The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/judaism/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:04:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Judaism | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/judaism/ 32 32 Georgia political candidate sorry for fluffy challah in a Passover ad https://www.timesofisrael.com/georgia-political-candidate-sorry-for-fluffy-challah-in-a-passover-ad/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:30:06 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3796295 Democrat Nathalie Kanani calls image of bread 'an oversight that should not have happened,' though not the first Passover bread to ignite a social media firestorm in recent years

The post Georgia political candidate sorry for fluffy challah in a Passover ad appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Letter by famed Jewish mystic sells for nearly $400,000 at auction https://www.timesofisrael.com/letter-by-famed-jewish-mystic-sells-for-nearly-400000-at-auction/ Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:33:46 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3757597 Ramchal manuscript was quietly sold by Jewish Theological Seminary during financial crisis; scholar decries transfer of text to private owner as a 'scandal'

The post Letter by famed Jewish mystic sells for nearly $400,000 at auction appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> How Oct. 7 changed the way Israel’s ‘somewhat observant’ practice Judaism https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-oct-7-changed-the-way-israels-somewhat-observant-practice-judaism/ Sat, 10 Jan 2026 02:31:29 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3730695 From tefillin pop-ups to Shabbat candle lightings, many Israelis -- including pop stars and former hostages -- have increasingly turned to religion amid the war: 'Faith provided an anchor'

The post How Oct. 7 changed the way Israel’s ‘somewhat observant’ practice Judaism appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Pink says her nickname at school was ‘kike dyke,’ in Hanukkah clip with Noa Tishby https://www.timesofisrael.com/pink-says-her-nickname-at-school-was-kike-dyke-in-hanukkah-clip-with-noa-tishby/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:49:07 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3712575 Jewish pop star lights first night's candles with activist, says her mother was threatened due to her Jewishness and her address was leaked to the public

The post Pink says her nickname at school was ‘kike dyke,’ in Hanukkah clip with Noa Tishby appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> After October 7, some seek healing from kabbalah-informed psychedelic retreats https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-october-7-jews-seek-healing-from-kabbalah-informed-psychedelic-retreats/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 23:44:48 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3677868 Founded by California Rabbi Zac Kamenetz, Shefa Jewish Psychedelic Support turned from an education-only organization to an experiential one after seeing need following the Hamas-led massacre

The post After October 7, some seek healing from kabbalah-informed psychedelic retreats appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Faith communities, including Jews, experiment with AI tools — to mixed feedback https://www.timesofisrael.com/faith-communities-including-jews-experiment-with-ai-tools-to-mixed-feedback/ Fri, 03 Oct 2025 05:50:13 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3655243 Some love their virtual study partners, but Rabbi Gilah Langner warns 'emotional connection' is missing in AI's advice

The post Faith communities, including Jews, experiment with AI tools — to mixed feedback appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Former hostage Omer Shem-Tov says Jewish faith kept him alive in Hamas tunnels https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/world/middleeast/hostages-god-gaza-tunnels.html Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:01:35 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3569019 The New York Times reports that while his mother recited an ancient psalm each day pleading for his deliverance, the now-freed captive was doing the same in Gaza

The post Former hostage Omer Shem-Tov says Jewish faith kept him alive in Hamas tunnels appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Survey finds 38% of American Jews believe in afterlife https://www.timesofisrael.com/survey-finds-38-of-american-jews-believe-in-afterlife/ Wed, 07 May 2025 19:13:46 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3543941 Figure far lower than 83% of American Christians and 58% of Israeli Jews who believe in life after death; Pew poll also finds US Jews follow religious practices at higher rate than others

The post Survey finds 38% of American Jews believe in afterlife appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Kiddush cup dating back to reign of Ghengis Khan to go up for auction https://www.timesofisrael.com/kiddush-cup-dating-back-to-reign-of-ghengis-khan-to-go-up-for-auction/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 07:56:12 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3518051 One-of-a-kind artifact bears Arabic and Hebrew inscription of owner's name, Simcha son of Salman, and is oldest known piece of Judaica from Middle Ages, according to Sotheby's

The post Kiddush cup dating back to reign of Ghengis Khan to go up for auction appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Pew Research Center survey: A quarter of US adults raised Jewish no longer identify as Jews https://www.timesofisrael.com/pew-research-center-survey-a-quarter-of-us-adults-raised-jewish-no-longer-identify-as-jews/ Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:38:56 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3511419 Survey of 78,000 people in 36 countries on ‘religious switching’ in the world also shows that 20% of the US Muslim population are converts

The post Pew Research Center survey: A quarter of US adults raised Jewish no longer identify as Jews appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> This Muslim scholar wants to revive the ‘Judeo-Islamic tradition,’ starting with Moses https://www.timesofisrael.com/this-muslim-scholar-wants-to-revive-the-judeo-islamic-tradition-starting-with-moses/ Mon, 10 Mar 2025 01:10:26 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3451621 In his new book 'The Islamic Moses,' US-based author Mustafa Akyol turns to the Quran's focus on a shared prophet to highlight a historic closeness and foster interfaith relations

The post This Muslim scholar wants to revive the ‘Judeo-Islamic tradition,’ starting with Moses appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> From radical drag queen to rabbi, film depicts journey of a Jewish law breaker https://www.timesofisrael.com/from-radical-drag-queen-to-rabbi-film-depicts-journey-of-a-jewish-law-breaker/ Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:46:26 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3464045 'Sabbath Queen' follows gay scion of rabbinic dynasty Amichai Lau-Lavie for two decades as he challenges traditional Judaism's norms and becomes a respected communal leader

The post From radical drag queen to rabbi, film depicts journey of a Jewish law breaker appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Israelis decorate their first sukkahs since Oct. 7 with hostage photos https://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-decorate-their-first-sukkahs-since-oct-7-with-hostage-photos/ Wed, 16 Oct 2024 09:39:34 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3398444 Symbols of devastated border communities line walls of sukkahs one year after Hamas onslaught, as soldiers deployed to Gaza erect festive hut, shown in viral image

The post Israelis decorate their first sukkahs since Oct. 7 with hostage photos appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> US Jews report ‘difficult time’ as High Holidays and October 7 anniversary coincide https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-jews-report-difficult-time-as-high-holidays-and-october-7-anniversary-coincide/ Tue, 01 Oct 2024 06:44:08 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3387404 At peak of religious calendar, synagogues to commemorate deadly Hamas attack on Israel, amid rising antisemitism and pain over ongoing war, remaining hostages

The post US Jews report ‘difficult time’ as High Holidays and October 7 anniversary coincide appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> No laughing matter? Hezbollah pager explosions become fodder for online jokes https://www.timesofisrael.com/no-laughing-matter-hezbollah-pager-explosions-become-fodder-for-online-jokes/ Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:43:38 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3379322 Some Jewish social media users taunt Lebanese terror group after alleged Israeli attacks while others argue that Judaism discourages rejoicing in enemy's downfall

The post No laughing matter? Hezbollah pager explosions become fodder for online jokes appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]>