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Good morning. We have an abbreviated Forwarding today after July 4. In this issue: Israel makes a major land grab in the West Bank; Hezbollah barrages the north; and developments in the trial of a man accused of killing a Detroit synagogue leader.

IN THE FORWARD

What does the Bible actually have to say about nationalism? (iStock by Getty Images

Opinion | The Christian right wants schools to teach the Bible — but doesn’t understand what the Bible is about. “Call it MACA: Make America Christian Again,” writes scholar Robert Alter of a new push to teach the Bible in schools. It’s not the idea of such an education that’s the problem; “Students ought to be given the opportunity to study the Bible as a critical force in shaping history and culture,” he writes. But those leading the effort, like Oklahoma state superintendent of public instruction Ryan Walters, are relying on interpretations of the Hebrew Bible that skew toward a reverence of Christ not present in the original. Read his essay ➤


Plus:


Jury convicts Blaze Bernstein’s killer of premeditated murder and a hate crime. “Samuel Woodward was found guilty of first-degree murder and a hate crime Wednesday, condemning the Orange County man who killed gay and Jewish college student Blaze Bernstein in 2018 to life in prison without the possibility of parole,” writes our reporter Louis Keene, who was in the courtroom through much of Woodward’s trial. What emerged over months of testimony was “a messy, tragic story of two young men wrestling with their sexuality as they forged uncertainly into adulthood,” Louis writes. Read the story ➤


How two Jewish musicians turned front porches in Brooklyn into a vibrant music scene. “In the Ditmas Park section of Brooklyn, working-class apartment dwellers can be found making music on the porches of million-dollar Victorian homes that line the neighborhood’s leafy streets, thanks to a pair of nonprofits run by two Jewish musicians,” writes Jon Kalish. What began as a pandemic project led by jazz saxophonist Roy Nathanson evolved into a neighborhood-wide effort toward music education and appreciation. “The kids write songs about the neighborhood,” Nathanson said of his new students. “I want them to be proud of this neighborhood.” Read the story ➤

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WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

Mothers of hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7 led a Friday march calling for a hostage deal. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)

In Israel …


👀  Hamas shifted its position on a potential ceasefire agreement, leading White House officials to see a potential “breakthrough” in talks with Israel. (New York Times)


🚜  Israel approved the most significant seizure of land in the West Bank since the Oslo Accords. The seizure includes 1,270 hectares — about 4.9 square miles — of the Jordan Valley. (CNN)


😨  Hezbollah struck northern Israel with its most intense barrage since Oct. 7. The IDF did not report any injuries. (Forward)


Elsewhere …


🇬🇧  Britain’s Labour party won Thursday’s election in a landslide. New Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose wife is Jewish, has emphasized strengthening ties with the Jewish community that were eroded under the leadership of previous Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. (JTA)


⚖️  The man accused of killing Detroit synagogue leader Samantha Woll in October vigorously denied a role in the crime while on trial, saying instead that he came across Woll’s body while trying to break into cars in her neighborhood. (Associated Press)


😧  An 88-year-old woman was beaten and called a “dirty Jew” in France. Her granddaughter, an Israeli Knesset member, lambasted France for permitting “the spread of blood libels against Israel.” (Times of Israel)

VIDEO OF THE DAY

“Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” in Yiddish — performed by Julie Benko, breakout star of Broadway’s recent Funny Girl revival? Yes, please!

Thanks to Benyamin Cohen for contributing to today’s newsletter, and to Beth Harpaz for editing it. You can reach the “Forwarding” team at editorial@forward.com.

Support Independent Jewish Journalism

Reporting from the ground in Israel and campuses takes resources. Support the news that matters to you with a monthly donation.