During their sole debate earlier this week, Joe Hathaway, the Republican nominee in a special House election in New Jersey, repeatedly accused Democratic nominee Analilia Mejia of espousing antisemitism and taking stances that would make the district’s sizable Jewish community unsafe.

Rep. Ro Khanna said he would reject further funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, echoing a position taken this week by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, under pressure from some members of the Democratic Socialists of America.

“We don’t want to leave anyone behind. We don’t want anyone to feel like they are isolated and living in a black hole, and after this traumatic moment and after a mass violence experience, that is often the case,” said Rabbi Arianna Gordon, Temple Israel director of education and lifelong learning

For people who don’t live in West Bloomfield, once the headlines shifted from “active shooter at a synagogue” to “antisemitic attack thwarted,” many moved on. Jews in Metro Detroit did not.

Senate candidate Mike Rogers has criticized Abdul El-Sayed, one of his Democratic opponents, for announcing that he will host campaign rallies with Hasan Piker. “My problem with Hasan is, I think he’s a blatant antisemite, No. 1. But No. 2, he’s anti-American,” Rogers told Jewish Insider.

As social workers and rabbis work to meet community members’ emotional needs, the biggest unanswered question has to do with security: Is there enough?

In an interview with Jewish Insider, Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers recounted a recent conversation with a woman who worked in Republican politics and grew up Christian, who told him that she is now not sure whether to support Israel.

The story of Temple Israel is one of miracles. The building’s sprinkler system turned on, soaking everything in the building except for the Torah scrolls. Miracle. No children were in the hallway in the path of the truck. Miracle upon miracle upon miracle.

As former Rep. Mike Rogers campaigns for the open Senate seat in Michigan, he is not shy about his support for Israel. But he has lately encountered more people pushing back, and he is worried not enough is being done, including in his own party, to fight that trend.

Nearly half of young Jewish women reported dating less as a result of increased antisemitism and other negative consequences of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks, according to a new survey by Jewish Women International.

The attack on Temple Israel, and the fact that no one died, offers a “second chance,” said @jeremymoss.bsky.social, a Democratic state senator who is running for Congress this year. Not just for the parents and children, he said, but “for all of us.”

On a DSA endorsement call, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reportedly committed to opposing “any spending on arms for Israel, including so-called defensive capabilities” and the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism. ji.news/4wxrc

The foiled attack at the Michigan synagogue is being called a miracle — but those who were inside now face the lasting impact of trauma and a search for safety. “People are traumatized, and there's no way around it,” said Rabbi Josh Bennett, who has been on the pulpit at Temple Israel for 33 years.

ANALYSIS | Does Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Jewish senator who is facing a tough reelection in a state Trump carried twice, return Hasan Piker’s affections? His team has been unresponsive about his views on Piker, even as some leading Democrats have spoken out against the influencer and kept their distance.

A preschool teacher heard the shots, locked eyes with her co-teacher, and mouthed: Don't show any emotion. Every child who was in the building that day is safe. But the people who lived through the attack are still grappling with trauma, shattered security and a world that has largely moved on.

Maureen Tkacik, a top editor for The American Prospect, has made no secret of her self-avowed hatred of Israel. But in recent months she has increasingly entertained conspiracy theories, used antisemitic rhetoric and expressed her approval of far-right extremists stoking anti-Jewish sentiment.

An Ireland-based Palestinian journalist who has contributed to multiple outlets shared posts on his Instagram story encouraging violence against an Irish pro-Israel commentator, Druze Israeli politicians and Israelis generally.

Read today's #DailyKickoff: 🤐 Oss-off the record on Piker Full briefing 👇 ji.news/4wvz2

One day after the attack at Temple Israel, @slotkin.senate.gov attended Shabbat services with the community. The gathering was held at Shenandoah County Club, which serves the Chaldean community, a group of Iraqi Christians. In an interview, Slotkin wanted people to remember what the Chaldeans did.

“As I was talking to a mom from Temple Israel, she credited all of the security that they’ve invested in,” said @mallorymcmorrow.bsky.social. “She said, ‘We have to address the underlying root cause.'"

A federal judge ordered the University of Pennsylvania to comply with a subpoena from the Trump administration requesting detailed information about Jewish university affiliates as part of the government’s crackdown on campus antisemitism.

“As a senator, I’ve had to rush home for five or six mass shooting events. This one was by far closest to home. Knowing the actual people, knowing the head of security... it was just particularly personal,” @slotkin.senate.gov told Jewish Insider.

“The past month reaffirms that standoff air and naval power are insufficient by themselves to neutralize these targets or convince Iran to give them up,” said Jonathan Ruhe.

A senior Jewish Democrat predicted an anti-AIPAC resolution of some form could move forward, pointing to discontent and frustration among Democratic insiders over AIPAC’s spending to block former Rep. Tom Malinowski’s special election primary bid, as well as its involvement in primaries in Illinois.

“People hear ‘boots on the ground’ and immediately think of Iraq, but we had boots on the ground in Venezuela as well — just in a very different way,” said Richard Goldberg, a former Trump administration official.

Israel’s Ministry of Defense said it would be ending all defense procurement from France, citing Paris’ hostile posture toward Jerusalem and a desire to increase domestic production and purchases from allies.

“I was horrified when I put out my statement that day. All of the first comments on it were whataboutism,” @mallorymcmorrow.bsky.social told Jewish Insider in an interview. “Antisemitism is real.”

@haliesoifer.bsky.social, the CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, said the fact of a resolution being introduced doesn’t mean that it will be considered by or adopted by the full DNC. “What you’re seeing here doesn’t reflect a position that’s been adopted by the DNC,” Soifer said.

In an interview, @slotkin.senate.gov proposed ways for Congress and the government to better respond to the threat of violent, antisemitic extremism. But even as she discussed ways to take action, she spoke with alarm about the growing prevalence of antisemitism on both sides of the aisle.

“There is little chance that Iran, despite all punishment it has taken from U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, will make these concessions … If the [current] negotiations falter, it’s not hard to guess which way [Trump] will go,” said Daniel Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel under Obama.

ANALYSIS | Two new polls of Jewish voters show broad opposition to the U.S. military action against Iran, with support for the operation highest among those who are the most connected to Israel and those who are most affiliated with Jewish institutions. Full analysis by Josh Kraushaar:

In an interview with Jewish Insider in a coffee shop near Detroit, Senate candidate @mallorymcmorrow.bsky.social described herself as someone tuned in to the fears of Jewish Michiganders who is also trying to be a bridge-builder to Michigan's large Arab community.

Democratic insiders took differing views on whether the resolutions — particularly the one relating to AIPAC — are likely to pass in their current form.

Conflicting posturing on the war in Iran — insisting on the one hand that a diplomatic deal is within reach while also threatening to escalate strikes and potentially deploy ground troops — has left experts and former administration officials uncertain about Trump’s next move.

Read today's #DailyKickoff: 🐊 DNC's Big Easy target: AIPAC Full briefing 👇 ji.news/4wrk3

The Democratic National Committee’s resolutions committee is set to consider resolutions condemning AIPAC and Israel at its upcoming meeting next week in New Orleans — a sign of the continued and growing discord in the party over Middle East policy.

Speaking to Jewish Insider last July, Effie Phillips-Staley, one of the Democrats aiming to take on Rep. Mike Lawler, said that she wanted to be “very clear that the U.S. has to continue to be a critical ally to Israel." But now, the progressive candidate has flip-flopped on her views.

Israeli-American comedian Modi Rosenfeld, known simply as “Modi,” pulled out of a Passover-themed benefit after his manager revealed that the Modern Orthodox entertainer had been “blindsided” with the news that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani would participate in the Lower Manhattan event.

The scandal surrounding Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick could send another far-left Israel critic to Congress, after a House Ethics Committee panel found her guilty on Thursday of 25 charges and lawmakers now move toward expelling her from the chamber.

"The dynamic is a reminder that the delusions of a social media echo chamber will persist unless they get confronted by political reality. Sometimes that reality is as simple as speaking up against craziness when everyone else is afraid to speak the truth." Analysis by Josh Kraushaar:

The FBI determined that the attack on Temple Israel in suburban Detroit earlier this month was “a Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism purposely targeting the Jewish community and the largest Jewish temple in Michigan,” officials said.

The Knesset passed a controversial law on Monday allowing courts to impose the death penalty on convicted terrorists found guilty of murder. @lahavharkov.bsky.social reports:

An AI-generated Instagram account, which featured a fake Orthodox rabbi spreading antisemitic conspiracies, was taken offline over the weekend following major backlash — yet several similar, hate-peddling accounts have emerged with little to no public action from Meta.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will participate Monday evening in a Passover-themed benefit for a nonprofit focused on peacebuilding alongside multiple American and Israeli celebrities.

Netanyahu’s governing coalition narrowly beat a deadline that would have led to an early election, passing the 2026 state budget early Monday morning, a day before the March 31 deadline. @lahavharkov.bsky.social reports:

Jewish Israelis’ support for the war against Iran dropped by 15 points from the first week of the war, according to a poll released by the Israel Democracy Institute. @lahavharkov.bsky.social reports:

A war powers resolution introduced by Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Delia Ramirez and Nydia Velazquez would block any U.S. participation in and assistance to Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Check out what Jewish Insider's wine columnist, Yitz Applbaum, will have on his Seder table this year. ji.news/4wp8i

A group of 25 Senate Democrats criticized Trump for lifting sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil exports, sanctions which have seen broad bipartisan support.

Relatives of a Shanghai-based software magnate are operating inside the New York City chapter of the DSA, supporting Mamdani’s preferred candidates for Congress and playing significant roles in shaping and advancing key elements of his agenda, Jewish Insider has found.