Hubbry Logo
Jonathan S. TobinJonathan S. TobinMain
Open search
Jonathan S. Tobin
Community hub
Jonathan S. Tobin
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Jonathan S. Tobin
Jonathan S. Tobin
from Wikipedia

Jonathan S. Tobin is an American journalist. He is editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).

Key Information

Biography

[edit]

Jonathan S. Tobin was born in New York City and educated in local schools. He studied history at Columbia University.

Journalism career

[edit]

Tobin is a frequent commentator on domestic politics, Israel, and Jewish affairs. His column, "View from America",[1] appeared for many years in The Jerusalem Post. His work has also appeared in Israel Hayom, the Christian Science Monitor, The Forward, Britain's Jewish Chronicle, the New York Sun, and many other publications. Tobin lectures widely across the United States on college campuses and to Jewish organizations and synagogues. He tours North America debating political and Jewish issues[2] with J.J. Goldberg of The Forward, and has appeared on CNN, BBC Radio, Fox News, Newsmax, i24News, and local network affiliates to discuss politics, foreign policy, and Jewish issues.

From 2009 to 2011, he was executive editor of Commentary, a neo-conservative monthly magazine. From 2011 to 2017, he was the senior online editor and chief political blogger at Commentary and the author[3] of feature articles, reviews, and blog posts on the site.[4] Tobin was executive editor of The Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia from 1998 through 2008. Prior to that, he was executive editor of The Connecticut Jewish Ledger.

In 2003, Tobin told an interviewer that Jewish journalism had improved in quality over the preceding 20 years. However, there were constraints because many American Jewish newspapers are owned by Jewish federations rather than independent corporations. This problem, he said, is not different from the problems faced by other newspapers: "Nobody at The Philadelphia Inquirer reports aggressively on Knight Ridder Corp." He told an interviewer for The New York Times that, "My job as editor is to talk about things people are not willing to talk about".[5] In the same article, the Times wrote that, "In his three-year tenure at The Ledger, an independently owned newspaper, Mr. Tobin, a Long Island native, has turned the once-stodgy weekly into a plucky newspaper, with stories on abuses at a local Jewish nursing home and domestic violence among Jews."

Awards and recognition

[edit]

Tobin was profiled in the Philadelphia Business Journal on July 26, 2002, and in Press, the magazine of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, in its November 2002 issue.[6]

He was named top editorial columnist and best arts critic in Philadelphia for the year 2005 by the Society of Professional Journalists.[7]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Jonathan S. Tobin is an American journalist and editor who serves as editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), a news organization focused on Jewish and Israel-related topics. Born in New York City and educated in history at Columbia University, he has built a career commenting on U.S. politics, foreign policy, the U.S.-Israel relationship, Middle East diplomacy, and the Jewish world. Tobin previously worked as executive editor and chief political blogger at Commentary magazine, editor-in-chief of The Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia, and editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger. He contributes columns to outlets including The Federalist, Newsweek, National Review, and the New York Post, often critiquing anti-Israel sentiments and antisemitism while advocating for a robust U.S. alliance with Israel. Tobin hosts the JNS podcasts Think Twice and Jonathan Tobin Daily, providing in-depth analysis of controversies impacting Jewish communities and Israeli security, and he appears frequently on television to discuss these issues. Over his career, he has received more than 60 awards for commentary, editorial writing, and arts criticism.

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Upbringing

Jonathan S. Tobin was born in . He grew up in the city and attended local schools for his primary and secondary education. Specific details regarding his parents, siblings, or precise family circumstances are not publicly documented in biographical accounts. Tobin's early exposure to New York's urban environment and educational institutions laid the foundation for his subsequent academic pursuits.

Academic Background

Tobin attended public schools in during his early education. He then pursued higher education at , where he majored in history and earned a degree in 1976. No records indicate pursuit of advanced degrees or postgraduate studies following his undergraduate tenure. His academic focus on history laid foundational knowledge for his subsequent career in and commentary on political and .

Professional Career

Early Journalism Roles

Tobin commenced his professional journalism career as executive editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger, a weekly newspaper serving the Jewish community in Connecticut, holding the position from approximately 1992 to 1998. In this role, he oversaw editorial content focused on local Jewish affairs, Israel-related news, and broader communal issues, contributing to the publication's coverage during a period of growing interest in Jewish identity and Zionism in American diaspora communities. His work at the Ledger established his reputation in Jewish media, emphasizing rigorous reporting on antisemitism and support for Israel, themes that would recur throughout his career. In 1998, Tobin transitioned to the Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia, initially serving as executive editor and later advancing to editor-in-chief, a position he maintained until December 2008, spanning a decade of leadership. Under his direction, the Exponent—one of the oldest Jewish newspapers in the United States, founded in 1887—expanded its opinion sections and investigative pieces, earning multiple journalism awards from organizations such as the American Jewish Press Association. Tobin's editorial tenure emphasized conservative perspectives on Jewish communal politics, critiques of liberal assimilation trends, and advocacy for strong U.S.-Israel ties, aligning with the publication's traditional stance while navigating internal debates over ideological balance. During this era, he also began contributing op-eds to national outlets, honing a style of commentary that prioritized empirical analysis of foreign policy and domestic cultural shifts over prevailing progressive narratives in Jewish media.

Roles at Commentary Magazine

Jonathan S. Tobin assumed the position of executive editor at Commentary magazine on January 1, 2009, succeeding from his prior role as editor-in-chief of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. In this capacity, which he held through 2011, Tobin oversaw editorial direction, contributing to the magazine's neoconservative analysis of politics, foreign policy, and Jewish affairs. From 2011 to 2017, Tobin transitioned to senior online editor and chief political blogger, emphasizing the expansion of Commentary's digital platform amid growing online readership for . In these roles, he curated and authored content on timely issues, including U.S.- relations and domestic , authoring thousands of pieces that bolstered the publication's influence in intellectual conservative circles. Tobin's tenure, spanning more than eight years, coincided with Commentary's adaptation to web-based discourse under editor , where he helped maintain the magazine's commitment to rigorous critique over prevailing progressive narratives in media and academia. His departure in early 2017 facilitated his move to the , marking the end of a period in which Commentary solidified its role as a counterweight to left-leaning institutional biases in Jewish and political commentary.

Leadership at Jewish News Syndicate

Jonathan S. Tobin was appointed editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) on December 4, 2017, after serving in the role of opinion editor and columnist since March 2017. In this capacity, he directs the organization's editorial operations, including the syndication of news, analysis, and commentary on Jewish issues, Israel, antisemitism, and related topics to outlets across the United States and internationally. Prior to his full leadership role, Tobin's experience included over eight years as a senior online columnist at Commentary Magazine, which informed his approach to fostering conservative-leaning, pro-Israel perspectives within JNS's coverage. Under Tobin's leadership, JNS expanded its digital presence and multimedia offerings, including the launch of podcasts such as Think Twice with Jonathan Tobin, which provides in-depth analysis of Jewish world controversies, and Jonathan Tobin Daily, offering daily breakdowns of key stories affecting and Jewish communities. These initiatives have positioned JNS as a platform for syndicating content from its and U.S. bureaus, led by figures like CEO and Bureau Chief Alex Traiman and Director of News Charles Bybelezer. Tobin's tenure marked a milestone for JNS in professional recognition when, in June 2019, he secured the organization's first honors from the American Jewish Press Association (AJPA), winning two first-place awards: the Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary and the Simon Rockower Award for excellence in syndicated or freelance commentary. These accolades highlighted the quality of opinion-driven content produced under his editorial guidance, emphasizing rigorous critique of , U.S. foreign policy toward , and domestic Jewish communal dynamics. Throughout his leadership, Tobin has maintained JNS's commitment to independent , appearing regularly and contributing to broader media ecosystems while prioritizing factual reporting over institutional biases prevalent in some mainstream Jewish media.

Other Contributions and Affiliations

Tobin holds positions as a senior contributor to The Federalist, a columnist for Newsweek, and a contributing editor at Commentary magazine, where he has published extensively on foreign policy and Jewish affairs. He also contributes opinion pieces to National Review, the New York Post, and Haaretz. Beyond editorial roles, Tobin lectures frequently at U.S. college campuses, synagogues, and Jewish community organizations on topics including , , and American politics. He appears regularly on as a commentator, providing analysis of current events related to the and domestic policy. These affiliations complement his primary leadership at the , extending his influence across conservative media outlets and pro-Israel advocacy networks, though he maintains no formal board seats in external organizations based on available professional records.

Political Views and Ideology

Stance on Israel and Foreign Policy

Jonathan S. Tobin has consistently advocated for robust U.S. support for 's security and military , viewing the as a vital democratic ally confronting existential threats from Islamist groups like and , as well as . He argues that 's post-October 7, 2023, operations in Gaza and , aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure, represent necessary actions to prevent future attacks, even amid global criticism labeling them as disproportionate or genocidal. Tobin dismisses such accusations as rooted in and antisemitic double standards, emphasizing that Palestinian suffering does not negate 's right to prioritize its survival over international approval. Tobin expresses deep skepticism toward the Israeli-Palestinian , contending that Palestinian leadership has repeatedly rejected viable statehood offers, including those in 2000 under , 2001 under Ariel Sharon's government, and 2008 under , which encompassed most of the , Gaza, and a shared . He attributes this rejectionism to a core refusal to recognize as a , with Palestinian Authority leader and public opinion aligning more closely with Hamas's view that all of historic is occupied territory. In Tobin's analysis, past Israeli concessions, such as the 1993 and the 2005 Gaza withdrawal, empowered terrorists rather than fostering peace, reinforcing the need for a fundamental shift in Palestinian before negotiations can succeed. On broader foreign policy, Tobin critiques multilateral institutions like the as inherently biased against , citing their discriminatory resolutions and failure to address threats from or Palestinian incitement. He favors a realist U.S. approach that strengthens bilateral ties with over reliance on alliances like , which he sees as mismatched for Middle Eastern security challenges. Tobin has contrasted the Trump administration's policies—such as withdrawing from the nuclear deal and brokering the —as bolstering 's position, against the Obama and Biden eras, which he accuses of appeasing adversaries through deals like the 2015 agreement, supported by most Democrats and risking 's deterrence. In his view, an "" posture under Trump avoids true isolationism and aligns with 's needs by prioritizing over diplomatic virtue-signaling.

Perspectives on Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism

Jonathan S. Tobin maintains that constitutes a form of by seeking to deny the right to national and sovereignty in their ancestral homeland, rendering them uniquely vulnerable as a stateless people. He argues this ideology demonizes —the Jewish —as a colonial or racist enterprise, thereby legitimizing efforts to eliminate and revive historical patterns of Jewish powerlessness. In critiquing figures like , who shifted from liberal to advocating a binational state that would end Jewish self-rule, Tobin contends that such positions align with calls for Israel's destruction, like "Palestine from the river to the sea," and must be rejected outright in Jewish and broader discourse as incompatible with goodwill toward . Tobin emphasizes that the primary objective of anti-Zionist campaigns is to instill fear among worldwide, exploiting post-, 2023, surges in violence and rhetoric to portray as illegitimate. He distinguishes sources of this threat: left-wing variants rooted in and suspicion of successful nation-states like , versus right-wing expressions driven by envy, conspiracy theories about Jewish influence, and traditional Jew-hatred, though both converge in undermining Jewish security. Following the attacks on , 2023, Tobin has highlighted Islamist-inspired , including pro- protests on U.S. campuses and streets, as a key driver, linking it to "woke" ideologies such as and that frame as an oppressor and equate Jewish with . He cites incidents like the 2025 synagogue attack by an Egyptian immigrant amid pro- advocacy as evidence of how such narratives incite violence, contrasting muted media responses with hypothetical white supremacist cases. Regarding Jewish anti-Zionists, Tobin asserts they cannot claim membership in the mainstream Jewish "" community, as their opposition to Israel's existence aligns them with groups like that justify mass murder, rape, and kidnapping. He views their arguments as a of Jewish values and survival, fracturing unity at a time when Israel's defense is essential against existential threats, and urges Jewish institutions to prioritize Zionist to counter such influences. Tobin praises policies like those proposed by —targeting educational institutions fostering and deporting foreign agitators—as effective countermeasures, criticizing liberal Jewish reluctance as partisan blindness despite empirical rises in attacks. Overall, he advocates drawing firm lines against , treating it as "the soundtrack of hate" that rationalizes Jewish slaughter, whether from progressive mobs, UN resolutions, or Islamist radicals.

Critiques of Domestic Politics and Cultural Issues

Tobin has critiqued "wokeness" as an illiberal ideology that enforces orthodoxy on issues of race, , leading to widespread and a decline in open discourse across American institutions. He points to incidents on university campuses, such as disinvitations of speakers at Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown for views challenging progressive norms, as evidence of cancel culture's , supported by surveys indicating that a of Americans fear social for expressing unpopular opinions. Tobin contends that this intolerance, amplified by platforms like and enforcing progressive standards, transforms public debate into a "dialogue of the deaf" where is silenced rather than engaged. In cultural critiques, Tobin argues that and prioritize group affiliations over individual merit, eroding classical liberal values of debate and pluralism that have historically benefited minorities like . He highlights how wokeness dominates non-Orthodox Jewish organizations, fostering —evidenced by polls showing about 50% of Americans avoiding controversial topics—and stifling internal Jewish discourse on sensitive issues. Tobin warns that this shift marginalizes by recasting them as exemplars of "white privilege," despite the ethnic diversity of many Jewish communities from Middle Eastern or North African origins, and promotes uniformity that contradicts Jewish traditions of argumentative inquiry. Tobin links these cultural dynamics to domestic , asserting that frameworks, including (DEI) initiatives, have mainstreamed by framing and as symbols of within intersectional narratives. He criticizes DEI's application in education, such as at the , as a "scam" that undermines academic standards while embedding biases that equate Jewish with systemic , thereby normalizing hate under the banner of . In Tobin's view, this ideological capture of institutions, including media and progressive activism, exacerbates divisions by elevating group-based grievances over shared national identity or empirical reasoning, contributing to a broader erosion of . On political fronts, Tobin has faulted the Democratic Party's embrace of identity-driven priorities for alienating traditional supporters and fostering intolerance toward dissenting views on cultural matters. He advocates for a return to tradition, faith, and reverence for national cohesion as antidotes to "woke madness," arguing that policies rooted in these elements could counteract the fragmentation caused by relentless focus on grievance and equity mandates. Tobin emphasizes that true accountability in political culture should target the normalization of extremist ideologies rather than merely decrying , as unchecked hate—often masked as —poses greater threats to societal stability.

Writings and Media Output

Key Columns and Publications

Tobin serves as editor-in-chief of the (JNS), where he authors regular columns analyzing American politics, U.S.- relations, , , and communal issues. His JNS pieces often critique perceived biases in international forums and domestic leadership, as seen in "The antisemitic goal of anti-Zionists is to make afraid," published October 23, 2025. Another example is "Everybody wants a Palestinian state, except the ," dated August 24, 2025, which argues against assumptions of Palestinian willingness for peace. As a longtime contributor to Commentary magazine, Tobin has produced hundreds of articles on foreign policy, cultural critiques, and ideological debates within conservatism and Judaism. Notable columns include "Why the Palestinians Say Never," published February 16, 2016, which examines Palestinian rejectionism in peace processes, and "No Playing Nice With a Corrupt UN," from February 5, 2016, challenging Israel's engagement with the United Nations. Tobin holds positions as a columnist for Newsweek and senior contributor to The Federalist, extending his commentary on U.S. elections, cultural shifts, and Israel-related controversies to broader conservative audiences. He has also published opinion pieces in National Review, New York Post, and Haaretz, focusing on trends in the Jewish world and critiques of liberal Jewish organizations.

Podcast and Public Speaking

Tobin hosts the "Think Twice" for (JNS), a weekly program launched in 2021 that features his in-depth analyses of key issues affecting , the Jewish world, and related controversies, available in both audio and video formats across platforms including , , and iHeart. He also produces the daily "Jonathan Tobin Daily" , providing concise commentary on current events impacting and Jewish communities, distributed on and other major audio services. Earlier, he hosted "Top Story," a weekly JNS focused on the week's most significant Jewish news development. In , Tobin has delivered addresses at events organized by pro- and Jewish groups, including the Committee for Accuracy in Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA) 40th anniversary gala in 2022, where he addressed media biases on . He served as speaker at the Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks Major Gifts event on October 30, 2024, discussing Jewish communal priorities. Tobin has spoken at international forums such as an ESRA event in on U.S.-Israel relations and American politics, and appeared in public panels, including a 2022 address on the resurgence of . His engagements often cover foreign policy, , and , reflecting his expertise as a commentator.

Recognition and Criticisms

Awards and Professional Honors

Jonathan S. Tobin has received more than 60 awards throughout his career for excellence in commentary, editorial writing, arts criticism, and related journalistic contributions, primarily from the American Jewish Press Association (AJPA), a leading organization recognizing achievements in Jewish media. These honors underscore his consistent recognition within Jewish journalism circles for incisive analysis on topics including , , and U.S. politics. Notable among his accolades are multiple first-place wins in the AJPA's Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary, including in 2019 for his work at Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), marking the outlet's inaugural such honors; in 2022; and in 2023. In the same 2019 AJPA competition, he also secured first place in the Simon Rockower Award for Excellence in Syndicated Column Writing. Tobin earned another first-place Simon Rockower Award, presented at the AJPA convention in Atlanta, recognizing his syndicated commentary. Additional distinctions include first place in AJPA's Excellence in Single Commentary category in 2022 for his column critiquing ADL leadership, and an honorable mention in 2024 for arts-review criticism. Earlier in his career, while executive editor of the Jewish Exponent, he garnered further AJPA recognitions, contributing to his tally of over 50 awards by 2017.

Influence and Debates Over His Positions

Tobin's influence in shaping discourse on , , and Jewish communal issues stems primarily from his editorship of the (JNS), which he has steered toward providing unfiltered coverage countering what he describes as mainstream media distortions. Launched in 2015, JNS under Tobin has grown to host policy summits, such as the 2025 International Policy Summit gathering pro- leaders, and expanded syndication to outlets like and the . His weekly columns and podcasts, including "Think Twice" and "Top Story," reach conservative audiences, critiquing trends like rising post-October 7, 2023, and American Jewish detachment from , thereby reinforcing hawkish policy advocacy within right-leaning Jewish and broader conservative circles. Debates over Tobin's positions frequently arise from his rejection of concessions to Palestinian demands, equating with threats to Jewish sovereignty, and criticisms of left-leaning Jewish institutions. In public forums, such as a with Forward editor J.J. Goldberg, Tobin defended Republican pro-Israel stances against Democratic shifts, arguing that liberal critiques undermine security. A 2012 debate on Democracy Now! with Columbia professor highlighted clashes over Iran policy and AIPAC's role, where Tobin accused opponents of enabling Israel's isolation. Progressive detractors, including letter writers to Jewish newspapers, have sought to curtail his syndication, portraying his Netanyahu defenses and warnings as excessively partisan rather than conservatively principled. Further contention involves Tobin's attacks on perceived insufficient among centrists, as in his 2023 rebuke of New York Times columnist for softening critiques of anti-Israel activism, which drew pushback for narrowing acceptable . Organizations like the have disputed his claims of censorship in partnerships targeting extremism, viewing them as misrepresentations that shield conservative speech at the expense of broader accountability. His post-2023 advocacy for total defeat over hostage deals or Gaza aid, as critiqued in early 2025 analyses, underscores divides with those prioritizing immediate humanitarian or diplomatic paths, though empirical data on past concessions—like the 2005 Gaza withdrawal leading to entrenchment—bolsters his causal emphasis on deterrence. These exchanges reflect broader ideological rifts, where Tobin's sourcing from security-focused analyses contrasts with progressive reliance on multilateral critiques often amplified in academia and left media.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.