Latest Judaism News
Israelis grapple with how to celebrate Passover, a holiday about freedom, while many remain captive
JERUSALEM (AP) — Every year, Alon Gat’s mother led the family's Passover celebration of the liberation of the ancient Israelites from Egypt thousands of years ago. But this year, Gat is struggling with how to reconcile a holiday commemorating freedom after his mother was slain and other family...
13 men plead not guilty to role in Brooklyn synagogue tunnel scuffle
NEW YORK (AP) — Thirteen members of the Hasidic Jewish community pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges stemming from their alleged role in a dispute over an illegal tunnel built beneath a historic Brooklyn synagogue. The defendants, many of them international students from...
Eid prayers held in a historic former mosque in northern Greece for the first time in 100 years
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — The Stars of David adorning the balconies along the top of the building catch the first glimmers of the dawn light as worshipers pass through the gates of the historic Yeni Cami, or New Mosque, for morning prayers. Wednesday marked the first time since...
AP PHOTOS: Ukraine celebrates Purim with costumes and dancing, as war drags on
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Dozens of people gathered in a synagogue in Kyiv this weekend to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim, more than two years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Following Purim tradition, adults and children wore flashy and colorful costumes that stood out...
Jerusalem marks festive holiday of Purim in shadow of war
JERUSALEM (AP) — Tens of thousands of people celebrated the Jewish holiday of Purim on Monday, though the traditionally boisterous celebrations were muted by the Israel-Hamas war. Although many cities across Israel decided to cancel their Purim celebrations due to the ongoing...
During the Israel-Hamas war, Jews will soon celebrate Purim — one of their most joyous holidays
Purim is widely depicted as the most thoroughly joyful of Jewish holidays — highlighted by celebrations that include costumes, skits, noisemakers and varying degrees of rowdiness. It celebrates the biblical story of how a plot to exterminate Jews in Persia was thwarted, and thus is...
Pope reaffirms Christians' special relationship with Jews amid rising antisemitism, Gaza war
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Saturday reaffirmed Christians' special relationship with Jews amid rising antisemitism since the outbreak of the Gaza war in a letter to the Jews of Israel that he said was prompted by messages from Jewish organizations around the world. The...
High-ranking Orthodox prelate warns against spread of antisemitism by religious officials
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Speaking on the day for commemorating the victims of the Holocaust, a high-ranking official of the Orthodox Church warned Sunday against the spread of antisemitism by religious and church officials. “I am worried by the spread of antisemitism...
Muslims and Jews in Bosnia observe Holocaust Remembrance Day and call for peace and dialogue
SREBRENICA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Jews and Muslims from Bosnia and abroad gathered in Srebrenica on Saturday to jointly observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day and to promote compassion and dialogue amid the Israel-Hamas war. The gathering was organized by the center...