1.Fourth Estate of the Union

Six days ago - in his final column for The New York Times - one of their finest ever and a Bulletin favorite, David Brooks said goodbye in a must-read column about a country he loved in the paper he leaves. Read it please!

Later that weekend at the 92nd Street Y at the annual "State of World Jewry" another NY Times columnist, Bret Stephens, "described antisemites as an 'axis of the perfidious, the despotic, the hypocritical, the cynical, the deranged and the incurably stupid.' He did not hold back and also asserted that supporters of the Anti-Defamation League and other Jewish defense groups should largely abandon their current strategy for combating antisemitism and instead redirect their resources toward strengthening Jewish life itself. He called for “dismantling” the ADL, the leading Jewish group fighting antisemitism, while acknowledging that the ADL’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, was in the audience. 

"Stephens said antisemitism is largely impervious to appeals to tolerance, reminders of Jewish and Israeli accomplishments, or mandatory Holocaust education. Instead, he called for large-scale investment in Jewish day schools, cultural institutions, philanthropy, media, publishing and religious leadership, arguing that the infrastructure already exists but lacks sufficient scale and coordination."

Yes, spending time on two such "heavy lifting" columns may be a lot for one weekend, but what else can you possibly do when the temperatures are in the single digits?

2.Bob - Never the Underdog

His Patriots need all the help they can get against the mighty Seahawks, but Bob Kraft has been there before and in a new Super Bowl ad urges Americans to stand up to antisemitism. The Blue Square Alliance once again speaks out against hate with this new ad. Set to air during the Big Game on Sunday, it calls on all Americans to stand up to antisemitism and all forms of hate—wherever and whenever they see it. Thank you, Bob.

"The ad features a young student who is victimized in the halls of his school for being Jewish when classmates stick a degrading, antisemitic note on his backpack without him seeing. In a show of empathy, a fellow student silently overlays the note with a Blue Square, places another on his chest, and proudly walks alongside the Jewish student—showing how even when there are no words, there’s still a symbol to show you care."

3.Ahead of LeBron

For the first time EVER an Israeli player will play in the All-Star Game. Deni Avdija, who is on another planet this season, received the 7th most votes ahead of LeBron and Durant. Yes, it took less than an egg timer's cycle before the anti-Israel crowds jumped against the superstar, but to them I say, "watch and weep." Show 'em how it's done, Deni.

Read more in "Deni Avdija Becomes First Israeli to Be Selected as an NBA All-Star."

4.The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway

Actually it does. I am uncomfortable anytime we drop below 80 to be honest. I run a space heater to augment the heating system. But this quote from the movie Frozen seemed fitting for a piece about elite Jewish athletes in winter sports.

"All eyes might be on Israel’s unlikely bobsled squad, making its first appearance at the Winter Olympics, but there is actually a slew of Jewish and Israeli athletes headed to Milan. The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics kick off on Feb. 6, followed by the Paralympics exactly one month later." Here are 16 Jewish and Israeli athletes to watch in the 2026 Winter Olympics, from the ice rink to the alpine slopes.

5.Insta-Who?

There's something for everyone here. "Stop your mindless scrolling! Here are follow-worthy Jewish influencers with significant platforms, important points of view, or even just delicious recipes. From learning and literature to food, fitness and activism, these Jewish influencers are shaping conversations and culture in 2026. So says JewishBoston.

6.Super Bowls

Rather than sharing the obvious wings, nachos and dip recipes here for New England vs. Seattle, I thought it would be fun to play with the idea of a "super bowl." Food in a bowl is big these days in case you did not know.

"The concept of bowl food is not new, and its origins can be traced back to ancient times. In many Asian cultures, such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, bowls have been a staple food vessel for centuries. The traditional Japanese rice bowl, known as 'donburi,' is a prime example of this. Donburi typically consists of a bowl of steaming hot rice topped with grilled meat, vegetables, and a savory sauce.

"In the Western world, the bowl food trend gained momentum in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly in the United States. The hippie movement and the rise of vegetarianism and veganism led to an increased interest in healthy, wholesome foods served in bowls. The iconic 'hippie bowl' typically consisted of a mixture of brown rice, beans, vegetables, and nuts, topped with a dollop of yogurt or a sprinkle of cheese."

Read more in "Bowl Food: The Delicious and Nutritious Meal Trend Taking the World by Storm." And make one for yourself from the recipes below.

For Your Calendar

Sunday, March 15, 1:30 PM

The second installment of the Speakers Series comes to our community when we host Aviva Klompas at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Please save the date.

Klompas is a co-founder and CEO of Boundless. She has made a name for herself as an outspoken advocate for the Jewish people and as a leading Israel educator. Before launching Boundless, she served as the director of speechwriting for Israel's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City and as a senior policy advisor in the Ontario government supporting efforts to resettle Syrian refugees in Canada.

A prolific writer, Aviva has written articles that have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Foreign Policy, The Jerusalem Post, and other international publications. She is also the author of two books. Her first, Speaking for Israel, reflects on her time as a speechwriter for Israel and offers an honest and entertaining insight into Israeli diplomacy. Her second book, Stand-Up Nation: Israeli Resilience in the Wake of Disaster, released in 2024, details Israel’s remarkable and longstanding work in international development. More can be found in this Hadassah Magazine profile, “Aviva Klompas Is Reimagining Israel Education.”