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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 617

Renee Ghert-Zand

Renee Ghert-Zand

Renee Ghert-Zand is the health reporter and a feature writer for The Times of Israel.
The seven Weber siblings upon their arrival at New York Harbor in May 1946. Bottom row from left: Renee, Judith, and Bela. Top row from left: Gertrude, Alfons, Senta, and Ruth. (Courtesy of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)
April 24, 2025, 2:22 am
Netflix tells tale of 7 siblings who miraculously survived the Holocaust to restart life in US
Now streaming, ‘UnBroken’ illuminates story of the Webers, who lived in hiding on a German farm for two years — only to be cruelly separated upon arrival in America
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Sweater that Chana Zumerkorn from Lodz gave to her brother Joseph when they parted during the Holocaust (Yad Vashem Artifacts Collection, Gift of Joseph Zumerkorn, 11735)
April 23, 2025, 7:59 am
Clothing historian stitches together Holocaust history by focusing on ‘women’s work’
Nonfiction ‘Four Red Sweaters’ tells wartime stories of four young Jewish women while examining larger questions such as Nazis’ circular economy and perpetrator psychology
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Left to right: Huguette Müller, and Marion Müller at the French resort village of Théoule-sur-Mer in 1943. (Courtesy of Tim Judah)
March 25, 2025, 5:44 am
In Nazi-occupied French Alps, a doctor risked death to save a Jewish girl. Why didn’t others?
Newly published ‘Two Sisters’ is a family memoir that goes back and forth in time to examine motivations for resistance and questions of morality in Vichy France
By Renee Ghert-Zand
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
Keffiyeh-clad individuals slash and rip down posters of October 7 hostages hung in New York, as seen in Nim Shapira's film 'TORN: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on NYC Streets.' (Courtesy)
January 7, 2025, 3:55 am
How posters of Hamas hostages became targets in the war for public opinion in NY
Documentary film ‘TORN’ examines the emotional toll and legal aspects of anti-Israel activists’ oft-violent ripping down and destroying of ‘KIDNAPPED’ notices
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Genie Milgrom holding a plate of Chuletas. (Courtesy of Genie Milgrom)
December 29, 2024, 1:37 am
Cookbook author proves it’s possible to make delicious — and kosher — Cuban cuisine
New recipe compilation ‘Salsa!’ is the result of decades of trial and error to adapt beloved Cuban dishes so that they retain their layered flavor — minus the pork and shellfish
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Géza Röhrig in 'After' (Lumen Productions)
November 8, 2024, 5:30 am
In striking art film, contemporary poets respond to the horrors of the Holocaust
Screening in New York and Los Angeles, genre-defying film about how poetic language can heal trauma points to how Israelis and Jews could use it to cope in Oct. 7 aftermath
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Wounded Jewish boys in Hebron, August 1929 (Courtesy of The Hebron Archives)
October 9, 2024, 4:29 am
New book draws line from 1929 Hebron Massacre to horrific events of October 7
In ‘Ghosts of a Holy War,’ Yardena Schwartz investigates the lies and denials that have fueled the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for a century, pushing a solution further away
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Rabbi Dov Linzer and Abigail Pogrebin, study partners and co-authors of 'It Takes Two to Torah' (Lorin Klaris)
September 15, 2024, 4:33 pm
What happens when a seemingly odd couple becomes friends and Torah study buddies?
In their new book, Reform journalist Abigail Pogrebin and Orthodox Rabbi Dov Linzer show genuine warmth and respect for one another while not dancing around their differences
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Friend founder Avi Schiffmann (Cameron Quijada)
August 9, 2024, 11:31 am
Whiz kid Avi Schiffmann is back, this time with a new controversial AI ‘Friend’
Moving beyond website building and internet activism, the 21-year-old is in the process of launching a wearable AI device people can talk to, bond with, and lean on like a real pal
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Participants at a one-day intensive PTSD prevention workshop at the Protective Partnership's 'The Villa' program in Herzliya. Protective Partnership CEO Lilach Felner is second from left. June 13, 2024. (Courtesy)
July 10, 2024, 8:37 am
Intensive one-day retreat program aims to prevent PTSD among IDF reservists
After shedding their battle gear, combat troops make their way to The Villa to learn techniques to help put the traumas of war in the past so they can function now and in the future
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Two 'Puck' satirical magazine covers featuring Mrs. Mandelbaum. On left (Summer 1884): The public feud between D.A. Olney and police inspector Byrnes. In the middle, depicted in blatantly anti-Semitic caricature, is a bejeweled Mrs. Mandelbaum. On right (1885): Mrs. Mandelbaum, safely on the Canadian side of the ‘fence’ for American defaulters." (Public domain)
July 3, 2024, 1:24 am
How a Jewish German woman in NY became America’s first major crime boss in 1859
Margalit Fox’s new book uncovers the fascinating life and capers of Fredericka Mandelbaum, who fenced stolen property and orchestrated complicated jewel heists and bank robberies
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Karnit Bahartan and Jacob Sharvit with the ancient jars. (Emil Aladjem/Israel Antiquities Authority)
June 20, 2024, 3:31 pm
3,300-year-old ship discovered off Israeli coast, the oldest ever found in deep waters
Researchers say location of wreck, carrying hundreds of intact storage vessels, proves Late Bronze Age mariners could journey far out to sea
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Processing donated human milk at the Sussman Family Foundation Human Milk Bank at the Magen David Adom Marcus National Blood Services Center, Ramle. (Courtesy)
June 16, 2024, 6:49 pm
After pouring in following October 7, critical human milk donations now run dry
Director of Israel’s national bank says the country could be short thousands of liters of breast milk should full-scale war break out with Hezbollah in the north
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Orit Meir, mother of rescued hostage Almog Meir Jan, give a statement at a press conference at Sheba Medical Center, June 10, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
June 10, 2024, 6:27 pm
Rescued hostage’s mother urges deal with Hamas, says ‘I am one of the lucky ones’
Almog Meir Jan’s mom asks government to approve deal, international community to pressure Hamas to accept it; says bond with fellow rescued captives sustained her son in Gaza
By Renee Ghert-Zand
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