The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Sat, 29 Aug 2026 06:02:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Jessica Steinberg | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/ 32 32 Former hostage Emily Damari marries food influencer Danielle Amit in emotional ceremony https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-hostage-emily-damari-marries-food-influencer-danielle-amit-in-emotional-ceremony/ Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:40:49 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3887164 Damari, who had to hide her sexual orientation from Hamas captors, was smiling broadly as she lowered the veil on her now-wife's head

The post Former hostage Emily Damari marries food influencer Danielle Amit in emotional ceremony appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> A new documentary finds orchestrating hands behind global online hate after October 7 https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-new-documentary-finds-orchestrating-hands-behind-online-hate-after-october-7/ Fri, 28 Aug 2026 02:16:02 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3882496 'The Campaign,' based on Warren Kinsella's 'The Hidden Hand,' weaves in-depth interviews with investigative reporting to reveal a social media movement that spread anti-Israel messaging, fueling antisemitism

The post A new documentary finds orchestrating hands behind global online hate after October 7 appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Powerful Hollywood execs accuse Mark Ruffalo of antisemitism in Paramount attack https://www.timesofisrael.com/powerful-hollywood-execs-accuse-mark-ruffalo-of-antisemitism-in-paramount-attack/ Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:15:27 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3885811 The Brigade, made up of Haim Saban, Lawrence Bender, Matti Leshem and others, responds to actor's social media tirade

The post Powerful Hollywood execs accuse Mark Ruffalo of antisemitism in Paramount attack appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Former hostage Eliya Cohen and longtime girlfriend wed in ceremony full of symbolism https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-hostage-eliya-cohen-and-longtime-girlfriend-wed-in-ceremony-full-of-symbolism/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 13:59:54 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3882485 Cohen and Nova survivor Ziv Abud celebrate union, together with fellow October 7 survivors and bereaved; are wed underneath canopy decorated with prayer shawl of Abud's slain nephew

The post Former hostage Eliya Cohen and longtime girlfriend wed in ceremony full of symbolism appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Daily Briefing Aug. 20: Israel risks opening a new front with strike deep in Syria https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-aug-20-israel-risks-opening-a-new-front-with-strike-deep-in-syria/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:41:52 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3882559&preview=true&preview_id=3882559 Tol editor David Horovitz discusses Netanyahu's decision to face down Turkey in Syria, US-Israel differences on Gaza, Likud primary fallout and yet more new political parties

The post Daily Briefing Aug. 20: Israel risks opening a new front with strike deep in Syria appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> War, women and democracy: How two new films frame Israel’s storied protest movements https://www.timesofisrael.com/war-women-and-democracy-how-two-new-films-frame-israels-storied-protest-movements/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 04:28:33 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3861521 ‘In Protest’ and ‘Rising’ follow female activists, bereaved families and trauma professionals as mass demonstrations become a lens though which to view Israeli civil society

The post War, women and democracy: How two new films frame Israel’s storied protest movements appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Metula poetry festival moved to Jerusalem, for third year https://www.timesofisrael.com/metula-poetry-festival-moved-to-jerusalem-for-third-year/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:03:50 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3878063 Literary event celebrates 29 years, but northern town bombarded by Hezbollah can't host guests just yet

The post Metula poetry festival moved to Jerusalem, for third year appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Daily Briefing Aug. 19 – Former Hamas hostage fulfills a dream at Nir Oz https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-aug-19-former-hamas-hostage-fulfills-a-dream-at-nir-oz/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:20:15 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3881879&preview=true&preview_id=3881879 Culture editor Jessica Steinberg on Sagui Dekel-Chen's performance of 9 songs composed in captivity, new films documenting October 7, 2023, and an ongoing boycott of Israeli artists

The post Daily Briefing Aug. 19 – Former Hamas hostage fulfills a dream at Nir Oz appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Daily Briefing Aug. 16: Who gets in? Likud candidates face a high-stakes primary https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-aug-16-who-gets-in-likud-candidates-face-a-high-stakes-primary/ Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:54:41 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3879921&preview=true&preview_id=3879921 Political correspondent Tal Schneider previews Monday's vote on the makeup of (part of) Likud's Knesset slate, and covers the latest election polls and ceasefire violations in Lebanon and Gaza

The post Daily Briefing Aug. 16: Who gets in? Likud candidates face a high-stakes primary appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Documentary film fest to open at National Library for 11th year https://www.timesofisrael.com/documentary-film-fest-to-open-at-national-library-for-11th-year/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:26:41 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3878564 Docu.Text, running August 16-20, will feature 25 films, with premieres, filmmaker talks and live performances by Aviv Geffen and other Israeli artists

The post Documentary film fest to open at National Library for 11th year appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Daily Briefing Aug. 13: As election nears, can voters see extremism in their own camps? https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-aug-13-as-election-nears-can-voters-see-extremism-in-their-own-camps/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:27:10 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3878588&preview=true&preview_id=3878588 News editor Ben Sales reviews Israelis' concerns about political violence; he also marks 25 years since the Sbarro bombing and reports on the latest in the US political primaries

The post Daily Briefing Aug. 13: As election nears, can voters see extremism in their own camps? appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Israel Festival event urges audiences to listen and speak up https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-festival-event-urges-audiences-to-listen-and-speak-up/ Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:24:08 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3877660 'Verse,' a collaboration with the Aner Shapira Foundation, takes place at the Jerusalem Campus of the Arts, showcasing a variety of voices in society

The post Israel Festival event urges audiences to listen and speak up appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Former hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen returns home to perform songs he composed in Hamas captivity https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-hostage-sagui-dekel-chen-returns-home-to-perform-songs-he-composed-in-hamas-captivity/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:37:48 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3877175 Concert is held on the lawn of Kibbutz Nir Oz, where singer was born and raised and lived with his family until the October 7 Hamas onslaught

The post Former hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen returns home to perform songs he composed in Hamas captivity appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Hundreds gather to remember Hersh Goldberg-Polin on second anniversary of his murder in Gaza https://www.timesofisrael.com/hundreds-gather-to-remember-hersh-goldberg-polin-on-second-anniversary-of-his-death/ Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:23:07 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3875632 Memorial event for hostage executed by his captors, held at Baka community center in Jerusalem, brings together Goldberg-Polin's family, friends, neighbors as well as Hapoel Jerusalem fans

The post Hundreds gather to remember Hersh Goldberg-Polin on second anniversary of his murder in Gaza appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> At Israel Festival, show goes on without international acts amid war, isolation https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-israel-festival-show-goes-on-without-international-acts-amid-war-isolation/ Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:24:40 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3874125 Organizers of annual event grapple with unofficial cultural boycott as global talent, usually a prominent part of the program, shuns Israel in wake of Oct. 7

The post At Israel Festival, show goes on without international acts amid war, isolation appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]>