Washington —The Obama administration is engaged in a full-court press to persuade Israel that Iran's nuclear threat can be contained short of war. The U.S. lobbying has received a mixed reception from Israel, where the Netanyahu government has not ruled out a unilateral strike on Iran. Iran, meanwhile, is taking an aggressive stance in response to mounting sanctions. Last week,...

For Rabbi Ira Budow, headmaster of the Abrams Hebrew Academy, the prisoner exchange leading to the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit served as the ultimate teachable moment.