Renee Garfinkel

Renee Garfinkel is a Jerusalem-based psychologist and writer for the 'Washington Times,' and other publications

 Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA) attends a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland,

We are being played by our enemies, politicians, and even ourselves - opinion

 PEOPLE IN THE center of the country take shelter during an air raid siren after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel last year.

How we are being played by enemies, politicians, and ourselves - opinion

 Habima Square in Tel Aviv packed with protesters calling loud and clear to save the Israeli democracy and to release the hostages.

We must rebuild trust in Israel, as faith in democracy begins with honesty - opinion


Loneliness and burnout: Helping our healthcare heroes - opinion

By acknowledging the hidden struggles of our medical community, we can help ensure that our healthcare heroes receive the care and understanding they so deeply deserve.

 AN AMBULANCE is on the scene near where a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an open area near Kibbutz Ayelet Hashahar, last August. In addition to overwhelming workloads, many professionals are now grappling with feelings of betrayal from international support networks, says the writer.

Israel's innovative ingenuity can help with our mental health crisis - opinion

By blending human compassion with technological innovation, Israel can create a mental health system that not only heals but uplifts its people.

Mental health [illustrative]

Secular and haredi Israelis must swim in the same waters - opinion

If we truly want a whole and united Israel, we’ll need everyone, haredi and secular alike, swimming together in the same waters. Yes, it’s risky. Yes, it’s scary. But it’s also the only way forward.

 DESPITE THE destruction during the Holocaust, haredi institutions are currently thriving with Divine assistance and significant help from the State of Israel, says the writer.

Hamas supporters vs advancement of knowledge - opinion

The pro-Hamas movement isn’t advancing justice or peace. It’s reviving the oldest form of prejudice in the newest of guises, undermining the very pursuit of knowledge on which we all depend.

 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Prof. Shai Davidai at a pro-Israel rally in Manhattan last month. Jewish scholars have long been targets of antisemitism, the writer states.

Religious introspection in Israel comes with political challenges - opinion

We criticize the motives and actions of opposing political, social, or ideological groups, questioning their values and integrity, and often dismissing them as morally wrong.

 AIMING FOR the strengthening of Israeli unity, people gather with Israeli flags at one of some 100 locations around the country, in Hispin, Golan Heights, in August.

The people of Israel deserve a better government - opinion

When a country does not have the government it deserves, what does it do? Its people get more involved.  They act. They organize.

 PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, last December. Since October 7, the people of Israel have demonstrated their superiority to their government and its institutions, the writer asserts.

We can operationalize the dream of unity into a reality - opinion

A Pew Research Center survey shows decreasing societal divisions in Israel, reflecting hope amid challenges. Fourth Quarter promotes unity through consensus-driven reforms.

Israeli flag.

The psychology of soldiers and accidents in the Hamas war - opinion

They serve as a poignant call to all parties involved to reevaluate their strategies and ensure that the sanctity of humanitarian efforts is preserved even amidst the tumult of conflict.

 A PERSON looks on at a charred vehicle where seven World Central Kitchen employees were killed in an airstrike in the Deir al-Balah area of the Gaza Strip, last week.

In search of statesmanship and rallying towards a unified vision - opinion

Israel is at a crossroads, facing political, military, and moral challenges. The essence of statesmanship is as crucial as ever to navigate our modern complexities.

 A man and a boy walk past Israeli flags over a field of wildflowers blooming at the site of the Nova festival where people were killed and kidnapped during the October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen from Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Reim, sou

Holocaust Rememberance Day: Parallels between Hamas and the Nazis - opinion

Today, we confront a chilling irony: on this day dedicated to remembering the past’s atrocities, Israel faces threats reminiscent of that tragic era.

 Demonstrators participate in the "March on Washington for Gaza," in support of the Palestinian people, in Washington, U.S., January 13, 2024