Shira Li Bartov

Demonstrators display Israeli flags as they attend a rally in solidarity with Israel in Berlin, October 22, 2023. (John MacDougall/AFP)

November 16, 2023, 12:32 am

As Europe’s Jews see new era of antisemitism, governments struggle to respond

Since the Hamas terrorist onslaught on Oct. 7, antisemitic incidents throughout the continent have increased 10-fold; France has registered over 1,000 acts, the UK 1,205

By Shira Li Bartov

Feminist spokeswoman Betty Friedan, in 1974. (AP Photo)

November 11, 2023, 4:14 pm

New biography revisits legacy of Jewish feminist Betty Friedan

Rachel Shteir’s ‘Betty Friedan: Magnificent Disrupter’ offers a more comprehensive portrait of the complex, often controversial activist for women’s rights

By Shira Li Bartov

Activists hold up a banner denouncing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel’s actions during the war with Hamas as they demonstrate at the entrance of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, October 23, 2023. (Aleks Furtula/AP)

November 9, 2023, 1:07 pm

Antisemitic acts rise eightfold in Netherlands since Oct. 7, Dutch watchdog reports

Researchers say not only have numbers grown, but range of attacks on Jews has increased as well

By Shira Li Bartov

Syrian immigrant Shevan ran the Amsterdam Marathon with Israeli, Palestinian and Ukrainian flags. (Courtesy of Shevan via JTA)

November 4, 2023, 4:07 pm

Jewish Syrian refugee faces increased antisemitism in Holland during war with Hamas

After competing in marathon draped in Israeli and Palestinian flags to support victims of the ongoing war, Shevan came home to a swastika and Star of David painted on his door

By Shira Li Bartov

A still from 'Sevap/Mitzvah' a short film directed by Sabina Vajrača that won the 2023 Humanitas Prize. (©geminisnakeproductions via JTA)

November 4, 2023, 4:07 pm

Bosnian director’s short on Muslims and Jews saving one another is a ‘mitzvah’

In Sabina Vajrača’s award-winning film, a Muslim family saves a Jewish one from the Nazis. 50 years later, the Jewish family returns the favor in Sarajevo

By Shira Li Bartov

Darla Contois, left, as Esther Rosenblum and Lisa Edelstein as Golda Rosenblum in 'Little Bird.' (Courtesy of Steve Ackerman vi JTA)

November 4, 2023, 1:13 am

In PBS series ‘Little Bird,’ a Jewish woman uncovers her traumatic Indigenous past

Airing weekly in the US through Nov. 16, the show draws on the experiences of co-creator Jennifer Podemski, a victim of the ‘Sixties Scoop’ torn from her mother’s arms

By Shira Li Bartov

Jeff Tweedy performs with Wilco at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, in New Orleans, April 24, 2015. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Invision/AP, File)

October 17, 2023, 4:02 pm

Wilco singer Jeff Tweedy offers Jewish prayer for healing amid Israel-Hamas war

‘Mi Shebeirach’ vocals in the video recorded ‘a while ago’ performed by sons Spencer and Sammy Tweedy; Sammy spends time in Tel Aviv and has been outspoken about the conflict

By Shira Li Bartov

A French riot policeman stands guard outside the Paris Synagogue, two days after security measures have been reinforced near Jewish temples and schools, in central Paris, on October 9, 2023. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

October 11, 2023, 4:10 pm

Synagogue security in Europe raised as Jews brace for antisemitism after Hamas assault

European Jewish communities prepare for reverberations far from the frontlines

By Shira Li Bartov, Alice D'Oleon, Orge Castellano and Jacob Judah

Sebastião Feio, president of the Porto municipal general assembly, speaks at a ceremony dedicating the Portuguese city's memorial to the local victims of the Inquisition, Septemver 3, 2023. (Courtesy: CIP-CJP via JTA)

September 9, 2023, 11:47 am

Porto’s Jewish community unveils memorial to 842 victims of Portuguese Inquisition

Local victims aged 10 to 110 years old were killed or expelled in the Portuguese Inquisition between 1536 to 1821

By Shira Li Bartov

Illustrative: Congregants praying at the Kadoorie – Mekor Haim synagogue in Porto, Portugal, May 2014. (Courtesy of the Jewish Community of Porto)

September 2, 2023, 12:26 am

Portugal says nearly 21,000 Israelis applied for citizenship last year

Israel leads as country with most applicants for 2nd year running, after Portuguese government began allowing descendants of Sephardic Jews to seek passports

By Shira Li Bartov

Bella Abzug shown in 1979. (Courtesy of Bernard Gotfryd, Library of Congress via JTA)

August 27, 2023, 2:50 am

Bella Abzug film aims to restore the Jewish congresswoman’s trailblazing legacy

With the newly released documentary ‘Bella!’ filmmaker Jeff L. Lieberman hopes to boost recognition of the US activist and politician who championed equality and environmentalism

By Shira Li Bartov

Helen Mirren as Golda Meir in a scene from. the film 'Golda.' (Bleecker Street via AP)

August 26, 2023, 12:09 pm

‘Golda’ biopic aims to counter notion that PM was chiefly to blame for Yom Kippur War

‘She was the scapegoat,’ argues director Guy Nattiv about the former prime minister, whose leadership during 1973 conflict is focus of freshly released drama starring Helen Mirren

By Shira Li Bartov

Idina Menzel (from left), Samantha Lorraine, Adam Sandler, Sunny Sandler and Sadie Sandler in a scene from the Netflix film 'You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah.' (Courtesy Netflix)

August 25, 2023, 1:47 am

‘You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah’ draws inspiration from real celebrations

Production designer and set director say they crashed 10 ‘amazing and big and outlandish and extravagant’ parties to prepare for new Adam Sandler comedy

By Shira Li Bartov

Campers at Ramah Ukraine greet each other after returning to camp for the first session in the country during wartime. (Courtesy Midreshet Schechter via JTA)

August 12, 2023, 12:28 pm

Camp Ramah returns to Ukraine after a war-induced exile — now with a bomb shelter

After the Russian invasion forced it to move to Romania, the 31-year-old camp returns to its home in the Chernivtsi region where over 120 kids see a summer respite from the war

By Shira Li Bartov

Jim Caviezel stars in 'Sound of Freedom.' (Screenshot/YouTube, used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)

July 22, 2023, 4:28 am

Surprise blockbuster ‘Sound of Freedom’ echoes antisemitic QAnon conspiracies

Thriller’s ideology draws on blood libel canard, expert says, and star Jim Caviezel has floated anti-Jewish conspiracy theories while promoting the film

By Shira Li Bartov