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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-15 at 04:02
Published 2 weeks, 1 day ago
Description
HEADLINES
- Ran Gvili laid to rest ends saga
- Public memory pressures justice after October 7
- Two Israeli children's books champion inclusion
The time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, hostages, memory, and accountability linger as debates on peace and justice continue. Ran Gvili was laid to rest January 28 in Meitar after the IDF recovered his body, closing the 843-day saga of hostages taken to Gaza. A longtime member of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in New York writes that the religious Jewish community must reckon with a silence about Israeli violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The Forum has kept a nonpartisan stance, with chants like "Bring Them Home" and "Seal the Deal," and argues that returning hostages alive depended on negotiation with Hamas, even as it did not publicly weigh in on Prime Minister Netanyahu, a ceasefire, or Gaza devastation. The piece notes a deliberate, measured approach to public messaging and diplomacy.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, the faces of hostages and victims persist: A call for justice after October 7. Even with the return of hostages, posters of hostages and victims remain everywhere, from Shoshke Engelmayer’s "daily postcard" images to the broad set of "Kidnapped" posters on bus shelters that note dates of return or murder. In Jerusalem, Hersh Goldberg-Polin—kidnapped from the Supernova music festival and killed after 11 months—surfaces repeatedly, with memorials and messages such as "Free Hersh." His father, Jon Polin, eulogized him, saying, "May his memory be a revolution," hoping Hersh’s suffering can help move people toward justice and accountability. The piece underscores the enduring public memory as Israel continues to confront unanswered questions and the need for justice after October 7.
In Uplifting News, the power of imagination and inclusion shines in children's literature. The Morning the Apples Began to Sing, by Chasya Leah Raher, is a story of wonder and self-expression that invites children to imagine, create, and embrace life’s hidden miracles. The book is dedicated to the Jewish children of the world and to every child, with love, and Raher emphasizes the impact of stories to fuse Jewish teachings, traditions, and symbols with love and fantasy to ignite the hearts of Jewish children.
In Uplifting News, Emily Saw a Door: Learning to create spaces for each other with creativity, acceptance. The book by Mel Rosenberg marks his entry into children’s literature via Penguin Random House after a long career spanning science and music. Rosenberg, who made aliyah from Canada in 1969, became a professor at Tel Aviv University and co-developed two-phase mouthwash technology marketed as Assuta in Israel and Dentyl pH in the United Kingdom. The Hebrew edition of Emily Saw a Door won several awards, including Israel’s Dvora Omer Prize for children’s and youth literature. Rosenberg’s journey also includes a return to jazz after decades away. The story encourages children to find the right place for themselves or to create it, fostering creativity and acceptance.
Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.
SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-886361
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-886529
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-886391<
- Ran Gvili laid to rest ends saga
- Public memory pressures justice after October 7
- Two Israeli children's books champion inclusion
The time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, hostages, memory, and accountability linger as debates on peace and justice continue. Ran Gvili was laid to rest January 28 in Meitar after the IDF recovered his body, closing the 843-day saga of hostages taken to Gaza. A longtime member of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in New York writes that the religious Jewish community must reckon with a silence about Israeli violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The Forum has kept a nonpartisan stance, with chants like "Bring Them Home" and "Seal the Deal," and argues that returning hostages alive depended on negotiation with Hamas, even as it did not publicly weigh in on Prime Minister Netanyahu, a ceasefire, or Gaza devastation. The piece notes a deliberate, measured approach to public messaging and diplomacy.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, the faces of hostages and victims persist: A call for justice after October 7. Even with the return of hostages, posters of hostages and victims remain everywhere, from Shoshke Engelmayer’s "daily postcard" images to the broad set of "Kidnapped" posters on bus shelters that note dates of return or murder. In Jerusalem, Hersh Goldberg-Polin—kidnapped from the Supernova music festival and killed after 11 months—surfaces repeatedly, with memorials and messages such as "Free Hersh." His father, Jon Polin, eulogized him, saying, "May his memory be a revolution," hoping Hersh’s suffering can help move people toward justice and accountability. The piece underscores the enduring public memory as Israel continues to confront unanswered questions and the need for justice after October 7.
In Uplifting News, the power of imagination and inclusion shines in children's literature. The Morning the Apples Began to Sing, by Chasya Leah Raher, is a story of wonder and self-expression that invites children to imagine, create, and embrace life’s hidden miracles. The book is dedicated to the Jewish children of the world and to every child, with love, and Raher emphasizes the impact of stories to fuse Jewish teachings, traditions, and symbols with love and fantasy to ignite the hearts of Jewish children.
In Uplifting News, Emily Saw a Door: Learning to create spaces for each other with creativity, acceptance. The book by Mel Rosenberg marks his entry into children’s literature via Penguin Random House after a long career spanning science and music. Rosenberg, who made aliyah from Canada in 1969, became a professor at Tel Aviv University and co-developed two-phase mouthwash technology marketed as Assuta in Israel and Dentyl pH in the United Kingdom. The Hebrew edition of Emily Saw a Door won several awards, including Israel’s Dvora Omer Prize for children’s and youth literature. Rosenberg’s journey also includes a return to jazz after decades away. The story encourages children to find the right place for themselves or to create it, fostering creativity and acceptance.
Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.
SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-886361
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-886529
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-886391<