Latest Judaism News
In US, some Muslim-Jewish interfaith initiatives are strained by Israel-Hamas war
Shireen Quaizar was wracked with doubt. For years, the school psychologist has been active in Muslim-Jewish interfaith dialogue, but the Israel-Hamas war left her reeling. “What are we doing with talking to each other?” she recalled thinking, frustrated by a conversation about...
What to know about Hannukah and how it's celebrated around the world
Hanukkah — also spelled Chanukah or other transliterations from Hebrew — is Judaism’s “festival of lights.” On eight consecutive nightfalls, Jews gather with family and friends to light one additional candle in the menorah — a multibranched candelabra. In Hebrew,...
New Jersey man who posted threat to synagogues gets 15 months in prison
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey man who admitted posting a broad online threat aimed at synagogues and Jewish schools in the state last year was sentenced to 15 months in prison Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Christine O'Hearn in Camden imposed the sentence on Omar Alkattoul, 19,...
Jewish refugees from Israel find comfort and companionship in a countryside camp in Hungary
BALATONOSZOD, Hungary (AP) — Zusha Pletnyov left his home in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk in 2014, when Russian-backed rebels seized large swaths of eastern Ukraine. After living some years in the capital, Kyiv, he fled again to Israel when Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in...
California Gov. Gavin Newsom to make a one-day visit to Israel en route to China
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is planning a one-day visit to Israel this week to meet people affected by that country's war with Hamas, stopping over en route to China where he will discuss policies to curb global warming. The Democratic governor is set to...
Far from Israel, Jews grieve and pray for peace in Shabbat services held as Israel-Hamas war rages
Jews in communities far from Israel gathered at synagogues this weekend for Shabbat services held amid the ongoing war ignited by Hamas militants' attack on Israel a week earlier. Rabbis led prayers of peace and shared grief with their congregations. At many synagogues security was tight. ...
Tens of thousands protest after Muslim prayers across Mideast over Israeli airstrikes on Gaza
JERUSALEM (AP) — Tens of thousands of Muslims demonstrated Friday across the Middle East in support of the Palestinians and against the intensifying Israeli bombardment of Gaza, underscoring the risk of a wider regional conflict as Israel prepares for a possible ground invasion. ...
Vatican defends wartime Pope Pius XII as conference honors Israeli victims of Hamas incursion
ROME (AP) — The Vatican secretary of state on Monday strongly defended World War II-era Pope Pius XII as a friend of the Jews as he opened an historic conference on newly opened archives that featured even Holy See historians acknowledging that anti-Jewish prejudice informed Pius’ silence in...
Jewish diaspora mourns attack on Israel, but carries on by celebrating holidays
NEW YORK (AP) — The Jewish diaspora awoke to horror Saturday in what was supposed to be among the most festive times on the Jewish holiday calendar. The attacks by the militant group Hamas came after the end of Sukkot, a weeklong celebration to commemorate the harvest season and...
An American tourist is arrested for smashing ancient Roman statues at a museum in Israel
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police have arrested an American tourist at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem after he hurled works of art to the floor, defacing two second-century Roman statues. The vandalism late Thursday raised questions about the safety of Israel's priceless collections...
