Jewish scene
הרב חיים אמסלם, הרב זבדיה כהן והרב צבי יהודה לאו
After eight-year vacancy, Israel moves to appoint new chief rabbi of Tel Aviv
Eight years after Rabbi Israel Meir Lau stepped down, Tel Aviv is set to choose a new chief rabbi; the vote is expected in two weeks, with candidates including a senior rabbinical judge, a former lawmaker, community rabbis and Lau’s son
Shilo Freid | 17:48 | 12.25.25
volunteering in Israel
Diaspora Jews find meaning and community volunteering in Israel during Hanukkah
Amid growing challenges for Jewish communities worldwide, young Diaspora Jews gathered in northern Israel this Hanukkah for an educational and volunteer program in Safed, strengthening Jewish identity and ties to Israel
ynet Global | 13:57 | 12.25.25
קברו של לוטננט ראשון מורטון שר
Jewish pilot killed in China in 1943 laid to rest in US; Soil from Israel poured into his grave
The plane of First Lieutenant Morton Scher, who served in the US Army, was shot down in an air battle over southeastern China; After his remains were found last year, the Jewish pilot was laid to rest in South Carolina
Itamar Eichner | 12:55 | 12.25.25
Jewish and Muslim religious leaders meet as part of Ohr Torah Interfaith Center
North American Muslim delegation visits Israel, signs Jewish–Muslim reconciliation declaration
In wake of deadly terror attack in Sydney, Muslim leaders join solidarity mission to Israel, where they sign joint declaration committing to deeper understanding and respectful dialogue between Jewish and Muslim communities
ynet Global | 12:00 | 12.25.25
מצעד תמיכה בישראל לאורך השדרה החמישית במנהטן
Israelis fear erosion of American Jewish support and generational shifts in US leadership, survey shows
A Ruderman Foundation survey shows deep Israeli concern over eroding US support and declining backing from American Jews; Ruderman CEO says Israel must pause, listen and shift from short-term tactics to long-term strategy
Itamar Eichner | 22:56 | 12.24.25
יצחק הורוביץ ליד קבר נסראללה
Ultra-Orthodox Israeli journalist visits Nasrallah’s grave in Hezbollah stronghold of Beirut
Yitzhak Horowitz, a journalist for the ultra-Orthodox magazine B’Kehilla, entered the grave of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah with a Lebanese guide more than a year after Nasrallah was killed; was also photographed beside the grave
Itamar Eichner | 22:45 | 12.24.25
וקסלר מסיר את התמונה
Jewish lawmaker in Romania sparks uproar after removing nationalist images from parliament
Silviu Vexler, the lawmaker behind a tough new law against antisemitism and xenophobia, faces backlash after removing nationalist images from the parliament rostrum amid clashes over legislation imposing harsh penalties on extremist ideology
Itamar Eichner | 20:40 | 12.24.25
חני וחלי ליפשיץ
Mission, inspiration and autism: Chabad emisseries in Kathmandu opens up in new film
A new film shares the story of Cheli Lifshitz, daughter of Chabad emissaries in Kathmandu, who is on the autism spectrum; it captures her life in Nepal and her family’s deep commitment to purpose, acceptance and unconditional love, without shame or pretense
Itamar Eichner | 23:07 | 12.23.25
חייל בהלוויית הרב מאיר מאזוז בבני ברק
Apocalypse now: what’s the story behind messianism in the Jewish world?
Maimonides set rules for identifying the Messiah, but history had other plans: from Sabbatai Zevi to the Six-Day War, messianic waves shook Jewish life; some still await the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s return; we trace the story of Jewish messianism, past and present
Itzchak Tessler | 18:51 | 12.22.25
רות ברון משמאל ליד דגם של מכונת פענוח של האניגמה
Jewish codebreaker who helped crack Nazi Enigma, Ruth Bourne, dies at 99
Baron served in Britain’s wartime codebreaking unit under strict secrecy, operating early Enigma decoding machines; she was later honored by the British and French governments for her contribution
Itamar Eichner | 09:13 | 12.22.25
אחד הציורים
Holocaust-era murals found on walls of Warsaw District Court basement during renovations
They were discovered on the walls of a secret passage inside the building that once connected the Warsaw Ghetto to the city’s so-called 'Aryan' side; children were smuggled out of the ghetto through this passage and saved
Itamar Eichner | 08:55 | 12.22.25
הדלקת נרות בסורוקה עם החטופה ששוחררה אורי מגידיש ועוד 7 מהפצועים הכי קשים שטופלו בסורוקה
Keeping the flame alive: which culture are we choosing?
Opinion: Two new 'holidays' are gradually making their way into the Hebrew calendar: Halloween (holy to whom, exactly?) and Christmas, which this year comes just after Hanukkah
Tamar Asraf | 08:31 | 12.22.25
ביקור קנצלר גרמניה פרידריך מרץ ביד ושם
Yad Vashem plans to establish a Holocaust education center in Germany
The center is set to open in Bavaria, North Rhine–Westphalia or Saxony; Yad Vashem Chairman said the new educational site will help counter Holocaust distortion and trivialization and serve as a pillar in the fight against antisemitism
Itamar Eichner | 21:30 | 12.21.25
הפגנה נגד יהודים באיסטנבול
Jews attacked heading to Hanukkah candlelighting in Istanbul
Pro-Palestinian protesters assaulted Jews on their way to a Hanukkah candle lighting near the Neve Shalom synagogue, shouting anti-Zionist slurs as police dispersed the crowd, some of whom waved Palestinian flags
Itamar Eichner | 21:19 | 12.21.25
הרמטכ"ל אייל זמיר רוקד עם עם חיילים מיחידת החשמונאים
IDF chief lights Hanukkah candles, dances with Haredi brigade: ‘modern day Maccabees’
Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir praised troops from the IDF’s Haredi Hasmonean Brigade, saying they prove combat service can be combined with a Haredi lifestyle as the military seeks to expand ultra-Orthodox enlistment amid growing manpower needs
Shilo Freid | 20:25 | 12.21.25
הפגנות נגד ישראל בגשר ווטרלו בלונדון בריטניה
British Jews face record antisemitism amid biggest shift in 60 years
After the October 7 attacks and the war in Gaza, British Jews describe rising fear, record antisemitism and deepening divisions over Israel, marking the most profound social and political change within the community since the 1960s
ynet Global | 18:40 | 12.21.25
אוסטרליה סידני טקס זיכרון בונדיי ביץ' שבוע ל פיגוע
Australia turned on its Jewish community after Oct. 7, Israeli consultant says
Rashi Elmaliah described rising antisemitism in Australia, government silence, and a growing fear among Jews to speak out—warning that years of inaction have emboldened hate and violence across society
Alexandra Lukash | 09:47 | 12.21.25
גלגול נשמות
Reincarnation in Judaism: how Kabbalah turned a fringe belief into a mainstream idea
Absent from the Bible, Mishnah and Talmud, reincarnation was developed by Kabbalah as a way to explain injustice, drew fierce opposition from leading rabbis, resurfaced in modern controversy and led the Ari and his disciples to map and diagnose souls
Shmuel Munitz | 03:32 | 12.21.25
Jewish National Fund-USA CEO Russell Robinson
'Zionism is one of the greatest movements that ever happened in the world'
After October 7, Jewish National Fund-USA saw a surge in donor trust; CEO Russell Robinson calls Zionism a proud force for good and says rebuilding Israel’s north and south, alongside teen education and shared values, is key to Jewish resilience and the future
Sivan Raviv | 21:16 | 12.20.25
Holocaust survivors and former Gaza hostages meet, reflect on trauma and Jewish identity
Held ahead of Hanukkah, the encounters highlight shared memories of survival, moments of faith and 'small miracles' and the role of remembrance and resilience in shaping Jewish continuity after Oct. 7
Iris Lifshitz-Klieger | 16:50 | 12.19.25
הדלקת חנוכייה. הרב רוזן מימין לחנוכייה
'Hanukkah menorah journey' in communist Romania and its hidden Zionist mission
In 1987, I joined Romania’s chief rabbi on a winter journey through dozens of remote Jewish communities; behind the modest Hanukkah candle lightings was a quiet effort of spiritual renewal and Zionist awakening that helped bring about the aliyah of some 20,000 Jews, and possibly more, from Romania to Israel
Dr. Yoel Rappel | 05:52 | 12.19.25
ראמבוייה ליד פריז צרפת אדם דקר שוטרת ב תחנת משטרה
Algerian nanny sentenced to prison for attempting to poison Jewish family in France
Nanny, an illegal immigrant, admitted to pouring cleaning fluid into bottles of alcohol and grape juice, but later recanted; She was not convicted of antisemitism, and the family's lawyer said he hopes the prosecution will appeal the sentence
Itamar Eichner | 23:44 | 12.18.25
Belgium to keep heightened police security in Antwerp’s Jewish neighborhoods
Belgian interior minister announces police protection for Jewish neighborhoods and sites in Antwerp will remain at current levels, after reports of a possible pullback sparked outrage; Jewish groups welcomed the move as vital for community safety 
Itamar Eichner | 21:05 | 12.18.25
סרן (במיל') נריה זיסק ז"ל, על הטנק
Cut his trip short to enter the Oct. 7 inferno — now a new synagogue honors his legacy
Nearly two years after Capt. (res.) Neriya Zisk fell in Gaza, his family is building a synagogue in his memory; crowdfunding campaign underway; 'It will represent the unity that was so central to Neriya’s character,' his father says
Yogev Israeli | 12:12 | 12.18.25
Miketz: breaking the stranglehold — Joseph, the Ishmaelites and the rise of a new Egypt
Joseph’s opening of Egypt’s grain storehouses in the weekly Torah portion is framed as a strategic move to break an Ishmaelite trade monopoly, reshape Egypt’s economy and turn famine into lasting regional power
Michael Eisenberg | 11:46 | 12.18.25
גרפיטי הקורא ל7- באוקטובר נוסף ול"שחרור פלסטין
'Oct 7, do it again': Antisemitic incidents in Australia rose 400% before deadly Bondi Beach attack
Diaspora Affairs Ministry report cites sharp rise in antisemitism and terror glorification months before massacre at Hanukkah event in Sydney, accusing Canberra of allowing hateful incitement to spread
Itamar Eichner | 22:16 | 12.17.25
Delegation of Holocaust survivors visits Auschwitz, 2017
Holocaust survivors to be honored in global virtual event on fifth night of Hanukkah
Hosted by Noah Emmerich, the Dec. 18 International Holocaust Survivors Night will feature tributes from global leaders, celebrities and survivors, honoring resilience and remembrance 80 years after WWII
ynet Global | 19:36 | 12.17.25
אביו של בנימין מדליק נרות חנוכה בכותל המערבי
Continuing tradition: family of fallen soldier light Hanukkah candles at Western Wall
Benjamin Elmakayes’ family lights Hanukkah candles each year at Jerusalem’s Western Wall, a tradition kept even after he was killed in Gaza last year; his mother says they had a 'pact' to light the candle together every year, wherever he was
Shilo Freid | 18:33 | 12.17.25
התקיפה ברחוב בברוקלין
Jewish man stabbed in chest in NY in broad daylight after attacker shouts Jewish slurs | Watch
Attacker said it would 'be all right if the Holocaust happened today' before stabbing Jewish man, who fought with the assailant and  prevented the blade from penetrating deeply; comes day after attack on Chabad hasidim on NYC subway
Itamar Eichner, Shilo Freid | 10:40 | 12.17.25
המרצה רוז נקד
University of Sydney fired lecturer for calling Jewish students 'dirty Zionists'
Incident took place on Sukkot, but Rose Nakad was fired a day after the attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach that left 15 dead; Nakad also said Zionists are 'most disgusting thing' and 'lowest form of rubbish; University: 'Hate speech, antisemitism and harassment have no place'
Itamar Eichner | 10:15 | 12.17.25
Hanukkah at Rabin Square, Tel Aviv
Hanukkah without a menorah: what Ethiopian Jews teach us about history, faith and Zionism
While rabbinic tradition emphasized the miracle of oil, Ethiopian Jews preserved the Maccabean story as history, not folklore; their legacy highlights the need to balance faith and action as Israel faces deepening divides
Rabbi Dr. Sharon Zeude Shalom | 06:35 | 12.17.25
Zohran Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani visits Lubavitcher Rebbe’s grave after Bondi Beach terror attack
New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, known for pro-Palestinian statements, visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s grave in Queens, wearing a kippah and praying in memory of victims of the Bondi Beach Hanukkah terror attack
Itamar Eichner | 11:31 | 12.16.25
התקיפה ברכבת התחתית בני יורק
Chabad-Lubavitch Hasid attacked on NYC subway in antisemitic incident | watch
In a video posted on social media, an African American passenger is seen shouting antisemitic insults at a Chabad Hasid before grabbing him by the neck; 'I realized this could end in death'
Itamar Eichner, Shilo Freid | 10:34 | 12.16.25
יהודה ליפמן עם החנוכייה
British Jewish sailor builds menorah from Nazi submarine fragment
83 years ago, a Jewish sailor in the British Royal Navy crafted a menorah from the battery of a sunken Nazi submarine; now on museum display, it stands as a symbol of hope in the darkest conditions
Gilad Cohen | 08:53 | 12.16.25
עו"ד יששכר דב אינדיג ובניו הלוחמים
Father of two Haredi brigade IDF soldiers: 'only rabbinic consensus can advance draft bill'
Former Slobodka yeshiva student joins Hasmonean Brigade after his brother; their father says forced enlistment will fail and any law must be shaped with senior rabbis
Shilo Freid | 08:20 | 12.16.25
People gather to watch the lighting of the world's largest menorah on 5th Avenue by Central Park for the second night of Hanukkah
US Jewish groups call for more security at public events after Bondi Beach attack
Major US Jewish organizations urged tighter security at public events, including preregistration and controlled access, as rabbis said they would continue public Hanukkah celebrations to demonstrate resilience and Jewish pride despite the heightened risk 
AP | 05:28 | 12.16.25
כבר תיקפתם? מרים ומשה קסלר ביום חגם עם האוטובוס
A chance meeting on Jerusalem's bus No. 67 ends with a wedding ride home
Miriam and Moshe Wexler met on a bus in Jerusalem; On their wedding day, the bride surprised the groom with an emotional closing of the circle: a ride home on the same line where they first met, this time as a married couple.
Sivan Hilaie | 02:00 | 12.16.25
הדלקת נר שני של חנוכה בחנוכיית הקרח בסיביר
At ‘only’ minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit, Hanukkah candle lit in Siberian ice menorah
After extreme cold paralyzed Siberian city life, the Jewish community of Tomsk finally raised a giant ice menorah when temperatures climbed to minus 20 Celsius, turning Hanukkah’s message of light into a lived experience
Itamar Eichner | 18:48 | 12.15.25
סידני חוף בונדיי יום אחרי הטבח
After Australia attack, US envoy warns Holocaust education is not enough
Expanding restitution, confronting denial and protecting Jewish communities are urgent next steps as antisemitism rises, experts say
Maayan Hoffman/The Media Line | 15:10 | 12.15.25
A menorah crafted from the remains of an Iranian missile stands at the heart of ALEH’s renovated campus in Bnei Brak, Dec. 15, 2025
Iran missile that leveled special ed campus recast as Hanukkah menorah in reopening ceremony
On June 15, an Iranian missile hit ALEH’s Bnei Brak center for children with disabilities; six months later, its shrapnel was turned into a menorah, lit in a moving ceremony; 'We took the darkness and created a miracle from it,' says artist Guy Cohen
ynet Global | 13:58 | 12.15.25
שער ברנדנבורג ברלין גרמניה הדלקת נר ראשון של חנוכה
Hanukkah events worldwide held under heavy security after Bondi Beach terror attack
Cities including Berlin, London, New York and Paris step up security around Hanukkah celebrations following the deadly antisemitic attack in Sydney, as world leaders join public candle-lightings in solidarity with Jewish communities
Itamar Eichner, Shilo Freid, Reuters | 22:01 | 12.14.25
הדלקת נרות חנוכה בכותל
Live from Jerusalem: First Hanukkah candle lit at Western Wall as Sydney terror attack casts shadow
Israel and Jewish communities worldwide light the first Hanukkah candle as former hostage Segev Kalfon joins ceremony at the Western Wall, with celebrations overshadowed by the deadly shooting at a Chabad event in Bondi Beach
Shilo Freid | 16:54 | 12.14.25
הדלקת נרות חנוכה
Here's what you need to know about lighting Hanukkah candles
Is there a halachic obligation to light candles in a Hanukkiyah? What should soldiers in the field do ? Are women also obligated by the mitzvah? And what about when one is visiting abroad and fears antisemitism
Yitzhak Tesler | 15:59 | 12.14.25
מחלקים חבילות לחנוכה
Ukraine’s Jews mark Hanukkah under fire as aid efforts expand nationwide
Jewish communities across Ukraine are confronting power outages, rising prices and security threats while mobilizing emergency aid and religious life; Zelensky will be presented with a coin from the Hasmonean period symbolizing Ukrainian struggle
Itamar Eichner | 14:37 | 12.14.25
אוספים את שרידי ספרי הקודש
'Sparks memories of Kristallnacht': holy books burned in synagogue arson buried in Ukraine
They spent hours gathering the burnt remnants of the books and, after a special prayer, walked in a funeral procession to bury the books in the famous old cemetery in Sadigura; motive behind arson believed to be antisemitic; 'He wasn’t interested in stealing, he only wanted to hurt us'
Itamar Eichner | 14:30 | 12.14.25
חנוכה
A complete guide to Hanukkah 2025
When to light candles? What blessings are recited ? Why do we eat sufganiyot? What is the origin of the dreidel game? Here is your guide to the most frequently asked questions about Hanukkah. 
Rabbi Yehuda Brandes | 13:36 | 12.14.25
פינוי הפצועים בירי ההמוני בבונדיי ביץ' באוסטרליה
Diaspora Minister Chikli blames Australian government for Bondi Beach terror attack
Jewish leaders have warned for years about the increasing number of antisemitic incidents in the country, with organizations condemning the government’s failure to address the issue
Itamar Eichner, Shilo Freid | 12:45 | 12.14.25
קית' גרלנד. ביקש לראות רב
Neo-Nazi Goyim Defense League sued over antisemitic stunt at Nashville Jewish center
Jewish community in Nashville is suing Travis Keith Garland trespassed at a local JCC, mocked Holocaust victims and livestreamed threats; he has pleaded guilty to intimidation, trespassing and assault
Itamar Eichner | 09:39 | 12.14.25
ספרי תורה בבית הכנסת בבלפסט
Jewish history that shall not be erased: a visit to Belfast
In the distant corner of Britain remains a small Jewish community, facing significant challenges. Due to the history of the conflict in Northern Ireland, there is particular sensitivity in Belfast regarding the situation in Israel, often not in our favor
Ayelet Mamo Shai | 04:01 | 12.14.25
מצעד החיים בפולין
'There are things in France that frighten me deeply; the situation is very alarming'
Guillaume Ribot, a non-Jewish French filmmaker, frequented Auschwitz in an attempt to understand the unthinkable - only to discover that his grandmother had hidden Jewish children during the Holocaust; he now presents his new documentary, 'All I Had Was Nothingness,' which reveals the creative process behind Claude Lanzmann’s Shoah
Amir Kaminer, Berlin | 01:29 | 12.14.25
'Joseph's Brothers Sell Him into Captivity' - a 1855 painting by Konstantin Flavitsky
Parashat Vayeshev: How Joseph’s story mirrors Jewish history and the roots of antisemitism
This week’s Torah portion, Vayeshev, tells the story of Joseph’s betrayal by his brothers—an allegory for Jewish persecution throughout history; From jealousy and exile to dreams and survival, Joseph’s journey mirrors the resilience of the Jewish people
Hillel Fuld | 07:08 | 12.12.25
מחאות פרו-פלסטיניות בלוס אנג'לס קליפורניה ארצות הברית ארה"ב
California colleges settle antisemitism complaints linked to campus pro-Palestinian protests
UC Berkeley apologized to Israeli scholar Yael Nativ and will pay her $60,000, while Pomona College agreed to add a Title VI coordinator and a new advisory body on Jewish life after federal complaints alleging a hostile environment
Associated Press | 21:31 | 12.11.25
זוהראן ממדאני בכנס של חסידות סאטמר
Mamdani embraced by anti-Zionist Satmar leaders at major New York events
Mamdani joined celebrations of the anti-Zionist Satmar Hasidic movement in Williamsburg and Crown Heights, where he received an enthusiastic welcome from leaders of both rival factions’
Shilo Freid | 14:04 | 12.11.25
רותם בראשי במהלך לימודיה בקייפטאון
‘When Hamas reps entered my classroom during Apartheid Week, I knew I had to make aliyah’
Rotem Barashi, a Jewish medical student at the University of Cape Town, says an extreme anti-Israel climate on campus, including a visit by Hamas representatives, led her to leave South Africa and continue her studies at Reichman University
Itamar Eichner | 09:02 | 12.11.25
Parashat Vayeshev - the stars, the moon, the all important camels and IMEC
Israel must see the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor as Joseph once saw regional trade: a strategic shift demanding swift action, partnerships and use of geography as an economic asset
Michael Eisenberg | 08:36 | 12.11.25
הסידור העתיק
600-year-old Rothschild prayer book looted by Nazis to be auctioned for millions
A rare illuminated Hebrew machzor from 1415, seized by the Nazis from the Rothschild family and recently restituted by Austria, will headline a Sotheby’s sale in 2026; the 600-page manuscript is expected to fetch $5 million to $7 million
Itamar Eichner | 21:32 | 12.10.25
Tovah Feldshuh
Filling Golda’s shoes, Tovah Feldshuh slams antisemites: ‘We’re on to you!’
Actress, singer and playwright Tovah Feldshuh shares her perspective on antisemitism, celebrity activism and the fight for peace and Western values  
Felice Friedson/The Media Line | 19:29 | 12.10.25
תפילה בבית כנסת
City, court and synagogues clash over religious character in Tel Aviv
After synagogues reject municipal contract requiring services 'without distinction of age, gender or faith,' judge urges city officials to amend language and avoid evictions; religious leaders warn clause threatens Orthodox practices
Netael Bandel, Shilo Freid | 14:37 | 12.10.25
האתר שנחפר במרכז ברלין
Remains of Jewish homes destroyed in World War II uncovered in heart of Berlin
Archaeological excavations in central Berlin reveal the remains of the homes of Jews who were dispossessed during the Nazi era - magnificent buildings and businesses that disappeared in bombings and reconstruction that left no trace of the community that lived there for centuries, and that was never compensated for the loss
Itamar Eichner | 05:27 | 12.10.25
Unveiling of the Mayanot World Center sign
New $20 million Jewish education world center opens in Jerusalem
The Mayanot World Center, a state-of-the-art campus overlooking Jerusalem’s Sacher Park, will host international students for immersive Jewish study, leadership training and Israel engagement programs; a new center for lone soldiers also opens onsite
ynet Global | 23:14 | 12.09.25
Real Estate & Architecture
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