Michael Helfield🇺🇦🇮🇱

Wonderful celebration yesterday of the Oxford Handbook of Jewish Law I had privilege of co-editing with @zev_eleff and Chaim Saiman at my alma mater @pennlaw bringing together Jewish, Christian and Muslim scholars!!

I am a Zionist. I do not support genocide. In fact, I have spent my life educating the public on what a genocide is and how to prevent one. Accusing Israel of being genocidal is a blood libel - it’s a lie - accusing us of a genocide where a genocide does not exist. Antizionism is a sick and twisted movement that must be called out for what it is: a hate movement that is eroding many corners of American society that were once the beacon of truth and justice.

@eduardo_garcmol Congrats! Hope elephants involved somehow lol! But it is quite an honour. Been following you since grad school days. Way to go!

Honored to be joining the list of Center for Hellenic Studies fellows. Will be working on my book on Seleukid archives and recordkeeping and a little project on impiety and Hellenistic law. Looking forward to visiting the CHS and DC next spring!

By now, many of you have heard that Buck has announced his retirement. It goes without saying how much he has meant to Blue Jays fans for the last 40 years, and the same goes for everyone here at Sportsnet.

PUT RESPECT ON HIS NAME 😤 SCOTTIE ALL-STAR ⭐

Out now! 📚 Te Kaawa provides a resource that can add to theological discourse in the academy and beyond by showcasing insights from Maori theological reflection in conversation with western theological reflection.

We are now accepting program proposals for September 2026 or later! Follow the link to learn more. chs.harvard.edu/now-accepting-…

Out now! 📚 Dan W. Clanton, Jr. examines the presence and use of religion and Bible in Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot novels and stories and their later interpretations. Learn more: bit.ly/49c8z4M

Out now from The Library of New Testament Studies! This volume assembles essays on Luke and Acts by noted scholars from North America, Europe, and Oceania. Learn more: bit.ly/45GR75Y

Free Iran

BREAKING: Islamic Republic forces are opening fire on crowds of Iranians protesting in the streets. Greta Thunberg? Silent. Francesca Albanese? Silent. Mehdi Hasan? Silent. Cenk Uygur? Silent. Ana Kasparian? Silent. The media? Silent.

I was asked to wait 24 hours before posting about this and I must say it was a fascinating (albeit depressing) exercise to watch comment after comment roll in below proving the thesis of my piece. Of all the articles I have written on antisemitism, this was the one I put the most delicate thought into…one exploring themes of identity, loyalty, betrayal, and to whom one’s fate belongs. And yet, extraordinarily, it is the one I have received the most aggressive backlash for. This is something that other writers have experienced whenever they attempt to hold a mirror up to Irish society about our antisemitism problem. One man told me that in all his years of commentary, including regarding complex issues in the Middle East, he had never encountered such viciousness as he did when he critiqued Ireland on this issue. There is no mention of Israel in this piece. There is no endorsement of Zionism, only a commentary that Irish society’s poor treatment of its Jewish citizens makes a good case for it. Indeed, a different reaction to this piece would have made the case for Diasporism. One wherein Irish people responded to say: ‘We will listen to our Irish Jewish brothers and sisters. We will ensure that they are equally part of our nation’s fate and destiny.’ They did not do that. Indeed, I doubt that most commenters below even bothered to read a single line; not about the German Jewish veterans and their tragic fate, nor the anguish of Australian Jews in the face of a recent antisemitic massacre, nor the history and contribution of Irish Jewry in and for our proud nation. I asked the Irish public just to listen to its own citizens, and they did not do so. I quote Isaac Deutscher in this piece who said after The Holocaust that he had: ‘long since abandoned my anti-Zionism, which was based on a confidence...in European society and civilisation, which that society and civilisation have not justified.’ I wrote how Ireland’s failure to listen and accept the concerns of its own people has collapsed the confidence many of us had in Ireland. The reactions below have eroded that confidence further. I will repeat two of the questions in my piece to the detractors below: • Why are you denying the lived experiences of your Irish Jewish brothers and sisters? • Why is the majority of Ireland not listening to its own people? For those who actually wish to read the words I have written, here is a picture of the print copy. Go raibh míle maith agaibh/thank you all very much.

@Raptors Give it to em Mo!!

Welcome to the squad, Mo Bamba 🤝

BIG DUB ENERGY 🔥 Presented by @McDonaldsCanada

@dussyme Mildred

So many lionesses defending the people of Israel in Gaza. Write them a few words.

@OmarHamadD lol

Palestine is an Arab country, and its capital is Jerusalem.

@supressedvoic Hahahaha

Fact!

@JakeLandauTO lol

"Am Yisrael Chai" is not an innocent chant or statement. Whether directed at Palestinian Canadians or newsrooms it is understood by recipients as a call for violence against them.

@supressedvoic Falafel!

🇹🇷 Turkey is famous for kebabs 🇱🇧 Lebanon is famous for Humus 🇵🇸 Palestine is famous for Olives 🇮🇱 What’s Israel famous for..?