1.Bibi's Cynical Tour

The man sure can speak. Never mind that his main (only) goal is his political survival. Never mind that in Congress he spoke to Israeli voters and not to Americans, who have very different agendas. Bibi "pledged in a scathing speech to Congress on Wednesday to achieve 'total victory' against Hamas and denounced American opponents of the war in Gaza as 'idiots,' taking a combative stance in a visit the Biden administration has hoped will yield progress in negotiations to end the fighting.

Yesterday, "Netanyahu used the high-profile address to a joint meeting of Congress to emphasize longstanding and close ties between the United States and Israel. But the speech put in sharp relief the divisions in American society stirred by the war, with dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotting the address and thousands of protesters outside the Capitol condemning the war and the humanitarian crisis created by it." Read more here: "In a fiery speech to Congress, Netanyahu vowed 'total victory' in Gaza and denounced US protesters."

It is clear that with his weak position at home and the majority of Israelis calling for his resignation, he was mindful to compliment both current and former administrations. He continued to do so today in a personal meeting with President Biden. A meeting with the vice president, who could not attend yesterday’s session, is scheduled as is one with former President Trump at Mar-a-Lago tomorrow. This is a significant domestic victory for the prime minister with plenty of pictures to be used for weeks. Astute Israel journalists made a point of reminding everyone that Bibi’s son celebrates his birthday tomorrow in the luxury Miami hotel he has called home for months. The state-funded birthday and weekend stay is very much in line with the Bibi we know. Shortly after his speech Israeli forces were able to secure and bring back the bodies of five of the hostages, with the operation delayed so as not to conflict with the theatrics in Washington. 

2.The Final Chapter Begins

"President Joe Biden said ending Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip would be one of his highest priorities as he ends his presidency. He also alluded to the threat to democracy he believes Donald Trump poses, one that Biden has tied in the past to antisemitism.

"Biden addressed the nation Wednesday evening for the first time since he announced Sunday that he would drop his reelection bid and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris.

"Biden was determined to show that his decision not to run would not hinder his agenda as his term winds down over the next six months. He remained committed to what he has long believed are his strengths, foreign policy and maintaining U.S. leadership in the world."

“I’m going to keep working to end the war in Gaza, to bring home all the hostages and to bring peace and security to the Middle East and end this war,” he said.

3.Kamala's Move

When Kamala Harris likely becomes the candidate for president, we may learn more about her thoughts on foreign policy and Israel. Until that happens let’s remember that she is married to a Jewish man and has Jewish stepchildren so perhaps we can hold off on the anti-Zionist talk for a minute.

"It is easy for Israelis to assume that in America the new generation is a diminished version of past generations. They used to love us more, today they love us less. As if there is no reason for this other than the general decline of America, or the Democratic Party. The truth is a bit more complex. Americans have changed — and so have we Israelis. Harris is not Biden, and Netanyahu is not Menachem Begin. Her Democratic Party is not Biden’s Democratic Party. His Likud Party is not Yitzhak Shamir’s Likud Party. And as mentioned, everything we think we know about Harris and Israel is nothing more than an illusion." Read more in "Rosner's Doman: Is Harris Good for Israel?"

4.The Israel Vision Project

For three weeks while I was in Israel, Waze and Google Maps often directed me (anywhere) via Beirut. "One usually reliable homegrown technology, however, wasn’t working. As if reflecting the loss of a metaphysical North Star, neither Waze nor Google Maps was functioning well. In many parts of the country, GPS identified our location as Beirut and mapped the trip from there, a recurring reminder that Hezbollah fighters were not far away, and the Israeli military was scrambling GPS to make it harder for their guided missiles to find their targets.

"This left Moment Israel Editor Eetta Prince-Gibson and me without navigation as we drove from Jerusalem to the West Bank settlement of Ofra, from the Arab-Jewish cities of Akko and Haifa on the coast to Beer Sheva and Sde Boker in the Negev, from the Nova Music Festival site (now a moving memorial to those massacred there, as is the heap of burned-out and bullet-riddled cars a few miles away) to Tel Aviv/Yafo, Zichron Yaakov and Kfar Saba.

"I had come to ask Israelis of all kinds to articulate their vision of Israel’s future, because, from afar, it was difficult to imagine what they were thinking in a time of tragedy and existential threat. I talked to 70 people in all, and themes gradually began to emerge. The first and most obvious was bottomless despair," writes Nadine Epstein in Moment Magazine. Learn more in "Six Days Without Waze."

5.Summer Games

The opening ceremony is tomorrow but the Olympic games have already started. (What's that about?) I don't watch them. The games, for me, were canceled in 1972. Not gonna watch the 100-meter dash, the swimming, the dream team, Biles or any of the Jewish athletes.

Israel played their first soccer game yesterday and tied 1:1 while the US lost to France. There are possible medals for Israel in Judo and gymnastics and Jewish athletes represent Australia, Canada and the US. See more in this JTA story.

Mikaella Moshe (who was featured in the Bulletin three weeks ago) finished the preliminary round in 18th place with an Israeli record and will play the 47th finisher in the knockout. I like her story because she was a gymnast until . . . a few minutes ago, deciding to switch sports in 2022. She is a rare championship talent. Moments before her preliminary round today Michaela received death threats on social media. To me this feels just like 1972 minus Mark Spitz.

6.Empire State of Mind

Nostalgia is fine. Let's reminisce about the Jewish love affair with the Catskills. But the food served then? It may best be left to history to document it.

Exhibit A: "A dinner menu from Kutsher’s might offer 11 'mains,' from Jewish standbys like boiled flanken and potted brisket to more exotic fare like chicken cacciatore and 'barbacued [sic] ribs of prime beef, Mandarin.' The appetizers included 'stuffed fresh water fish with red beet horse radish,' which sounds suspiciously like gefilte fish. For dessert, there was apple strudel, 'sugar bow ties,' fruit sherbet and raspberry jello." 

You can read more here: A museum exhibit on Jewish food and humor puts the 'borscht' in Borscht Belt. Below are some New York (if not Catskills resorts)-themed dishes for you to try.

For Your Calendar

Through September 2

"Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away."

For its regional premiere, the most comprehensive exhibition ever presented on Auschwitz is coming to Boston and The Saunders Castle. The exhibition features more than 700 artifacts of immense value to world history and all of humanity.

Tickets at The Castle at Park Plaza