Religion

Canadians pray for Jerusalem as Parliament penalizes quoting the Bible - opinion

The success of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa suggests that there is still a hunger for unity, moral clarity, and courage.

|ByALBERT VEKSLER/THE MEDIA LINE
Israeli Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed receives a memorable gift from Christian leaders at the inaugural Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa, Canada, March 2026.
A member of the IDF’s Netzah Yehuda Battalion is seen at the Western Wall, last year.

Netzach Yehuda's CNN altercation: Why religion is driving Israel toward extremism - opinion

After a tumultuous journey of deconstructing my past, I am now a vocal critic of both hardline religion and the contradictions inherent in trying to create a democratic nation-state.

|BySHALOM TZVI SHOR
On Wednesday night, we will talk about freedom, with the specter of ballistic missiles, safe rooms, and red-alert sirens still fresh in our minds.

Freedom under fire: What Passover means in a time of war - comment

In a year of war, Jewish holidays reflect reality, where freedom is less about ideals and more about safety and survival.

|ByHERB KEINON
Rabbi Daniel Burstyn conducting a Seder on Kibbutz Lotan.

Passover reimagined: How Jews reinterpret freedom at the Seder table

Passover celebrates liberty, tradition, and the evolving ways we mark the Seder night.

|ByBARRY DAVIS

Anti-Zionist Jews: The wayward sons of our generation - opinion

Some Jews seek Judaism without peoplehood; the Haggadah warns that faith and community are inseparable.

MARCH 28, 2026ByDORON PEREZ
A PRO-PALESTINIAN Jewish protester participates in a demonstration calling for the release of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, in New York City.

From the October 7 massacre to Operation Roaring Lion, Jews endure, thrive this Passover - opinion

Jewish survival, defiance, and hope shine as Passover 2026 is observed in a world of challenges.

MARCH 25, 2026ByMICAH HALPERN
The aftermath of an Iranian missile hit on an Arad apartment building, March 21, 2026.

Zionism still defines the Jewish nation today - opinion

Abandoning the term “Zionism” hands victory to Israel’s critics and undermines Jewish identity, history, and the ongoing mission of the Jewish state.

MARCH 24, 2026ByGIL TROY
American Jews [Illustrative]

Western Wall debate must not overshadow prayer, unity during times of war - opinion

Prayer at the Kotel should remain sacred, guiding Jews through crises rather than fueling division.

MARCH 24, 2026ByYAAKOV MENKEN, JONATHAN GUTTENTAG
A general view of Jerusalem's Old City shows the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in the foreground and the Dome of the Rock, located on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in the background June 24, 2019

Israel needs leadership that can unify the nation without weakening its democracy - opinion

Amid deep divisions and post-October 7 trauma, Israel faces a leadership test: unity, trust, and governance must come before politics.

MARCH 22, 2026BySHMUEL LEGESSE
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett seen in an illustrative

Exploring identity through art at Jerusalem's Museum on the Seam

Two exhibitions at the Museum on the Seam proffer an emotional reality check of the lay of our land.

MARCH 22, 2026ByBARRY DAVIS
Four young Palestinian women in Israel making their way through mainstream Israeli society.

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.

MARCH 22, 2026ByNOAH ROTHSTEIN
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.

MARCH 22, 2026ByRIVKAH LAMBERT ADLER
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.

Shas fills local rabbi posts with loyalists, sidelining community choice - opinion

Shas moves quickly to fill rabbinic vacancies, sidelining candidates who fit their cities.

MARCH 21, 2026BySHUKI FRIEDMAN
Head of Shas party Aryeh Deri and Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef visit at the scene of suspected arson and vandalism at a Jerusalem synagogue which is often frequented by Rabbi Yosef, June 8, 2025.

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

A highly abridged monthly version of Dust & Stars.

MARCH 21, 2026BySTEVEN DRUCKER
Happy Birthday to: Yigael Yadin (3rd R), Israeli delegation member to armistice talks in Rhodes, 1949, with Yitzhak Rabin {R);