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 president cites rising anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment amid protests targeting the country’s pavilion and Jewish symbols.
The Israeli singer’s Eurovision performance became an act of defiance against anti-Israel hatred, even eliciting support from Iranian dissidents abroad.
Talking to Michal Herzog at the President’s Conference in Jerusalem, the famous actress shares that being Israeli abroad has become “very complicated.”
“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 cultural gem in Jerusalem seeks to keep S.Y. Agnon’s literary world relevant for new generations.
The creator of Captain America, the Avengers and the Hulk is “widely recognized as the most prolific and arguably most important creator in the history of the comic book,” an American Jewish Historical Society exhibit says.
A new documentary by Abner Benaim is a personal project that takes viewers to the terrorist attack against Alas Chiricanas Flight #901 and explores the aftermath on the families of the victims, including Benaim himself.
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.
Demonstrations outside the Israeli pavilion came after Italy’s government opposed efforts by Biennale organizers and jurors to exclude the Jewish state.
“Think Twice” with Jonathan Tobin with guest Jonah Platt, Ep. 221
Ventures that strengthen relationships with one of the world’s most innovative economies will indirectly support economic activity and job creation.
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.
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.
OrCam develops A.I.-driven wearable devices to aid the blind and visually impaired.
The development will drastically reduce flight times between Israel and Asian countries.
Does the level of the Kinneret have anything to do with the prospects for peace in the Middle East? He’d like you to think that it does.
King Salman tells the U.S. president that Saudi Arabia wants a solution to the Palestinian issue based on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
Daniel Benatar has been appointed the company’s global deputy for chip manufacturing.
Though Manama’s announcement did not specify Israel, it follows a similar statement by Saudi Arabia on the heels of the the recent treaty between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi.
Saudi aviation official says the decision followed a request by the UAE aviation authority.
Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin called the move “long overdue,” insisting that “Cyprus is a new hot spot. Cyprus is our ally. Those threatening Cyprus are not.”
Temperatures rose above 114 degrees in some parts of the country.
“The power feed may now decline to only four hours [per day],” says an official at the Hamas-ruled enclave’s main energy-distribution company.
“I was raised with the conviction that Jews everywhere must support one another and the State of Israel in order to secure our collective well-being,” he says.
The administration hopes the seizures will deter shipping companies from dealing with Iran and Venezuela.
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.