for Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Politics ›

Bruce Blakeman outlines his approach to antisemitism if elected NY governor

Marc Rod in Jewish Insider

Bruce Blakeman, a Jewish Republican, seeks to become New York's governor, focusing on combating antisemitism and promoting a strong Jewish presence in the GOP.

0 Politics Holocaust

Using Holocaust Money to Demonize Israel

Daniel Greenfield in Future of Jewish

Daniel Greenfield criticizes Steven Spielberg's Righteous Persons Foundation for redirecting funds, originally intended to support Holocaust education and remembrance, to organizations that he believes are anti-Israel.

0 Politics Antisemitism

After Maduro’s capture, Rubio links Venezuela mission to fight against Iran and Hezbollah

Asaf Elia-Shalev in Forward

Following the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, Secretary of State Marco Rubio linked the mission to combating Iran and Hezbollah's influence in Venezuela.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Was Maduro's abduction a 'Zionist' plot? The accusation is unfounded — and incredibly telling

Dan Perry in Forward

The accusation by Venezuelan official Delcy Rodríguez that Nicolás Maduro's abduction had 'Zionist undertones' reflects a persistent, erroneous narrative linking Israeli strategic capability to global conspiracy theories.

0 Politics Israel

The vast majority of Israelis are worried about declining US support for Israel, survey finds

Grace Gilson in Forward

A recent survey by the Ruderman Family Foundation reveals considerable anxiety among Israelis regarding waning support for Israel from the American public, with concerns expressed by nearly 80% of respondents.

0 Politics Culture

My liberal activist friends taught me how to be a Zionist in anti-Zionist spaces

Calder Weiss in JTA

Calder Weiss, writing as part of the New York Jewish Week's Teen Journalism Fellowship, explores the discomfort of maintaining Zionist beliefs in increasingly anti-Zionist liberal activism spaces.

0 Politics Antisemitism

The Jewish Establishment’s Attacks on Mamdani Aren’t Only Illogical

Ken Silverman in The Beinart Notebook

Ken Silverman discusses the criticisms faced by Zohran Mamdani, following his role in repealing controversial antisemitism and Israel-related policies in New York City.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Venezuela’s acting leader says ‘Zionist undertones’ marked US capture of Maduro

Shira Li Bartov in JTA

Venezuela's acting leader Delcy Rodriguez accused the United States of infusing "Zionist undertones" into the military capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

0 Politics Philosophy

A Jewish philosopher's warnings expose the injustice of Trump's attack on Venezuela

Robert Zaretsky in Forward

Robert Zaretsky examines the current geopolitical tensions under President Donald Trump's administration through the lens of philosopher Michael Walzer's theories on the morality of war.

0 Politics Antisemitism

The Desperate Politics of Blaming Zionists

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

In a comprehensive examination of political scapegoating, Joshua Hoffman explores how embattled regimes like Venezuela's use anti-Zionism as a convenient narrative to obscure failures and justify alliances with anti-Western entities.

Culture ›

0 Culture Food

Kate Hudson Is a Challah-Baking Pro

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Kate Hudson, inspired by her Jewish heritage through her grandmother Laura Hawn, shares her love for challah baking on the Table Manners podcast.

0 Culture Communities

A Jew Is Asked To Catholic Mass

Jewdicious

Michael Golden explores the experience of attending a Catholic Mass as a Jewish guest, highlighting both the similarities and distinctive elements between Jewish and Catholic services.

0 Culture Jewish Law

Expanding the Palace of Torah

Ilana Kurshan in Jewish Review of Books

Exploring the convergence of Jewish faith and body image activism, Minna Bromberg's 'Every Body Beloved' challenges the Jewish community to recognize and dismantle antifat biases.

0 Culture Literature

A Cavalier Adaptation

Adam Kirsch in Jewish Review of Books

Mason Bates and Gene Scheer's operatic adaptation of Michael Chabon's novel "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" explores the juxtaposition between popular and elite arts.

0 Culture History

Letters, Winter 2026

Jewish Review of Books

The article covers various Jewish intellectual discussions, including a review of Eli Sharabi's memoir "Hostage," which navigates Israel's political landscape by steering clear of overt political commentary, ultimately facilitating widespread sympathy for the hostages.

0 Culture Education

These Jewish artists are searching for home — at America's only Catholic historically Black university

Asaf Elia-Shalev in Forward

Israeli artists Neta Elkayam and Amit Hai Cohen are deeply immersed in fostering cultural exchange and understanding at Xavier University of Louisiana, the only Catholic historically Black university in the United States.

0 Culture Holidays

Discovering Jewish Joy in My Grandmother’s Closet

Vivienne Gilliar-Smith in Hadassah

Vivienne Gilliar-Smith recounts a poignant moment of connection to her Jewish heritage through a dress that belonged to her great-grandmother.

Sports ›

0 Sports Holocaust

Josef Veselsky, Holocaust survivor and table tennis master who was Ireland's oldest man, dies at 107

Grace Gilson in Forward

Josef Veselsky, originally Josef Weiss, was a Holocaust survivor and renowned table tennis player who passed away at 107 in Ireland, where he was the country's oldest man.

Food ›

0 Food Communities

Meet World Central Kitchen’s Woman in Israel

Adeena Sussman in Hadassah

Ruthie Rousso, a multifaceted figure in the culinary world, has expanded her roles to include humanitarian aid through World Central Kitchen (WCK) during and after the 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Politics

German antisemitism czar targeted in arson attack: ‘I will not be intimidated by this’

Grace Gilson in JTA

Andreas Büttner, the antisemitism commissioner for Brandenburg, Germany, has been targeted in a suspected arson attack at his property, with his family home at risk while they were present.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Podcasts Filled with Straw

Abraham Socher in Jewish Review of Books

Abraham Socher's article dives into the troubling realm of antisemitic narratives proliferated through popular podcasts and social media, focusing on figures like Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes.

0 Antisemitism History

The city that failed Anne Frank is failing Jews once again.

Rivka Hellendall in Future of Jewish

Rivka Hellendall examines the deteriorating atmosphere for Jews in Amsterdam, juxtaposed with the city's paradoxical history of both harboring and abandoning its Jewish community.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Leadership

The judge in Maduro’s case is an Orthodox Jew — and displays a Torah verse in his chambers

Hannah Feuer in Forward

The article highlights Judge Alvin Kenneth Hellerstein, an Orthodox Jew who displays the Torah verse "Tzedek, tzedek tirdof" ("Justice, justice you shall pursue") in his chambers, as he presides over the high-profile case of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on drug trafficking charges.

Holocaust ›

0 Holocaust Literature

Holocaust Diary Gets New Life 80 Years After Author’s Death

Peter Ephross in Hadassah

Renia Spiegel's Holocaust-era diary, first published internationally in 2019, has now been translated into Hebrew, gaining renewed attention and serving as an important educational tool on the Holocaust.

0 Holocaust Communities

Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor who promoted the story of her friend and posthumous stepsister Anne Frank, dies at 96

Philissa Cramer in JTA

Eva Schloss, a Holocaust survivor and step-daughter of Otto Frank, passed away at 96 in London.

0 Holocaust Literature

Missing Anne Frank

Yeshua G. B. Tolle in Jewish Review of Books

Ruth Franklin's biography of Anne Frank delves into how she became a cultural icon, overshadowing the real person behind the diary.

0 Holocaust History

Enchanted Parenthesis

Sonya Michel in Jewish Review of Books

Laura Hobson Faure's work examines the lesser-known story of Jewish children sent to France during the Kindertransport initiative before the outbreak of World War II.

History ›

0 History Culture

Henry Louis Gates Jr. Explores ‘Black and Jewish America’

Avi Dresner in Hadassah

Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. dives into the intertwined histories of Black and Jewish communities in his new PBS series, "Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History."

0 History Culture

The Vanished Province: Remembering Bukovina

Benjamin Balint in Jewish Review of Books

The article explores the rich history of Bukovina, a culturally diverse region in Eastern Europe, mainly during the late Habsburg rule and its transition into Romanian control.

0 History Politics

Two Years of War

Shai Secunda in Jewish Review of Books

Shai Secunda reflects on the complexities and emotional toll of Israel's "Two-Year War," which unfolded from a surprise attack on Simchat Torah to a truce two years later.

0 History Antisemitism

Tsar Wars

Andrew N. Koss in Jewish Review of Books

Polly Zavadivker's book, A Nation of Refugees: Russia's Jews in World War I, reveals the significant yet often overlooked plight of Russian Jews during World War I. As the Russian army suffered defeats on the Eastern Front, antisemitic paranoia led to brutal expulsions and violence against Jews, accused baselessly of espionage.

Leadership ›

0 Leadership Israel

Two Heroes For Our Time

Gary Rosenblatt in Between The Lines

Jon and Rachel Goldberg-Polin have become prominent advocates for Israeli hostages following the abduction of their son, Hersh, by Hamas on October 7.

0 Leadership Philosophy

Wayward Children?

Seth Winberg in Jewish Review of Books

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's influence on modern Orthodox Judaism is undeniable, yet his intellectual legacy, particularly his approach of integrating Torah with secular knowledge (Torah u'Madda), remains contested.

Literature ›

0 Literature Culture

20 Books Our Guests Want You to Read

Rivka Bennun Kay in 18forty

In a year filled with profound discussions, I Read This Over Shabbos, a newsletter by Rivka Bennun Kay, curated a list of 20 books recommended by diverse guests on 18Forty.

0 Literature History

Rereading Daniel in Apocalyptic Times

Mira Balberg in Jewish Review of Books

In times of crisis, the apocalyptic imagery of the Bible, particularly the book of Daniel, resonates strongly.

0 Literature Culture

The Emeser Detective: The Adventures of a Yiddish Shamus

Eddy Portnoy in Jewish Review of Books

Max Spitzkopf, a Yiddish detective character created by Jonas Kreppel, captivated early 20th-century Jewish readers with tales of mystery and crime set against a Jewish backdrop.

0 Literature Philosophy

The Wife

Cynthia Ozick in Jewish Review of Books

Cynthia Ozick's story, "The Wife," delves into the life of Gertie Ellenbogen, a fiercely protective widow of the late Asher Ellenbogen, an intellectual whose revolutionary "Ellenbogen Theorem" gained posthumous recognition.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Culture

All the Jewish TV Coming in January 2026

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

January 2026 promises a rich array of television content with Jewish influences, ranging from dramas to documentaries.

0 Television/Film Culture

New Wave, Old Land

Matti Friedman in Jewish Review of Books

Chris Marker’s 1960 documentary, "Description of a Struggle," offers a rare and insightful portrayal of Israel in its infancy, distinct from the typical outsider's perspective that often lacks authenticity.

0 Television/Film Culture

You Want I Should Watch?

Yitz Landes in Jewish Review of Books

Yitz Landes explores Raphael Bob-Waksberg's new animated series, "Long Story Short," which picks up where "BoJack Horseman" left off, delving into themes of identity and familial trauma within a Jewish context.

Science ›

0 Science History

The Nuclear Option: Lise Meitner, Erwin Schrödinger, and the Science of Exile

Katharine Mullen in Jewish Review of Books

Lise Meitner, a pioneering physicist from a secular Jewish Viennese family, significantly contributed to the field of nuclear physics in early 20th century Europe.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy Jewish Law

Free Radicals

Allan Arkush in Jewish Review of Books

Allan Arkush reviews two contrasting works by Israeli philosophers Shalom Sadik and Jeremy Fogel, who address issues of faith and modernity within Judaism.

0 Philosophy Culture

The New Tower of Babel

Max Hollander in 18forty

Max Hollander reflects on the parallels between today's integration of AI into society and the biblical narrative of the Tower of Babel, interpreting AI as a new form of the 'Machine'—a concept of a controlling, technocratic power structure.

Communities ›

0 Communities Philosophy

10 things I learned this past year about Jewish philanthropy

eJewishPhilanthropy

Reflecting on the evolving landscape of Jewish philanthropy in 2025, significant shifts have occurred in donor psychology and organizational strategies.

0 Communities Ethics

Black and Jewish Moms Unite to Fight Bias in Maternity Care

Cathryn J. Prince in Hadassah

Amid rising antisemitism and racial biases, a new initiative in Crown Heights unites Black and Orthodox Jewish mothers, including Jews of Color, to tackle bias in maternity care.

Israel ›

0 Israel Communities

Resilience in practice: Why hospitals are key to northern Israel’s renewal

eJewishPhilanthropy

In a challenging year marked by conflict and uncertainty, northern Israel showcased extraordinary resilience with the establishment of the Helmsley Rehabilitation Center at Tzafon Medical Center in Poriya.

Torah ›

0 Torah Culture

The New Modern Orthodox Humash At Last?: A Review of the Rabbi Sacks Humash

Yosef Lindell in Lehrhaus

Yosef Lindell reviews the newly published Koren Sacks Humash, a project initiated by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks to create a modern Orthodox commentary on the Torah for synagogue use.

JL;DR

for Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Politics ›

Culture ›

Sports ›

Food ›

Antisemitism ›

Jewish Law ›

Holocaust ›

History ›

Leadership ›

Literature ›

Television/Film ›

Science ›

Philosophy ›

Communities ›

Israel ›

Torah ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

January 6's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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Politics ›

Culture ›

Sports ›

Food ›

Antisemitism ›

Jewish Law ›

Holocaust ›

History ›

Leadership ›

Literature ›

Television/Film ›

Science ›

Philosophy ›

Communities ›

Israel ›

Torah ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

January 6's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Tuesday, January 6, 2026