Yakov M. Rabkin

A few weeks ago, I paraphrased Marx’s words from nearly two centuries ago: “A spectre is haunting Europe – the spectre of irrelevance”. Recent events suggest that the spectre is rapidly becoming a reality. While the European Union and Britain…

Radical pronouncements from the new American president have galvanised Canadian society and government alike. They have united Canadians and greatly improved the chances of the ruling Liberal party to win the forthcoming elections. President Trump has made consistent threats to…

The author is a renowned journalist, political scientist, and professor of journalism at New York University. He headed The New Republic magazine and is the author of four books. Named among the hundred “global thinkers” by Foreign Affairs, he is…

Turmoil in international politics in mid-February has definitely eclipsed Saint Valentine’s Day. While this was not unexpected, the new U.S. president spoke for 90 minutes with his Russian counterpart and warmly praised him afterward. The fact that this conversation happened…

Exodus 13 :17 – 17:16. Beshalah. This Torah portion concludes the epic of liberation from slavery. The triumphant splitting of the sea is followed by an explosion of joy reflected in the Song at the Sea (shirat ha-yam). However, Rabbinic Judaism…

By Nigel Martin and Yakov M. Rabkin Once, at the Foreign Press Club in Tokyo, during a discussion on Canada’s foreign policy, a Montreal journalist began his talk with a succinct statement: “There are three countries that are important for…

This title borrowed from the memoirs of scientist and Nobel laureate Rita Levi-Montalcini should help us learn from the weekly reading Vayigash what makes a good leader. In the context of the 2024 presidential election in the United States, there…

Hanukkah is, perhaps, the easiest Jewish holiday to celebrate. There are no restrictions on what one may or may not do—no fasting and, in fact, no prohibitions except one: the lights of Hanukkah must not be used for any practical…

Modern Israel attracts much attention from analysts and the public but our ability to understand it is hindered by ideology, prejudice, and myth. Many tread carefully when discussing Israel lest they be accused of antisemitism. In an earlier article, I…

“This past year has proven how fragile and precious life can be.” Rabbi Moshe Taragin, educator and author, begins his recent article with these words. It is written during the Hebrew month of Elul, which, this year, began in September.…