Judaism

Between miracle and memory: The evolution of Miriam in art over the years

Whether in medieval ‘Haggadot’ or the lithographs of Bezalel, artists trace Miriam as she emerges, tambourine in hand, to lead the aftermath of the Exodus.

BYZANTINE MOSAIC, Abbey of the Dormition, Jerusalem (c. early medieval) – Miriam, tambourine in hand.
‘SEPARATIONS/DOME,’ Batsheva Ensemble. ‘The work began from a feeling, an everyday sensation of vulnerability.’ – Bosmat Nossan

The body continues: In war, dance becomes a way to survive

Engraving: The Song of Miriam (1880), by William Blake Richmond.

Before the song: On Passover, Miriam leads with rhythm when the path is unclear

IT IS no accident that Song of Songs is read every Passover. The book is saturated with an explosive, summoning, and impossible to resist spring – an explosion of energy and new life

Passover and Song of Songs: What spring teaches us about freedom


American demand for kosher wine strong despite national decline in wine consumption

Royal Wine, the largest distributor of kosher wine in the United States, saw slower growth this year than in previous years, but growth nonetheless.

A rabbi raises a glass of kosher wine as he blesses over it.

Birthright travelers look different after October 7, but the effect remains the same, study shows

“Many of the applicants live in communities where they hear frequent criticism of Israel,” a Brandeis University researcher said. "Their perspective on the conflict lacks context.”

Participants on a Birthright Israel program.

Jewish day schools’ macro and micro impact - opinion

Day schools function as an anchor institution, attracting parents and communal professionals who seek robust educational options for their own children.

Seattle Jewish Community Day School

The Great Mifgash: Building global Jewish connections amid crisis

The Great Mifgash used AI-powered speed conversations to unite Jewish leaders across continents in just one evening.

The Great Mifgash. Pictured: Tracy Frydberg, director, Tisch Center for Jewish Dialogue at ANU – Museum of the Jewish People; Yoni Alon, Israeli Jewish Peoplehood Coalition and found er of David Cards.

Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel: Bringing the Exodus to life, visually - review

Experience the Exodus like never before with this graphic novel Haggadah, which makes the story immediate, visual, and unforgettable.

Haggadah

Az Nashir Haggadah: Women’s voices on the path to redemption - review

A Haggadah that blends tradition, contemporary Israeli reality, and women’s voices for a living redemption.

Prophet Miriam plays the tambourine as she dances and sings with the women as they leave Egypt. A Camden Press poster of a wood carving by the Brothers Dalziel after a mid-19th-century illustration by Edward Poynter.

Eid, Nowruz, Nisan converge in 2026, blending faith, culture, renewal across the region

The convergence creates a layered period of celebration that reflects the region’s complex identity, where religious practice and ancient cultural traditions coexist and often reinforce one another.

Iranians watch fireworks during the Wednesday Fire feast, or Chaharshanbe Suri, held annually on the last Wednesday eve before the Spring holiday of Nowruz, in Tehran, on March 18, 2025.

American Jewish groups must rethink their West Bank policy - opinion

American Jewish leaders risk losing influence unless they align with Israeli realities on settlements, security, and the future of Judea and Samaria.

An Israeli flag flutters, with Ma'aleh Adumim is visible in the background, in the West Bank, August 14, 2025.

This month in Jewish history: From Exodus to modern Israel, and many birthdays

A highly abridged monthly version of Dust & Stars.

Happy Birthday to: Yigael Yadin (3rd R), Israeli delegation member to armistice  talks in Rhodes, 1949, with Yitzhak Rabin {R);

From exile to nationhood: The enduring story of Am Yisrael

Passover marks more than freedom; it forged Jewish nationhood and a lasting identity that endured exile and returned as a living people in its land.

Millions of Jews who do not live in Israel shape their Jewish identity through their  connection to this land.