Jewish

Inside the unexpected cultural renaissance happening in Beit Shemesh

From Shlock Rock to major Israeli theater productions, Beit Shemesh’s cultural center is turning the city into an unexpected arts destination.

Lenny Solomon at the keyboard with the Shlock Rock band at the 40th anniversary concert in Beit Shemesh.
Irene Aue-Ben-David

Dr. Irene Aue-Ben-David: Preserving the history of German Jewry - interview

Congressional candidate Cameron Kasky playing soccer with a Palestinian child during his trip to the West Bank, Dec. 2025.

Cameron Kasky: Jewish progressive running for Congress after West Bank solidarity mission

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks at a news conference following a shooting in Minneapolis, Minn. by an ICE agent, on Jan. 7, 2026.

Jacob Frey, Minneapolis’ Jewish mayor, returns to the spotlight after ICE shooting in his city


The Ongoing Iranian Uprising is Not a Revolution: It’s a Reclamation

As Iranians challenge the Islamic Republic, a shared history and future with Israel is reemerging from decades of enforced hostility.

Iranian protests

 Bar Mitzvah in Israel: Why more families are choosing Israel for their Bar Mitzvah celebrations

Bar Mitzvah in Israel.

At a former driving school, Kehillat Harlem plants roots for Jewish life uptown

A new non denominational synagogue in Central Harlem is emerging as a hub for worship, community, and inclusion amid the neighborhood’s growing Jewish population.

The torah dedication ceremony at Kehillat Harlem on Aug. 31, 2025.

Rabbis after Google: Jewish leadership must be reimagined - opinion

Judaism has always evolved. In a world of instant access and fading institutions, rabbinic leadership must evolve with it.

Chief rabbis of Jerusalem, Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Rabbi Arye Stern

'The New York Times' tried to cancel Bari Weiss. Now she's running CBS - comment

From her exit at the New York Times to leading CBS News, Bari Weiss’s rise reflects a deeper fight over power, culture, and who shapes journalism’s future.

The Free Press' Honestly with Bari Weiss (L) hosts Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R) presented by Uber and X on January 17, 2025 in Washington, DC

Dropping the IHRA definition sends the wrong signal to the Jewish community - opinion

On his first day, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani revoked the IHRA antisemitism definition, leaving protections for Jewish residents unclear.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani pictured during his first day in office, January 1, 2026.

Orthodox Jewish judge to preside over Maduro's criminal proceedings in NY

Judge Alvin Hellerstein, a 92-year-old Orthodox Jewish federal judge, is among the longest-serving active federal judges in the country.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro being walked in custody down a hallway at the offices of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in New York City, U.S., January 3, 2026.

Maduro has claimed Jewish ancestry, here is what is known - explainer

Maduro has cited Sephardic Jewish roots, but his own statements and the public record leave his Jewish status unconfirmed.

A supporter of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro holds up a portrait of him in Caracas, Venezuela, January 3, 2026.

Winter in Jerusalem: Cozy soups, simple treats to warm your heart and home

Warm up this winter with cozy soups, hearty chicken, and sweet baked apples, simple recipes full of flavor and comfort for chilly days.

Chicken soup.

FOZ founder Mike Evans tells Netanyahu evangelicals are ‘overwhelmingly united’ in Israel support

Netanyahu framed the relationship as historically decisive, telling the group: “You are representatives of the Christian Zionists who made Jewish Zionism possible.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a press conference with US President Donald Trump (not pictured) after meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, US, December 29, 2025.

In honor: 13 influential Jewish New Yorkers who passed away in 2025

As the year concludes, the New York Jewish Week remembers 13 Jewish New Yorkers who died in 2025. Among them are people who left an indelible mark on New York City.

13 notable Jewish New Yorkers we lost in 2025