The Fifth Question - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

by Mira Sucharov

David Broza returns to peace train, with boycotters on board

Forthcoming album 'East Jerusalem / West Jerusalem' unites musicians of different political stripes in an East Jerusalem studio.

By Mira Sucharov | Nov 24, 2013 | 11:42 AM | 3

David Broza sings for peace, but the message is lost on Diaspora Jews
By Mira Sucharov

Breaking down the shame: Jews and the myth around addiction

As Jews in treatment challenge preconceptions around Jewish substance abuse, some groups turn to tradition to deal with the stigma.

By Mira Sucharov | Nov 10, 2013 | 03:10 PM | 2

What does it mean to be anti-Israel?

Those who accuse organizations such as J Street and the New Israel Fund as anti-Israel while proclaiming themselves pro-Israelis are nullifying important questions every patriot should be dealing with.

By Mira Sucharov | Oct 26, 2013 | 10:25 PM | 23

Is there such a thing as Jewish values?

Whether it’s over the phone to a pollster, in our rabbi’s office, across the halls of the Knesset, or around the Shabbat table; it’s time to talk Jewish values with an eye toward their impact on others and their true value to ourselves.

By Mira Sucharov | Oct 12, 2013 | 09:06 AM | 8

Helping others begins with being honest about yourself

Organized Jewish life is making strides in providing community empathy and assistance for those who need it, but our social norms have yet to catch up.

By Mira Sucharov | Sep 28, 2013 | 12:49 AM

Jewish activists protesting for social justice – from the Hineni video

New viral video urges American Jews to heed the call of social justice

The Jewish Social Justice Roundtable launched a call to action under the title Hineni via a short video on an issue close to the hearts of American Jews: immigration reform.

By Mira Sucharov | Sep 12, 2013 | 07:30 PM | 6

Commie Camp: Indoctrination or true Jewish values?

A new documentary about an offbeat Jewish summer camp raises difficult, pertinent questions about the political meaning of Judaism's core cultural values.

By Mira Sucharov | Aug 29, 2013 | 01:24 PM | 3

A rabbi, a YouTube video, and the emotional punch called forgiveness

How different would the world look if we forgave without first hearing 'I’m sorry?' Sharon Brous, last year’s 'most influential' rabbi demonstrates the courage to ask what often goes unasked.

By Mira Sucharov | Aug 15, 2013 | 03:58 PM

A fake map showing the 'Islamization' of Europe

Poison by PowerPoint: Reading between the lines of Islamophobic emails

The hateful emails that circulate about Muslims should be renamed 'I'm frightened. Can we talk?' since they stem from the universal pain and anxiety that arises from fear and uncertainty.

By Mira Sucharov | Jul 31, 2013 | 01:37 PM | 10

Illustrative image of kids at summer camp.

Showing Israel's dark side at Jewish summer camp

Should camp counselors venture beyond Zionist kitsch and delve deeper into the dire moral and political circumstances faced by Israel?

By Mira Sucharov | Jul 19, 2013 | 12:39 PM | 12

Supporters of former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi

The fine line between critique and bigotry when evaluating Islam and Egypt

As the coup in Egypt unfolds, the debate over Islam and democracy continues apace. Can respectful critique push a community's beliefs toward the universal values of justice, peace and freedom?

By Mira Sucharov | Jul 6, 2013 | 10:27 PM | 8

About this blog

Mira Sucharov is Associate Professor of Political Science and Assistant Dean, Faculty of Public Affairs, at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. A child of the 70s and 80s in two tight-knit Canadian Jewish communities, Mira wrestles with the role of tradition in light of contemporary values, the links between narratives and identity, and the Diaspora relationship with Israel. She is the author of The International Self: Psychoanalysis and the Search for Israeli-Palestinian Peace (SUNY Press), and is a 2010 recipient of a Rockower Award for Excellence in Jewish Journalism. She is currently writing a book on nostalgia and political change.