Zahava and Moshael J. Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought faculty, staff and students were published in several leading publications over the month of December 2025, writing articles that contributed to the discourse and debates that continue to shape American society and the Jewish people. 

Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik published his monthly column in Commentary, titled “Erin Go Blah.” In the essay, Rabbi Dr. Soloveitchik diagnosed Ireland’s descent into obsessive antisemitic behavior, arguing that the country’s actions encompass the essence of anti-Semitism itself. Rabbi Soloveichik also examined George Washington’s letter to the Jews of Newport in National Review, arguing that the President’s words speak to all. Finally, Rabbi Soloveichik joined Reverend Johnnie Moore on The Tikvah Podcast to discuss Jews, Evangelicals and Israel. 

Rabbi Dr. Stuart Halpern, deputy director of the Straus Center, published a series of essays throughout January in the Jewish Journal, including an MLK Day reflection on how the story of Jacob and Joseph influenced the American civil rights movement, a profile of Warder Cresson, the first (unofficial) American consul in Jerusalem, and an examination of how the Bible influenced John Locke’s politics. He also reviewed Kotsuji’s Gift: The Daring Rescue of Japan's Jewish Refugees for the Washington Free Beacon and tracked Moses’ Song of the Sea from Exodus 15 throughout American history for the American Bible Society.

Straus Center Senior Scholar Dr. Tevi Troy dared to ask if Jews are still welcome in the White House for Tablet amid rising antisemitism on both the right and the left. He also looked back on the political life of former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara for the Civitas Institute and analyzed the fallout from Josh Shapiro’s shocking revelation that Kamala Harris’ team asked him if he had ever served as an Israeli agent while being vetted as her potential running mate for Fox News. 

Finally, Straus Scholar Elisha Price was published in the Wall Street Journal’s “Future View” section on the question of “What Does the U.S. Operation in Venezuela Mean?”

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