Holy hotline: Israeli rabbis set up 24-hour call center for families of terminally ill
The new service will help people make life-and-death decisions according to Jewish law.
December 3, 2019
Judaism & Culture
Sound of building fills Israel’s night sky as Jews turn to Sukkot building ahead of festive holiday
Traditionally, Jews immediately begin to build their sukkahs after breaking their fast, in preparation for the next holiday in the Jewish calendar which begins Sunday night.
October 10, 2019
Ancient Jewish manuscripts showcased online by British Library
The online collection features sacred texts of 9 different faiths
September 26, 2019
Israeli baseball is going to the Olympics for first time in history
Israel takes first place in the Baseball Europe/Africa qualifying event, booking its first-ever appearance in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
September 22, 2019
HBO series ‘Our Boys,’ branded anti-Semitic by Netanyahu, doesn’t violate law, Israel broadcast council says
Israeli broadcast council says it has no reason to interfere with a TV series branded 'anti-Semitic' by Prime Minister Netanyahu.
September 3, 2019
High court nixes separate seating by gender, angering Orthodox Israelis
After first claiming victory, the haredi community warned that religious rights are being endangered by the top legal arbiter in the country.
August 15, 2019
WATCH: NBA star takes his Jewish pride as seriously as his basketball
Basketball superstar Omri Casspi, who played for the NBA for 10 years in the U.S., says it was a wonderful experience but he's happy to come "home" to Maccabi and represent Israel.
August 14, 2019
DNA finds Hungary to have highest percentage of citizens with Jewish ethnicity
DNA testing found that Hungary has the highest percentage of citizens of Ashkenazic Jewish extraction outside of Israel.
August 14, 2019
Religious Zionist leader: Netanyahu will pay at polls for deriding those who seek Torah state
The religious Zionist leader blasted the prime minister, who told a visiting congressional delegation that the idea of a state run according to Jewish law is 'total nonsense.'
August 8, 2019
Religious Zionists cry ‘media lynch’ for wanting Israeli state run by Jewish law
The transportation minister hit back at critics after a speech in which he said he would like a state run by Jewish law.
August 6, 2019
Jews fast, begin mourning period for Temple’s destruction
The annual three-week mourning period concludes with another fast on the ninth day of the month of Av, when the destruction itself is mourned.
July 21, 2019
Supermodel Naomi Campbell praises Lubavitcher Rebbe on 25th anniversary of his death
Supermodel Naomi Campbell wrote an extended accolade of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on her Instagram account.
July 9, 2019
DNA shows that the Philistines, arch-enemy of the Israelites, came from Europe
DNA remains extracted from 10 individuals buried in Ashkelon display molecular links showing 'an affinity with European-related populations,' say researchers.
July 4, 2019
Anti-Semitism drives ‘Wonder Woman’ to flaunt her pride in being Israeli
Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot said she receives many anti-Semitic messages.
July 1, 2019
WATCH: A deeper look into the text of the Passover Haggadah
An Israeli artist published a new Haggadah, using a blend of traditional graphics and abstract painting to make the story come alive, bringing light and hope.
April 22, 2019
WATCH: Israeli director Guy Nattiv takes home the Oscar
Nattiv said he was inspired by his grandparents, who survived the Holocaust.
February 25, 2019
WATCH: Beverly Hills mayor goes on underground Western Wall tour
Beverly Hills Mayor Julian Gold, in Israel as part of the 33rd International Mayors' Conference in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, was impressed by the archaeological and historical finds during an underground tour of the Western Wall.
February 24, 2019
Israel’s president: ‘There’s nothing more Jewish than disagreement’
'There is nothing more Jewish than pointed disagreement. And there is nothing more democratic than pointed disagreement,' Rivlin told a Bible-study gathering ahead of elections.
February 18, 2019
Israel national library’s new music app rises to top of the charts
Feel like listening to a good old Arik Einstein song or discovering music from the next superstar? Shiri offers everything from Sasha Argov to Zohar Argov.
February 17, 2019
WeWork’s Adam Neumann says observing Jewish Sabbath keeps his ego in check
The CEO of NY-headquartered real estate company WeWork shared spiritual wisdoms during a keynote speech at a UJA Federation event.
January 27, 2019
WATCH: Jewish folklore comes to US theaters
“The Golem,” a horror film based on Jewish folklore, will be released in select theaters in the U.S. and on Blu-Ray/DVD on February 5.
January 27, 2019
Israeli film, Jewish stars and composers among 2019 Oscar nominees
This year's Academy Award nominees included works by Jewish and Israeli artists.
January 23, 2019
Who knew? Hebrew could be the basis for many English and European words
'Hebrew is a much older language as well, so it makes sense the roots of words go back before Latin or Greek,' a linguistics buff theorized.
January 1, 2019
Israeli orchestra plays to warm applause in Morocco
The Israeli Andalusian Orchestra played to a full house and warm applause in Morocco at one of the country's most prestigious music festivals.
December 30, 2018
Israel to celebrate Hebrew’s revival in special day
Hebrew Language Day is 'an excellent opportunity to advance reading among students and the young generation,' says Education Minister Naftali Bennett.
December 26, 2018
New study: Who is the typical Israeli Jew today?
A new study classifies the majority in Israel today as 'Jewish Israelis,' largely considered to be traditional Jews.
December 23, 2018
Opinion: American Jewry’s Chanukah hypocrisy?
A 'New York Times' column misunderstands the nature of the conflict that the Festival of Lights commemorates.
December 4, 2018
Ancient, rare stone mask uncovered in Israel
A fascinating and rare 9,000-year-old stone mask that dates to the Neolithic period sheds new light on ancient life in the Holy Land.
November 28, 2018
Israeli-built Phoenician ship replica sets sail for Cyprus
An Israeli-built replica of a 2,400-year-old ship is at sea on its way to Cyprus.
November 26, 2018
WATCH: Jewish life in the Galilee after the first Jewish-Roman War
Tour guide Yizhar Hass explains the history of the Galilee region, home to some of the most remarkable Jewish sites from the first century.
November 11, 2018
WATCH: Gaza Belt Israeli DJ responds to rockets with hit songs
Sderot native DJ Zafrir Ifrach is a rising star in the world of electronic music, cooking up dance floor hits even as rocket sirens pierce the air outside his spaceship-like studio in Israel's south.
October 29, 2018
WATCH: 5 Dead Sea fragments found to be forged
The Museum of the Bible in Washington is removing five Dead Sea scroll fragments that were proven to be modern forgeries.
October 25, 2018
Joint Israel-US Chanukah stamp unveiled in Jerusalem
'Today’s joint stamp issue is a symbol of the shared values and the cultural affinity between the U.S. and Israel,' Friedman stated.
October 18, 2018
Marilyn Monroe’s Jewish prayer book up for auction
Want to pray like Marilyn Monroe? Now you can!
October 16, 2018
Israeli named BBC Philharmonic chief conductor
Omer Meir Wellber, 36, also is principal guest conductor at Semperoper Dresden and music director of Ra’anana Symphonette Orchestra in Israel.
October 15, 2018
This daily Jewish ritual may prevent heart attacks
Wearing tefillin improves your heart function and may even save your life, a new study shows.
October 14, 2018
Second Temple-era Jerusalem inscription stuns archaeologists
A unique stone inscription dating back to the Second Temple period with Jerusalem spelled in full was recently uncovered in the Israeli capital.
October 9, 2018
Iran’s Ayatollah exploits Olympian Aly Raisman for hijab propaganda
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei exploited Jewish Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman’s testimony about having been sexually assaulted for hijab propaganda video.
October 7, 2018
Israeli kidney donations triple due to Orthodox Jewish donors
The number of annual live kidney transplants in Israel has nearly tripled since 2010. New research says the growth is due to Orthodox donors.
September 17, 2018
WATCH: Why do we read the Book of Jonah on Yom Kippur?
Bar-Ilan University Professor Raanan Eichler discusses why the Book of Jonah was chosen as one of the readings at services on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
September 17, 2018
Brazil museum fire: Ancient Torah scrolls removed ahead of time
Brazil National Museum's famed centuries-old Torah scrolls were removed before the disastrous fire.
September 6, 2018
Virtual reality tour brings biblical-era Jerusalem to life
The virtual reality guide offers visitors to Jerusalem a chance to 'enjoy the present and take a look back to the past,' said Tower of David Museum director Eilat Lieber.
September 5, 2018
WATCH: Jerusalem artifacts dating back 1000s of years reinforce Jewish claim to city
A City of David Foundation director brought to New York artifacts from Jerusalem dating back thousands of years and explains why these findings matter so much today.
July 26, 2018
On Tisha b’Av, annual day of mourning, tens of thousands pack Western Wall plaza
On Tisha B’av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, Jews mourn the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem that were destroyed.
July 22, 2018
Israeli Broadway show wins almost every major Tony Award
'The Band’s Visit' wins 10 honors, including Best Musical, Best Actor and Actress and Best Book and Score.
June 11, 2018
Philip Roth, fearless and celebrated Jewish author, dies at 85
Philip Roth, the prize-winning novelist and a prominent writer of the Jewish American experience, died at age 85.
May 23, 2018
Israeli archaeologists discover millennia-old evidence of ‘blood vengeance’
Israeli scientists exposed the earliest evidence of blood vengeance in ancient times.
May 16, 2018
NASA tech reveals hidden script in Dead Sea Scrolls fragments
Did Dead Sea Scrolls researchers discover a previously unknown manuscript?
May 2, 2018
Students discover ancient menorah-adorned lamp while preparing Independence Day surprise
Israeli students preparing a gift for the state discovered an ancient precursor of Israel's national symbol.
April 16, 2018
20 percent of Central, Eastern Europeans do not accept Jews as fellow citizens
A Pew Research Center survey of 18 countries finds that Jews are not wanted as neighbors or family members.
April 4, 2018
WATCH: 100,000 attend priestly blessing at Western Wall
Ambassador Friedman was among hundreds who recited the 'priestly blessing' at the biannual ceremony at the Western Wall.
April 2, 2018
IDF mobilizes for massive task of prepping for Passover
Everyone in the IDF pitches in to do their part in a holiday that is about liberation.
March 27, 2018
‘Freedom Coins’ from Jewish revolt against Rome found near Temple Mount
Ancient coins bearing the inscriptions 'For the Freedom of Zion' and to 'For the Redemption of Zion were discovered at the base of the Temple Mount.
March 27, 2018
WATCH: Everyday life in Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim neighborhood
The book 'Mea Shearim - The Streets' captures life in Mea Shearim, home to a close-knit community of ultra-Orthodox Jews.
March 27, 2018
WATCH: US Ambassador Friedman bakes matzah, extends ‘Happy Passover’ greetings
US Ambassador to Israel David Friedmann baked matzah in Kfar Chabad, Israel and wished the whole world 'Happy Passover.'
March 26, 2018
WATCH: Unraveling the secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls
An Israeli group is analyzing the famous Dead Sea Scrolls with great care. Find out what's involved in revealing the secrets of the ancient texts.
March 20, 2018
Jerusalem exhibit at UN shows ancient Jewish ties, despite UN ‘disclaimer’
The UN posted a disclaimer at the entrance to its Jerusalem exhibit, saying its content does not represent the world body's views.
March 11, 2018
Israel Library puts George Washington Thumb Bible online
A rare miniature Washington 'thumb bible', one of less than a dozen existing copies, is now accessible to the public.
February 19, 2018
Rare multicolored Roman-era mosaic exposed in Israel
Israeli archeologists have uncovered a rare, multicolored mosaic dating to the Roman period in Caesarea, the ancient seat of power.
February 8, 2018
First Temple-era structure, rare silver coin found in Jerusalem dig
Israeli archaeologists uncovered impressive and unique finds on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
January 31, 2018