Save the computer peace, save the world
\"Impossible!\" That\'s what Itamar Azulay, a 32-year-old Israeli general contractor, had to say about \"PeaceMaker,\" a computer game for both Mac and PC that challenges players to do what many have tried and failed to do: bring peace to the Middle East. \"There\'s no way to do it,\" he said, visibly frustrated with the game. Azulay has been living in the San Fernando Valley since he was 14, but hasn\'t lost his Israeli edge. He\'s also an avid gamer and a fan of Xbox\'s \"Gears of War.\"
Editor's Picks
What Ever Happened to the LA Times?
Dan Schnur
Who Are the Jews On Joe Biden’s Cabinet?
Ryan Torok
No Labels: The Group Fighting for the Political Center
Larry Greenfield
Latest Articles
Rabbis of LA | The Rembaums’ Happy Life Together
Ari L. Noonan
A Popular Skewer Recipe
Sharon Gomperts and Rachel Emquies Sheff
Table for Five: Chayei Sarah
Salvador Litvak
Settling on the Outskirts – A poem for Parsha Chayei Sara
November 5, 2026
The life of Sara ends with death.
A Bisl Torah ~ Love at First Hearing
November 5, 2026
Is attraction based solely on the physical? Or is chemistry based on something deeper?
Why Israel’s Messy Election Should Worry Washington
November 5, 2026
The tight relationship between Trump and Netanyahu masks the real debate over Israel churning in the Republican Party, and Israel’s standing among Democrats has never been lower.
Jewish Community Weighs Implications of Democrats’ Midterm Election Victories
November 5, 2026
Some emphasized the importance of combating antisemitism and protecting Jewish safety, while others called for political engagement and cooperation across party lines.
Rosner’s Domain: Weeks of Known Unknowns
November 5, 2026
So here we are, stuck with just a few bad options to consider. And that’s just the political superposition of undetermined future – alongside it there’s also the possible – probable? – war with Iran.
The Switched Passport: A Lesson in Seeing the Other
November 5, 2026
That is my hope: that by finding things we can do together, by recognizing each other’s humanity, we might come to see each other more fully.
After the Last Out, Collect a Different Kind of Card
November 5, 2026
At a time when Jewish education is competing for attention in a world dominated by screens, sports, short-form videos and endless streams of content, these easily collectable cards offer a different kind of engagement.
6 Jewish Takeaways from the Midterm Elections
November 5, 2026
There is little chance that the combination of a weakened Trump and an emboldened Democratic Congress produces similar levels of support for aggressive action against Iran and its proxies, and other policies that a wide spectrum of Israelis see as crucial to their security.
Israel Drives Them Crazy
November 5, 2026
In the diaspora and in Israel, we cannot turn back the clock and undo the harm that was done to us. But we can shape our own future. Israel is strong and resolute. So must we be.
A Democratic-Run Congress Will Target Israel as Well as Trump
November 5, 2026
Democrats who were long considered “moderates” or even pro-Israel have been signaling over the course of the last year that they can no longer be relied upon to back a Jewish state under assault by Iran and its terrorist proxies.
Why Jewish Unity Is So Difficult
November 5, 2026
When each dispute seems existential, an error is a catastrophe and disagreement seems like betrayal.
Torah Portion: Chayei Sarah
November 5, 2026
The Torah offers a comforting view of a life beyond this life. We aren’t told what it will be exactly — yes, it’s abstract and vague — but we are told it’s waiting for us as it was for Abraham.
The NAZA Election — Israel and the Jews were Collateral Damage on Tuesday
November 4, 2026
History teaches that you can always trust the fanatics to overplay their hand, allowing muscular moderates to reassert power.
Present at the Scene: The 2026 Mid Term Elections and the Jewish Vote
November 4, 2026
How do voters reconcile longstanding party loyalties with changing views of Israel, communal security and American political leadership?
Hatred Opened the Door. A Missed Victory Held It Open.
November 4, 2026
For me, the disaster isn’t that Democrats won or Republicans lost. It’s that politicians who demonize Israel, deny Jewish self-determination and explain away antisemitism are finding an increasingly receptive electorate in the world’s most important democracy.
The Jewish Dilemma
November 4, 2026
The central issue is not whether Jewish voters should support Democrats or Republicans. It is whether either party can demonstrate that Jewish security, Jewish identity and Jewish self-determination are compatible with its broader political agenda.
Democrats Win Control of Congress as Election Produces Historic Firsts
November 4, 2026
Abdul El-Sayed (D-Michigan) becomes first Muslim elected to U.S. Senate, longtime Republican strongholds turn Democratic, and at least five Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates win U.S. House seats.
