Ben Lazarus

1 week ago | blogs.timesofisrael.com | Ben Lazarus

Yoel Solomon Street is one that many of us who spent time “studying” in Jerusalem will know well—a street we walked up and down countless times. Some even spent a lot of time “Underground” there in years gone by. For many of us, it’s synonymous with fun, freedom, and a social Jerusalem we’ll never forget. A couple of years ago, a close friend of mine, Gavin, and I were introduced to a different side of the street—just one floor up.

1 week ago | blogs.timesofisrael.com | Ben Lazarus

As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks so eloquently put it, “Judaism is not a religion of uniformity but of unity in diversity. We are one people with many voices, each contributing to the symphony of the Jewish soul.” This unity inspires us to challenge the notion that some Jewish voices matter less. Over the past few months, I’ve come across several opinion pieces suggesting that being in the Diaspora is somehow “less than.” That Jews living outside Israel have less right to speak, to feel, or to be heard.

2 weeks ago | blogs.timesofisrael.com | Ben Lazarus

When I dream of the Yom Yerushalayim I yearn for, I reflect on a spiritual day of gratitude to G-d and those who fought for the liberation, and a day where Jews of all shades celebrate the unification of our eternal capital—the city King David made his capital. The miraculous events of 1967 marked a historic moment for the Jewish People, who had been denied access to the Western Wall. Jerusalem holds a special place in my heart, where I sense the holiness of ages.

2 weeks ago | qoshe.com | Ben Lazarus

2 weeks ago | blogs.timesofisrael.com | Ben Lazarus

Is it really true that only 9% of Palestinians accept that Hamas committed atrocities against civilians, as reported and broadcast live on October 7? This is a result of a new poll carried out by a Palestinian NGO. Either way, it is shocking and dismaying. A poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR), a Ramallah-based nonprofit, from May 1–4, 2025 (Poll no. 95, Page 6), in the West Bank and Gaza, reveals a striking perspective on the events of October 7.