For most of us, the war in Israel is a dull ache, a reminder whenever one happens to glance at the news that after all these years hatred is still thriving in the Middle East.

But at the Kol Ami Synagogue in the Salt Lake foothills, it’s much more than that.

As sundown approaches on a recent Friday afternoon, signaling the start of the Jewish Sabbath, a police car, manned by an off-duty cop, is parked at the entrance, its blue and red lights flashing — the standard greeting now for congregants as they arrive for evening services. Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, Kol Ami has been compelled to spend thousands more on safety measures.

Depolarizing ourselves

How can understanding identity and focusing on local politics unite Americans?

Ezra Klein, writing for Deseret Magazine, says that we cannot fully sever ourselves from our circumstances — who we are, where we grew up, whom we’ve learned to trust and fear, love and hate, respect and dismiss. But if we can’t turn off the power identity holds over us, we can harness it. 

Read more about how we can harness the power of identity.

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TRAVERSE, February 1 - 3, 2024 at The Jeanne Wagner Theatre at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, showcases choreography by current Company dancers, and premieres by Keith Johnson and Chia-Chi Chiang. Audience will be seated surrounding dancers on stage. Get Tickets at saltlakecountyarts.org.

Faith

• Why the righteous are not spared tribulation, President Holland explains at funeral of Latter-day Saint teen (Church News)
• 5 Latter-day Saint artists paint pictures of faith (Church News)
  

Utah

• Red Cross plans blood drive in honor of 13-year-old cancer patient (KSL)
• 17th Utah Valley Marathon returns this June for a fast, scenic race and charity opportunity (KSL)
• Nordic Valley Ski Resort reopens, begins recovery process following severe fire (Standard Examiner)
• Southern Utah fall fishing report: Where are the anglers casting? (St. George)

The West

• For people with dementia and their caretakers, Phoenix-area groups ease challenges (Arizona Republic)
• Colorado lawmakers lead push on artificial intelligence, warn of “disastrous” consequences if tech is left alone (Denver Post)

The Nation

• Naomi Schaefer Riley: Make school mandatory again (Deseret News)
• Nikki Haley suggests she'll stay in Republican race after South Carolina (Reuters)

The World

• 3 U.S. troops killed, dozens wounded in drone attack on military outpost in Jordan (Deseret News)
• Key UN Gaza aid agency UNRWA runs into diplomatic storm (BBC)

Sports

• Why Steve Young thinks Brock Purdy is the Luke Skywalker or Indiana Jones of the NFL (Deseret News)
• BYU and the University of Utah will be represented at Super Bowl LVIII (Deseret News)
• Did the Cougars turn a corner by giving Texas the boot? (Deseret News)
• Utes run into Beavers buzzsaw as No. 25 Oregon State rolls past No. 16 Utah (Deseret News)