Culture and Society
Original reporting, features and analysis on culture and society.
The deputy foreign minister talks with JNS about Lebanon, Iran, surging antisemitism and the importance of Africa.
Mayor Moshe Lion says this year’s honorees represent “the human, moral and professional mosaic of Jerusalem.”
It is and always has been a city of striking contrasts.
First and foremost, the only civilized country in the Middle East is far too socialistic.
Creating a language of “parallel traumas” harms the historical record, and it ultimately flattens moral distinction.
The Israeli singer’s Eurovision performance became an act of defiance against anti-Israel hatred, even eliciting support from Iranian dissidents abroad.
“It’s both a Jewish story and an American story at the same time,” a curator at the Washington, D.C., museum told JNS of a series by Mitch Epstein.
Noam Bettan qualified for the grand final after earning enough points to advance.
Bettan’s first performance of “Michelle” at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle drew applause as well as boos and whistles.
The law may begin by treating different movements similarly, but it’s not designed to anticipate or manage how protests actually unfold in real time.
It is a national event, something close to a civic ritual. And in cultural terms, it offers a way of belonging to a larger endeavor.
Middle school pupils from 33 schools tested their knowledge of the Israeli capital’s history, culture and landmarks at Tower of David.
The Dec. 2 program included a talk by a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a designated terror group in both Canada and the United States.
Will.i.am spoke about his personal connection to Israelis, about Hebrew in one of the band’s songs and his interest in the high-tech industry.
The Israeli star sang at the L.A. Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors game at the Staples Center on the first night of the Jewish Festival of Lights.
Dave Grohl and producer Greg Kurstin team up for “The Hanukkah Sessions 2021,” in which they release a cover of a song by a Jewish artist each night of the holiday.
His “Make Art Not War” exhibition was created using pistols, rifles and tanks. Proceeds go to raising awareness of veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The exhibition, titled “Maktoub,” which means both “written” and “destined” in Arabic, features works from 10 calligraphy artists (half from Israel and half from the UAE).
In a 94-minute documentary, he travels to Nigeria, Kurdistan, Ukraine, Somalia, Bangladesh, Greece, Libya and Afghanistan.
“‘Tehran’ is not only an espionage series; it’s also about understanding the human behind your enemy,” says executive producer Dana Eden in her acceptance speech.
“We created the best event we’ve ever done,” the 27-year-old singer said in a statement. “I can’t wait to share it with fans around the world. I’ll see you soon!”
Survivor Dan Leger is strangely calm when he recalls getting shot, figuring he would be dead in a few minutes. “I had no sense of being afraid about the end of my life coming. I thought about my life, and I thought, ‘Gee, I’ve had a wonderful life … .’ ”
The legendary psychic entertainer welcomes groups to his Ottoman-era museum space, displaying an assortment of items from the rich and famous.
Zenab Grabia didn’t know any female ceramic artists in her community, until she became one herself.
The U.K.'s Maritime Trade Operations said armed men boarded a commercial ship near the UAE port of Fujairah and began sailing it toward the Islamic Republic.
The treasury is drafting a four-year plan that, if adopted, would cancel Eilat’s VAT exemption and slash tax benefits for new immigrants.
Its unprecedented accomplishments—economic prosperity, a robust democracy, a resilient social fabric and outsized international influence—stem from a culture of optimism, ingenuity and determination.
The state initially said that it is giving its 2025 Montana Exporter of the Year Award to a company that exports "$5.4 million worth of products to Canada, Egypt, European Union, Japan, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates.”
Jerusalem is also advancing efforts to join the Mediterranean Fisheries Commission.
The planned new flights to Saigon come as Israelis are increasingly flying to the Far East amid a burst of antisemitism in much of the West.
The U.S. credit rating agency cited strong economic fundamentals despite the wars with Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, and increased defense spending.
The 30 defendants are “accused of scoring significant profits from expected market moves and making out like bandits,” the FBI said.
The millions of Jews who receive assistance and benefits are not being served less because people care less. They are being served less because the math no longer works.
The facility will be able to produce about 50,000 meals a day.
Kela Technologies, which integrates commercial technologies for military uses, has received the financial backing of U.S. billionaires Bill Ackman and Eric Schmidt.
The Bank of Israel warned that the measure may not benefit customers while causing harmful second-order effects.
It is not left. It is not right. It is as straight as a fact in history. It is simply the truth, and the truth is something we have an obligation to protect.
Still, 61% of respondents to an April poll from the Pew Research Center said that religion was declining in influence in the country, compared to 37% that said it was gaining ground.
Israel’s national security minister was reportedly one of some 200 Jews who visited the site throughout the day.
“It is under Israel’s sovereignty that people of all faiths have access to their holy sites,” the American diplomat stated.
Mayor Moshe Lion says this year’s honorees represent “the human, moral and professional mosaic of Jerusalem.”
Foreign envoys hear appeals to recognize Israel’s united capital and relocate embassies to the city.
It is and always has been a city of striking contrasts.
One is compelled to ask: What exactly does the Communist Party fear from a few hundred people in the city of Kaifeng?
The award “is a personal recognition and does not imply support or opposition to any policy or country,” the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See said.
How a small metal container—and the ancient habit it represents—may be one of the most powerful tools for raising the next generation of Jews who love Israel.
Yitzhak Wasserlauf praised the “revolution” of allowing Jewish prayer on the Mount.
In 2000, Israel abandoned the site after Palestinian rioters stormed the compound.
In certain contexts, the Notch receptor may participate in “reverse signaling,” influencing neighboring cells directly.
The software giant examined whether Israeli security agencies’ use of its systems violated company ethics and transparency rules, Globes reported.
Transforming battlefield leadership into entrepreneurial innovation, the 18X Elite Impact program has helped soldiers who fought for Israel raise more than $15 million in funding.
Jerusalem is also advancing efforts to join the Mediterranean Fisheries Commission.
The findings could also point to the presence of these metals in smaller fish species commonly consumed by humans.
The network relies on AI-generated avatars and fabricated IDs designed to mimic credible Jewish voices, Combat Antisemitism Movement found.
The proposed reforms would phase out smoked medical cannabis in favor of oils and inhalers.
The Israeli president was joined by Jerusalem College of Technology students and academic leaders to promote respectful dialogue in Israeli society.
The facility near Dimona will provide current at record low prices.
As NASA astronauts highlight global cooperation, some countries remain “fixated on outdated narratives,” the Israeli envoy said.
“We believe that Israeli scientific excellence can deliver the next major breakthrough in cancer care.”
A woman is accused of shouting anti-Jewish slurs at under-12 netball match in Sydney.
“He informed and entertained generations of fans with a theatrical and unapologetic style that was uniquely his own,” the New York Yankees stated.
“It’s time to understand that Israel should be sanctioned,” Jibril Rajoub said.
A California native, Jake Retzlaff played at Brigham Young University during the 2023 and 2024 seasons before transferring to Tulane University in 2025.
The godfather of Israeli ice hockey continues to play, mentor and inspire, even in wartime.
The team’s success builds on a strong track record in international competition.
Raz Hershko beat France’s Lea Fontaine, winning gold for the second time in her career.
Runners from Israel and abroad join subdued race following Lebanon truce.
Visa refusals could prevent Palestinians from attending pre-World Cup gathering in Vancouver.
Twenty honorees, including Julian Edelman, Omri Casspi and Bruce Pearl, will be inducted June 29 in Israel, highlighting global Jewish achievement across sports.
“I went to see them. They are actually quite a good team as well,” said Gianni Infantino.
The 25-year-old forward erupted for 41 points and a clutch three-point play as he carried Portland past Phoenix in the play-in to reach his first NBA postseason.
Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Tekuma Authority will invest $24 million.
KKL–JNF says that its decision to stop support for some of the agricultural holdings has nothing to do with where they’re located in relation to the ‘Green Line.’
“When we talk about irrigation or plants, we see that this common language can overcome many political difficulties,” Tomer Malchi told JNS.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar congratulated his newly appointed counterpart, as the two diplomats discussed the situation of both countries.
Michael Lotem finished a three-year tour as envoy to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and the Seychelles in August 2025.
The assessment calls for the return of Palestinian Authority governance and efforts to “advance a durable political settlement based on the two-state solution.”
Michael Lotem has previously served as Israel’s ambassador to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and the Seychelles.
It appears as “a living educational framework—a connection between Jewish communities in Israel and abroad, and a reflection of the strength of these communities across generations.”
The campaign, named for slain farmer Omer Weinstein, aims to place protective shelters on agricultural land as “Operation Roaring Lion” continues.
The route links Russian and Iranian ports and allows the countries to swap weapons, drones, ammunition, oil and foodstuffs.
Nuriel Dubin, 27, was a resident of Moshav Margaliot.
José Tomás Zambrano says U.S.–Israel campaign could weaken Tehran’s terror reach in Central and South America.
Rich and creamy, dairy is the rule and not the exception for this two-day holiday.
City says food fair reflects the metropolis’s spirit, offering public space for culture, connection and celebration amid challenging times.
At a Park Slope Food Coop meeting about boycotting Israel, a member, who reportedly compared Jews to Nazis, was applauded for saying that “Jewish supremacism is a problem in this country.”
Israel’s foreign minister said that no evidence had been provided by Kyiv, which he criticized for raising the issue in the media rather than diplomatic channels.
From Miami suites to Mexico City kitchens, a new generation of Jewish food influencers is using cuisine as a powerful form of cultural diplomacy.
“It becomes comfort, continuity and a way to feel connected to tradition and to one another at home,” Talia Sabag, of the Manischewitz parent company Kayko, told JNS.
The brand told JNS that it will be “evaluating packaging differentiation and working with our retail partners to ensure clearer in-store separation and signage where needed.”
A scholarly showdown over Jewish holiday foods spreads to more campuses across the United States.
“It has been a very tough time for the Jewish community,” Julie Menin said at the event. “The support of all of the colleagues who are here today is so incredibly meaningful.”
It literally marks the first time since 2014 that no Israeli is being held captive by Hamas or any other terror group in the Gaza Strip.
A falafel flap exposes the new rules of student speech on American college campuses.
“The quest for the L’Cheisman continues,” Eitan Levine said.
The discovery near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel has left researchers puzzled about its purpose and age.
The coins were allegedly looted from archaeological sites in Israel and smuggled to the United States.
Dor Wolynitz found a 1,700-year-old statuette fragment while hiking with his family in the Ramon Crater in the Negev Desert.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem reported that Natufian hunter-gatherers produced 142 beads and pendants uncovered by archaeologists.
The rare find, bearing the menorah symbol on both sides, was uncovered during recent excavations in the Temple Mount area.
Because of its importance not just to Jews, but to the West, excavating the City of David has engendered much hostility, speakers said at a Dec. 9 event.
Hebrew University researchers uncovered 8,000-year-old pottery showing floral patterns built on precise geometric progressions.
Calling it “a dream come true,” the museum’s director Eilat Lieber says the Kishle site will become the Schulich Wing for Archaeology, Art and Innovation.
The section of the wall unearthed at the Tower of David Museum is among the longest and most intact segments ever uncovered.
“They could go to a museum even in the Gulf, where people could see another side of Israel, an artistic side, a beautiful side,” Bernard Shapero told JNS.
“It’s not just a display of the scrolls, which of course in and of themselves would be powerful,” but other “wow objects” leave viewers in awe, the museum’s director of exhibits told JNS.
The Dubai gathering comes as the landmark 2020 Abraham Accords continue to broaden in the wake of last month’s ceasefire in Gaza.
His greatness was not that he chose between the fire and the light. It was that he spent his life carrying both.
While leading the ADL for three decades, he epitomized many of the best things about the community he defended. But Jewish liberalism’s failures cloud his legacy.
“Abe believed that hearts could change,” said Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue.
“He carried that experience not with bitterness but with purpose,” William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, told JNS.
A passionate supporter of Israel, Joni Lamb received the Israel Allies Award in 2024.
“Doris Fisher leaves behind a legacy of deep commitment to her family and our city,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said.
“He informed and entertained generations of fans with a theatrical and unapologetic style that was uniquely his own,” the New York Yankees stated.
The author of “The Choice” urged others to choose hope and healing.
After Scott’s death, anti-Israel group Track AIPAC touted the possibility of replacing him with a primary opponent who accuses Israel of “genocide.”
Godoff’s four-decade career helped launch and shape the works of leading writers, including Ron Chernow, Salman Rushdie and Zadie Smith.
“Jesse was a force of nature like few others before him,” U.S. President Donald Trump wrote.
The prolific singer, composer and arranger helped shape Israel’s musical landscape for almost six decades.