by Ram ben Ze’ev The So-Called Jerusalem Cross: A Symbol Misunderstood When photographs emerged of now–Secretary of War Pete Hegseth proudly displaying the tattoo of what he calls the “Jerusalem Cross” on his chest, the reaction among Democrats and Leftists in the United States was immediate and predictably hysterical. They condemned it as “Christian nationalism,” “Crusader imagery,” and a threat to “diversity.” Yet, as usual, their outrage was both selective and shallow — be

by Ram ben Ze’ev The Company He Keeps: Why Zohran Mamdani’s Candidacy Demands Jewish Scrutiny New York is no ordinary city. It is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel — a city scarred by Islamist terror and yet a city whose compassion often leads it to forget what that terror cost. Now, with Zohran Mamdani rising as the presumptive mayoral winner, New Yorkers are being asked to overlook a record that demands scrutiny. Mamdani, the son of Ugandan immigrants of

by Ram ben Ze’ev The Global Burden of Uninvited Empathy The Internet was meant to connect the world — and it has. But in doing so, it has blurred the boundaries between awareness and intrusion, between caring and carrying . What began as an exchange of information has become a contest of opinions. Everyone feels compelled to speak on everything, everywhere, as if silence were an act of betrayal . Social media has made this even worse. The platforms that claim to “connect” us

by Ram ben Ze’ev Musical Chairs in Gold: Why Small Investors Must Take Delivery Most gold trading today is not about bars moving from vault to vault; it is about claims on gold—promises, not metal. Futures, forwards, options, ETFs, and “unallocated” accounts are convenient, liquid, and, in quiet times, efficient. But they are still paper. If you are a smaller retail investor, that distinction is not academic; it is existential. The Two Markets: Paper vs. Metal There is the pa

מאת רם בן זאב הציונות איננה איום — היא היסוד במהלך נאומו בכנסת, השמיע נשיא ארצות הברית דונלד טראמפ דברים חריגים במיוחד ( תמליל ): “...the people of Israel have never given up from the threats of Zionism, from all sorts of threats...” — President Donald Trump "...עם ישראל מעולם לא ויתר על איומי הציונות, על כל מיני איומים..." — הנשיא דונלד טראמפ בהקשר הרחב יותר, כאשר דיבר על הקב״ה, אמר טראמפ: “And He still writes hope into the hearts of His children all over the world. And th

By Ram ben Ze’ev Zionism Is Not a Threat — It Is the Foundation It was during his speech at the Knesset that President Donald Trump uttered the extraordinary words ( Transcript ): “...the people of Israel have never given up from the threats of Zionism, from all sorts of threats...” — President Donald Trump Trump's statement , in context, was (speaking about G-D): "And He still writes hope into the hearts of His children all over the world. And that is why even after 3000 yea

by Ram ben Ze’ev Bitcoin’s Illusory Floor: Why Rising Mining Costs Expose a Structural Flaw For years, Bitcoin enthusiasts have repeated a mantra: that the “cost of mining” creates a kind of gravitational floor under the price, guaranteeing its long-term appreciation. In theory, this sounds compelling. Unlike fiat currencies, Bitcoin has a fixed issuance schedule. Unlike gold, its supply cannot be expanded in response to higher prices. And because mining becomes progressively

by Ram ben Ze’ev Trump, the Nobel Committee, and the Myth of Middle East Peace The Nobel Committee has announced its choice for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize and—surprise to some, though not to me—it isn’t President Donald Trump. Frankly, this should shock no one. The Nobel Prize for Peace is, at least in theory, awarded for lasting contributions toward peace. It is not intended for short bursts of diplomatic theatre for headlines or deals whose longevity is measured in mont

מאת רם בן זאב יד, קפה, והקשר הנצחי השכם בבוקר, בסביבות השעה 2:30 לפי זמן גריניץ', התעוררתי לפתע מחלום שלא היה דומה לאף אחד מן החלומות שחלמתי מאז פטירת אבי ב־7 באוגוסט 2018. לעיתים תהיתי מדוע מעולם לא חלמתי עליו בחלום חי וברור. היינו קרובים, ואף על פי כן, לילה אחר לילה, שנה אחר שנה, נוכחותו לא הופיעה בשנתי בדרך מוחשית. אך הלילה שעבר היה שונה. בחלום, אבי ואני היינו בתחנת דרכים וקנינו קפה — דבר שנהג לעשות לעיתים קרובות. הסצנה הייתה מוכרת, יומיומית, ואף על פי כן שררה בה בהירות שק