Rafael Castro

The banality of Antisemitism

Parties and ideas once stigmatized are gaining ground precisely because elites prefered to scapegoat Zionism rather than address uncomfortable realities. That policy is being revealed as a boomerang. Op-ed.

Kamtza, Bar Kamtza, and the generation before Redemption

A society reaches danger not merely when enemies gather outside its walls, but when its own tribes cease seeing one another as indispensable parts of a shared destiny.

Post Independence Day musings:

Israel is not a normal country - and that is its strength

Only in the Jewish tradition are arguments considered the safest path to peace, harmony, and holiness. Israel today is the proof of that tradition's longevity. Opinion.

Antisemitism and Antizionism:

Bywords for ressentiment

The intensity of the frenzy is not proportional to Israel’s misdeeds; it is directly proportional to Israel’s success.Opinion.

Islam and Islamism: The Wilhelmine Germany parallel

Cultural DNA matters. You cannot allow or promote celebrating seventh-century conquests every Friday and then act shocked when some take the lesson literally. And Iran under the Ayatollahs is Nazi Germany redux. Opinion.

The Soul as an Altar:

On Vayikra, Tzav, and the Discipline of Inner Life

The altar and its fire offer not only a model of ritual practice, but also a framework for thinking about the inner life, the offerings a method for transformation.

The Jewish Secret? Argument

Not argument as mere disagreement, still less as rhetorical combat, but as a disciplined, structured, and socially sanctioned process through which ideas are tested, refined, and, if necessary, dismantled. Opinion.

Europe and China: Rereading Trump’s strategic posture

Europe's welfare states depend on American largesse, but Trump has his own ideas about what America should spend its money on. Opinion.

The AI hazard:

Inoculate now against murderous deepfakes!

Misinformation and disinformation are among the most severe near-term global risks, and synthetic content accelerates the problem. Within hours, that tool was used against Ahmed al-Ahmed, the hero at Bondi Beach. Opinion.

What’s in a Name:

Beyond Anti-Anti-Zionism and Anti-Antizionism

Exposing the ultimate and overarching goal of anti-Zionism is essential if we wish to discredit and defeat its proponents. Opinion.

The Goldene Medine died on November 4th, 2025

The real reason to worry about Mamdani’s victory is that surveys indicate that around 30% of New Yorkers self-identifying as Jewish cast their ballots for an avowed anti-Zionist and Hamas apologist. Opinion.

The Rightist Case against a Death Penalty for Islamic terrorists

The core argument is simple: capital punishment would convert Arab terrorists into international heroes. Opinion.

The Weimarization of America

Today’s antisemitism reflects a systemic malaise in American identity itself. What changed? Opinion.

Why I abhor the Left

Today’s left promotes precisely the kind of tawdry garbage that the left a hundred years ago wanted to emancipate the masses from. To them, butchering of black Christians by Arabized Muslims is a “legacy of European colonialism,” while rape and butchering of women and children in Nahal Oz becomes an "act of resistance". Opinion.

Western Sahara: The future homeland for Gaza’s dispossessed?

The benefits of absorbing Gazans into Western Sahara are considerable. Opinion.

Soul-searching after October 7th

Given the stakes, we still don't know why the IDF was not placed on high alert near Gaza and Lebanon to deter a possible disruption of the Saudi peace process. And there is more. Opinion.

An open letter to Europe's luminaries

The Muslim in Europe intuitively senses what the coming decades will probably confirm. Opinion.

In Gaza, Islamism may be Israel's saviour

The Trump Gaza plan, premised on the idea that Gaza's civilian population can be persuaded or incentivized to leave en masse, is a political nonstarter. So what to do? Opinion.

A Noahide writes:

Let's admit it - we hate the Jews because we know they are right

Only Judaism arouses true hatred. And this hatred is roused by non-Jews' very very deep fear/realization that Judaism and the Chosenness of Israel are true. A response to Rabbi YY Jacobson. Opinion.

Regime Change in Iran is possible- here is how to do it and why

Two views on changing the regime: The path forward is neither naive appeasement nor reckless regime change. It is strategic democratic pressure combined with calculated covert support. Opinion.

Israel must be more than Jewish and Democratic

Ideological conflicts now run deeper than ever, and Israel may be the only country where these internal rifts intensify with each generation. Opinion.

What I learned by wearing a kippah in Berlin

The writer, a Noahide, decided to see how being an obviously observant Jew affects his everyday behavior and the responses to him in a gentile, non antisemitic environment. It is not so simple. Opinion.

The fall of Zionism would mark the fall of Islam

If there is no Jewish state to hate, what happens to the rage? Opinion.

Defeating the Ayatollahs—despite Donald Trump

Netanyahu now faces a fateful choice: tolerate Iran’s sprint toward a nuclear bomb, or act unilaterally and risk sacrificing American military and diplomatic support. Opinion.

Israel must link Hostage release to territory annexation in Gaza

Every week we do not see the hostages released, we will see a one kilometer deep strip of Gaza territory annexed to Israel. Opinion.

A golden bullet against Anti-Zionism

"Bread and circuses" still works—just as it did two thousand years ago. Op-ed.

Operation Mehmed the Conqueror

A strategy to deter future Kidnappings. Opinion.

Israel's closing window to act decisively against the Ayatollahs

Israel must act now! It cannot wait for Trump to do the job because he may not want to. Delaying action will place Israel in a precarious position, constrained by shifting American foreign policy priorities. Opinion.

A non-Jewish perspective on 'People Love Dead Jews'

Jewish power presents a theological and ideological dilemma for many Westerners. Opinion.

In defense of fellow gentiles

Many misguided Jews have helped legitimize and fuel gentile envy and resentment, which can have tragic consequences for millions of Jews. You need only look at "Bougie" Ya'alon, let along Jewish American progressives. Opinion.

When will antisemitism end?

Understanding antisemitism reveals a profound truth: antisemitism is not inherently tied to Jews, Judaism, or the Jewish State. Opinion.

An empirical approach to fighting antisemitism in the media

Do different editorial biases lead to increased levels of viewer antisemitism? An empirical study would find out. Opinion.

Why are American Jews Liberal? A Eudaimonic Perspective

A liberal worldview frames antisemitism as a temporary byproduct of ignorance and social injustice, a much more comforting way to look at this illogical and primeval hatred. Op-ed.

Reflections on Jewish wars

Israel has no choice but to win the war and crush its enemies. In order to do these things, it needs to define and clearly communicate its goals. Opinion.

Are Jews smart and brave enough to save the world?

The best Israel can expect from the Muslim world is to be respected because it is wealthy, powerful, and fearsome. Anything else is the pipe dream of people who learned nonsense at workshops and conferences sponsored by European donors and the New Israel Fund. Opinion.

What Jews need to understand about Gentiles

When one understands the real and corporal nature of evil in Christianity and Islam, one also understands the power and pervasiveness of antisemitism. Opinion.

When will you stop turning the other cheek?

The minorities you US Jews mobilized for, are showing how deeply they resented your help. They see you as part of America’s elites anyway, so be loyal to the values that allowed you to flourish in the Goldene Medina: fairplay, individualism, and meritocracy. Op-ed.

Quo Vadis, Israel?

The Jewish State is at a crossroads for its survival: Either it is ruthless enough to crush the Ayatollahs before it’s too late or the future seems bleak. Op-ed.

Is CNN now part of Pallywood?

While civilian casualties in Gaza are low, reports from Hamas lack veraccity. I couldn't shake off suspicions about the authenticity of an impeccably presented CNN report of a civilian killed there. Op-ed.

An alternative to a Pyrrhic victory in Gaza

There are compelling reasons for the Jewish state to embrace this plan as it aligns with long-term strategic objectives and offers a sustainable approach to addressing the challenges of the Gaza Strip. Op-ed.

A non-Jew's reflections on antisemitism in America

The genie of antisemitism in America has left the bottle, and has infected mainstream journalism, academia, and culture. There is only one thing that may work. Opinion.

What the Porajmos teaches the Jewish people

Baptism and devotion provided no refuge for Roma and Sinti from the racial hatred and cruelty of fellow Christians. Opinion.

Progressive Leftists are the New Nazis

Jews and Judaism are antithetical to all pillars of contemporary progressive leftism and therefore hated people who should be destroyed. Opinion.

Israel's fifth column

Israel is ignoring the tremendous toll of homegrown pro-enemy propaganda on Israel’s diplomatic and military position abroad and at home. Why is this allowed during a war? Op-ed.

The fearless operation needed to thwart a Shoah

Israel must use the window of opportunity that has opened after Islamists on October 7th proved their genocidal designs and before Islamists secure nuclear weapons and close this window, to act swiftly and decisively to save millions of lives. Op-ed.

Epiphanies on Islamic Ethics

Muslim societies do not just breed violence and poverty, but also a dogmatic sense of superiority grounded on nothing but wishful thinking. However, some Islamic virtues should set Israelis thinking. Op-ed.

Hasbara needs a new hashkafa

Most Jews think the most valuable hasbara educates people, winning them over with facts and rational arguments. That is incorrect. Op-ed.

Progressive Jews are not alone in feeling betrayed

Why are progressive Jews upset when the sloppy logic condoning violence in America is used to legitimize violence against Israelis? Op-ed.

A psychopathology of Israel-haters

Observe how the Muslim masses mobilized more against Israel in America and Western Europe than in many Muslim countries.Opinion.

Open letter to "Tikkun Olam" Jews

The reactions of BLM, Greta, the Squad, progressive academia et al show progressive Jews kumbaya universalism is morally bankrupt. Op-ed.

Until now Israel has spoken Hebrew; it now needs to speak Arabic

In this part of the world, it is not Tevya the milkman's gentle humor that wins the day, but the violence of Saladin the Great. Op-ed

The Huwara Incident: A reflection

The government's reaction to the terrorist murders of the Yaniv brothers and the reprisal by Israelis showed Israel as a paper tiger. Op-ed.

Israel's alliance with Azerbaijan: Balancing benefits and risks

From a security, geostrategic and economic perspective the Israeli-Azerbaijani alliance is very important, but there are problems. Op-ed.

The woke revolution unmasked

History will remember wokeness as the final and most grotesque manifestation of leftist hatred for Western civilization. Op-ed.

Op-ed:

Words of caution from a European friend

With hindsight it is clear that rightist European professions of love for Zionism and the Jewish people were always a sham, Op-ed.

Should an effort be made to better Polish-Israel relations?

Poland has to face its dark actions durng the Holocaust, but Israel must remember that this was not government policy, but individual.Op-ed

Op-Ed:

What Artificial Intelligence reveals about Western stupidity

ChatGPT says that Mohammed was a champion of religious freedom. There is no semblance of scholarship regarding the Islamic world. Op-ed.

A Solomonic solution to the judicial reform crisis

The judicial reform is a matter of sufficient political, institutional and historical weight to justify a plebiscite. Op-ed.

Op-ed:

Are Jews the smartest people in the world?

Generalizing about Jewish behavior, the writer criticizes Jewish speech and our generalizing about Arabs. But he has a point. Op-ed .

Why the Israeli left will embrace Judaism

The Israeli left has two choices: It can move or it can advance a vision of Jewishness able to re-enchant leftist Israelis. Op-ed