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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 653

Jessica Steinberg

Jessica Steinberg

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
At the opening of the 42nd Jerusalem Film Festival on July 17, 2025, honoree Gal Gadot (second from left), her husband Yaron Varsano (far left), festival director Roni Mahadev-Levin (middle), Daniel Mimran, chairman of the board of the Jerusalem Cinematheque (second from right) and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion. (Sivan Farag)
July 17, 2025, 11:51 pm
Jerusalem Film Festival opens, honors Gal Gadot and producer Lawrence Bender
Festival director Roni Mahadev-Levin says 42nd film event is taking place despite ‘an unrelenting wave of attempts to cancel, silence, and boycott’
By Jessica Steinberg
Druze residents protest near the Israel-Syria border fence in solidarity with their community in Syria, July 16, 2025. (Photo by Michael Giladi/Flash90)
July 17, 2025, 2:23 pm
Daily Briefing July 17: Day 650 – As Syria restores calm, will talks with Israel follow?
US bureau chief Jacob Magid discusses the days of chaos in Syria’s Sweida, the Shas party’s decision to resign from its ministerial positions, and possibilities for a Gaza deal
By Jessica Steinberg and Jacob Magid
FILE- Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters demonstrate on the campus of DePaul University, April 30, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, file)
July 16, 2025, 1:49 pm
Daily Briefing July 16: Day 649 – College heads, NYC comptroller on the mat over anti-Zionism
New York reporter Luke Tress discusses US campuses, NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s threats against Israel’s PM, BDS in City Hall and a rural synagogue in the Adirondacks
By Jessica Steinberg and Luke Tress
Trumpeter Avishai Cohen will perform with his quartet and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra on the opening night of the Israel Festival, July 17, 2025. (Credit Daniella Feijoo)
July 15, 2025, 10:28 pm
Israel Festival opens Thursday with jazz piece written after Oct. 7
Trumpeter Avishai Cohen’s quartet to perform with Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra at event postponed due to Iran war
By Jessica Steinberg
A guided tour at last year's Manofim contemporary art festival in Jerusalem; this year's event begins on July 22, 2025. (Courtesy)
July 15, 2025, 10:28 pm
Jerusalem art show to examine shift from routine to extreme
Starting July 22, the annual Manofim contemporary show will offer five days of exhibits at city’s galleries, on rooftops and in gardens
By Jessica Steinberg
July 15, 2025, 8:02 pm
What Matters Now to comic Guri Alfi: Israelis and American Jews must remain united
Ahead of an upcoming Israel Festival event, actor discusses his interviews with bereaved parents, hostages’ families and American Jews for ‘The New Jew’ series, and how he remains hopeful
By Jessica Steinberg
"Yehoram Gaon – The Exhibition," opened at the Tower of David Museum on July 11 and will be on display until December 25, 2025 (GIl Volfson)
July 15, 2025, 10:38 am
Tower of David exhibit tunes in to cultural icon Yehoram Gaon
Jerusalem mayor Moshe Lion calls Gaon’s songs ‘the soundtrack of Israel’ at festive exhibition opening
By Jessica Steinberg
Singer-songwriter Matti Caspi in campaign to raise funds for additional cancer treatment (Courtesy Lehosheet Yad)
July 14, 2025, 5:53 pm
Battling cancer, singer Matti Caspi asks public to help fund innovative treatments
Performer launches crowdfunding campaign to finance experimental therapies he is undergoing that are not covered by national health system
By Jessica Steinberg
Ela Haimi and her baby, Lotan, the youngest of her four children, born after her husband Tal Haimi was killed defending their kibbutz on October 7, 2023 and his body taken hostage to Gaza (David Janovic/IDFWO)
July 14, 2025, 9:06 am
Life swells alongside tragedy for the then-pregnant spouses of October 7 victims
Avital Dekel-Chen and Ela Haimi speak about giving birth after their husbands were killed or taken hostage and being single mothers during the traumatic months after the onslaught
By Jessica Steinberg
Nelia and Gregory Shaver of Grineli Cheeses, their boutique cheesemaking business that they opened in the Golan Heights on October 6, 2023, the day before the October 7 Hamas attack (Jessica Steinberg/Times of Israel)
July 12, 2025, 7:28 am
As winds of war die down, Golan gears up for long-awaited return of tourists
With Hezbollah licking its wounds and Syria no longer a threat, businesses are hoping Israelis will again flock to land of lavender farms, glamping, wineries and artisanal cheese
By Jessica Steinberg
Aviva and Keith Siegel, after Keith's release home from Hamas captivity on February 1, 2025 (Courtesy)
July 11, 2025, 4:25 pm
Ex-hostage Keith Siegel hopes for the war’s end and the return home of all hostages
The Kibbutz Kfar Aza resident spoke about the torturous experiences in captivity, and his need to do anything he can to help the remaining hostages come home
By Jessica Steinberg
Keith Siegel (Flash90)
July 11, 2025, 7:31 am
Friday Focus: Former hostage Keith Siegel wants to have hope
Israeli-American speaks about the hostages with whom he was held captive in Gaza, and his need to speak out for those who are still there
By Jessica Steinberg
Rose Byrne stars in 'Tow,' one of the international features being screened at the Jerusalem Film Festival, opening July 17, 2025, in Jerusalem (Courtesy)
July 9, 2025, 3:55 pm
Award-winning docs and dramas dot Jerusalem Film Festival
Tickets now on sale, with dozens of screenings at Jerusalem Cinematheque and Lev Smadar
By Jessica Steinberg
US President Donald Trump, left, meets Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House, July 8, 2025. (Avi Ohayon/GPO)
July 9, 2025, 3:19 pm
Daily Briefing July 9: Day 642 – After PM’s 2nd Trump meeting, what’s next in Doha?
US bureau chief Jacob Magid discusses Netanyahu’s second White House meeting, which ended without announcement of a breakthrough, and sticking points in the ceasefire talks in Qatar
By Jessica Steinberg and Jacob Magid
An image from 'Bliss,' a 10-minute short from Meirav Heiman and Ayelet Carmi, opening at Jerusalem's Ticho House on July 9, 2025 (Courtesy)
July 9, 2025, 8:02 am
Female power anchors video art at Ticho House, once home to doyenne of Israeli art
‘Bliss’ and ‘Zahara’ present artful, dystopian views of women in exhibit at historic Jerusalem artist’s villa
By Jessica Steinberg
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