neither side of the Israeli divide can ‘defeat’ the other

There may be two kinds of Israelis, but they both need to take a long look in the mirror.

Benjamin Kerstein

April 3, 2023

Photographic portrait of Sigmund Freud by Max Halberstadt, circa 1921. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

The new Freud revival can only be good for the Jews

Now being rediscovered, the great psychoanalyst’s method was identical to Judaism’s understanding of the Torah.

Benjamin Kerstein

March 27, 2023

Thousands of Israeli protesters rally in Tel Aviv against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul bills on Feb. 25, 2023. Photo by Gili Yaari /Flash90.

Rabin and Peres’ failure is now Netanyahu’s

Attempting to enact major change without a broad consensus can only result in controversy, polarization and, in the end, continuing unrest.

Benjamin Kerstein

March 13, 2023

Israelis block a road and clash with police as they protest against the Israeli government's planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, March 1, 2023. Photo: Erik Marmor/Flash90.

Impressions of an Israel come full circle

“Maybe we’ll split,” a left-wing friend nonchalantly told me.

Benjamin Kerstein

March 6, 2023

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In 2023 Your Support is More Important Than Ever

We're a reader-funded news organization on the front lines of the narrative war confronting Israel and the Jewish people. Your help is crucial.