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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 617

Judaism

Released hostage Omer Shem Tov speaks at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, April 19, 2025. (Paulina Patimer/Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
From the WebJune 10, 2025, 2:01 pm
Former hostage Omer Shem-Tov says Jewish faith kept him alive in Hamas tunnels
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
Ultra-Orthodox pilgrims pray at the grave of Rabbi Naphtali Hakohen Katz, a 17th-century Kabbalist, in the Ortakoy neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey, January 17, 2023. (David I. Klein/JTA)
May 7, 2025, 10:13 pm
Survey finds 38% of American Jews believe in afterlife
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
By Ben Sales
A kiddush cup, dating to the 11th or 12th century, with an inscription bearing the name of its owner, Simcha son of Salman. (Courtesy of Sotheby's)
April 4, 2025, 10:56 am
Kiddush cup dating back to reign of Ghengis Khan to go up for auction
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
By Grace Gilson
Ultra-Orthodox Jews at Citi Field in New York gather to discuss Internet usage. (photo credit: AP/VosIzNeias.com
March 26, 2025, 5:38 pm
Pew Research Center survey: A quarter of US adults raised Jewish no longer identify as Jews
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
By Rossella Tercatin
Muhammad leads Abraham, Moses, Jesus and others in prayer. Persian miniature, 15th century. (Public domain)
March 10, 2025, 3:10 am
This Muslim scholar wants to revive the ‘Judeo-Islamic tradition,’ starting with Moses
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
By Zack Rothbart
Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie dressed in drag, as his alter-ego, the Rebbetzin Hadassah Gross, as seen in 'Sabbath Queen,' a film by Sandi DuBowski. (Courtesy)
February 8, 2025, 2:46 am
From radical drag queen to rabbi, film depicts journey of a Jewish law breaker
‘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
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Yael Aisenthal-Kordevani decorated her sukkah in the city of Modi'in with symbols of the year since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, October 15, 2024. (Courtesy Aisenthal-Kordevani)
October 16, 2024, 12:39 pm
Israelis decorate their first sukkahs since Oct. 7 with hostage photos
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
By Deborah Danan
Craig Berko, director of membership at Temple Beth Sholom, prepares to hand out prayer books during a Shabbat service, September 27, 2024, in Miami Beach, Florida. (AP/Wilfredo Lee)
October 1, 2024, 9:44 am
US Jews report ‘difficult time’ as High Holidays and October 7 anniversary coincide
At peak of religious calendar, synagogues to commemorate deadly Hamas attack on Israel, amid rising antisemitism and pain over ongoing war, remaining hostages
By AP and ToI Staff
In Beirut's southern suburbs, the remains of exploded pagers used by Hezbollah on display at an undisclosed location, on September 18, 2024, in a stealth attack blamed on Israel. (AFP)
September 20, 2024, 1:43 am
No laughing matter? Hezbollah pager explosions become fodder for online jokes
Some Jewish social media users taunt Lebanese terror group after alleged Israeli attacks while others argue that Judaism discourages rejoicing in enemy’s downfall
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
Adam Hajaj speaks during a rally for hostages in Gaza in Tel Aviv on August 10, 2024. (Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
August 12, 2024, 3:54 pm
October 7 trauma reconnects Israelis with a 2,000-year-old Jewish day of mourning
Thousands of synagogues prepare to feature lamentations about the Hamas atrocities, on Tisha B’Av, a fast day that commemorates historical – and now contemporary – tragedies
By Canaan Lidor
Israel's Ashkenazi former chief rabbi David Lau, right, and Israel's Sephardi former chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef attend an event at a ceremony in Jerusalem, June 30, 2023. (The Chief Rabbinate of Israel)
July 5, 2024, 4:34 am
Israel’s chief rabbis leave their posts with no successors lined up to replace them
Interim rabbis to fulfill duties after Religious Affairs Ministry fails to set date for elections to replace outgoing rabbis, Ashkenazi David Lau and Sephardi Yitzhak Yosef
By Ben Sales
US soldiers carry the coffin of 1st. Lt. Nathan B. Baskind, who was buried in a German mass grave after being killed in WWII and recently reburied after DNA testing proved his identity, in Normandy, France, June 23, 2024. (Benjamin Mack-Jackson)
June 30, 2024, 4:59 pm
After 80 years in a Nazi grave, Jewish American WWII hero reburied under Star of David
1st Lt. Nathan B. Baskind was killed in Normandy after D-Day. His body was never returned, but thanks to dedication and new technology, his is one of the site’s few Jewish funerals
By Benjamin Mack-Jackson
A solar eclipse seen from Yunlin county, central Taiwan, on June 21, 2020. (Photo by Sam Yeh / AFP)
April 8, 2024, 6:41 pm
US Jews join eclipse-gazing throngs, as solar excitement blots out ancient fears
Synagogues set up viewing parties, with some rabbis saying Monday offers opportunity to say blessing for natural wonders, others that it is a time to reflect on majesty of nature
By JTA
Rabbi Ilan Glazer (drums) and his band, featuring wife Sherri on vocals, perform at the 'Gam Ki Elech' album release show on January 14, 2024. (Maranda Kosten via Ilan Glazer/ via JTA)
February 19, 2024, 2:27 am
When Judaism didn’t offer rituals for a stillbirth, a grieving couple created their own
After losing their son 26 weeks into a long-sought pregnancy, Ilan and Sherri Glazer found no liturgy for their loss. They’re releasing a new album inspired by their experience
By Jackie Hajdenberg
Rabbi Marc Schneier, right, and Imam Shamsi Ali (AP Richard Drew, via JTA)
November 20, 2023, 12:57 am
Rabbi, imam try to help NY Jewish, Muslim students find common ground. It doesn’t go well
A meeting at Queens College led by interfaith partners Rabbi Marc Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali exposes deep splits between the two communities amid Israel-Hamas war
By Luke Tress
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