for Friday, January 16, 2026

Sports ›

0 Sports Israel

Israel likely to send a bobsledding team to the Winter Olympic Games for the first time

Lahav Harkov in Jewish Insider

Israel is on the verge of debuting its bobsled team at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan, marking a significant milestone for the country's winter sports.

Culture ›

0 Culture Ethics

Uninvited Eyes

Katherine Dee in Tablet

In "Uninvited Eyes," Katherine Dee explores the disturbing world of pro-anorexia websites and their intersection with anorexia fetishism from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

0 Culture Politics

Faking Main Street

Judith Miller in Tablet

Bentonville, Arkansas, has become a burgeoning economic and cultural hub, largely due to the presence of Walmart, a company known for its controversial labor practices.

0 Culture History

Enjoy the Yiddish Book Center’s exhibit on your phone

Jennifer A. Stern in Forward

The Yiddish Book Center has made its permanent exhibit, "Yiddish: A Global Culture, Virtual Exhibit," available online, showcasing a rich array of Yiddish cultural artifacts accessible via mobile phones.

Food ›

0 Food Culture

Sharpen Your Knives

Jacob Soll in Tablet

In an evocative exploration of culinary culture, Jacob Soll argues that the authenticity and skill behind great cooking are more tied to the sharpness of knives rather than their luxurious appearance.

0 Food History

Herring Song

Emily Hamilton in Tablet

Emily Hamilton's piece is an elegiac tribute to the enduring significance of herring in Jewish and Danish culture, exploring how this humble fish connects her to cherished childhood memories and Denmark's historical identity.

Politics ›

0 Politics Communities

Amy Acton became a household name in Ohio — now, she wants to be governor

Gabby Deutch in Jewish Insider

Amy Acton, a former statewide health director known for her role during the COVID-19 pandemic, is running as a Democrat for governor of Ohio.

0 Politics Israel

Trump administration says 2nd phase of Gaza ceasefire is underway, despite Israeli hostage remaining

Grace Gilson in JTA

The Trump administration has announced the initiation of the second phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, introducing a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza focused on demilitarization and reconstruction.

0 Politics Israel

Marine vet Ryan Crosswell aims to flip GOP-held Pennsylvania congressional seat

Marc Rod in Jewish Insider

Ryan Crosswell, a Marine veteran and former federal prosecutor, is entering the political fray by running for a Democratic nomination to flip the GOP-held 7th Congressional District in Pennsylvania.

0 Politics History

Yes, Israel Can Apply Israeli Law to the West Bank

Eugene Kontorovich in Tablet

Eugene Kontorovich argues that Israel's application of Israeli civil law to the West Bank is not annexation, as the area was not sovereign Jordanian territory when Israel gained control in 1967.

0 Politics Israel

Trump's new Gaza plan marks a radical break from Israeli policy — can it succeed?

Dan Perry in Forward

In a pivotal shift, Trump's Gaza plan marks a significant departure from traditional Israeli policy by promoting the return of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to Gaza.

0 Politics Ethics

The Greatest Human Rights Scam of Our Time

Mitch Schneider in Future of Jewish

Mitch Schneider critiques the uneven international response to human rights abuses in Iran compared to Gaza, highlighting media, UN, and activist biases.

0 Politics Communities

American Jews can't agree about anything — except Iran

Rob Eshman in Forward

In response to the ongoing protests in Iran, initiated by economic turmoil and escalating into widespread anti-regime demonstrations, Jews worldwide have unified in support despite their usual ideological divides.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Israel

The Antisemites Who Swear They Aren’t Antisemites

Vanessa Berg in Future of Jewish

Vanessa Berg's essay explores how contemporary antisemitism manifests subtly through selective empathy and moral inversions.

0 Antisemitism Politics

The ADL’s turn away from civil rights was years in the making — Oct. 7 accelerated it

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), traditionally a stalwart in American civil rights advocacy, has shifted its focus to primarily addressing antisemitism, especially since the rise in antisemitic incidents following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Deborah Lipstadt has second thoughts about tying Jackson synagogue arsonist to ‘Globalize the Intifada’

Andrew Lapin in Forward

Deborah Lipstadt, a former U.S. State Department special envoy for anti-Semitism, initially linked an arson attack on a synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi, to pro-Palestinian movements, using the phrase 'globalize the intifada.'

Communities ›

0 Communities History

What Jackson, Mississippi's only synagogue means to its city — in the wake of arson, and beyond

Austin Albanese in Forward

Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, has a history of resilience and community involvement dating back to its founding in 1875.

0 Communities Education

Don’t wait for the next headline to support Jewish students

eJewishPhilanthropy

In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks involving Israel and Hamas, antisemitism has notably increased on college campuses, with a surge in incidents reported by Jewish student organizations like Jewish on Campus.

0 Communities Leadership

Jerry Lippman was a Jewish newspaperman who refused to play by the rules

Jeff Helmreich in JTA

Jerry Lippman, late publisher of the Long Island Jewish World and the Manhattan Jewish Sentinel, is remembered for transforming Jewish journalism with his rebellious spirit and editorial integrity.

0 Communities Philosophy

How the language of Jewish Peoplehood can move us forward from the current crisis

eJewishPhilanthropy

In light of the recent challenges facing Jews globally after the events of October 7, Shlomi Ravid highlights the need to refocus on the foundational aspects of Jewish Peoplehood.

Music ›

0 Music Culture

That Time John Lennon Sang In Hebrew

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

In 1969, during John Lennon and Yoko Ono's iconic Bed-in for peace in Amsterdam, Lennon recorded his first and only instance of singing in Hebrew.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Jewish Law

King David is having a moment in Christian pop culture. We would do well to join in.

Rabbi David Wolpe in JTA

Rabbi David Wolpe discusses the renewed interest in King David within Christian pop culture, marked by several new productions, including an animated film and a docudrama.

0 Television/Film Holocaust

He works at a Holocaust museum by day. How’d he end up in 'Marty Supreme'?

Louis Keene in Forward

Isaac Simon, a Holocaust museum employee turned accidental actor, landed a role in the Oscar-nominated film "Marty Supreme" after being scouted at a baseball card show.

0 Television/Film Politics

In Jordan’s pick for the Oscars, a contradictory message about ethnonationalism

Olivia Haynie in Forward

"All That's Left of You," Jordan's Oscar entry directed by Cherien Dabis, examines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a testament of generational trauma.

0 Television/Film Culture

How Maya Rudolph’s Jewish Father Inspired This ‘One Battle After Another’ Moment

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Paul Thomas Anderson's film "One Battle After Another" is both a political and personal endeavor, drawing inspiration from his family life and that of his partner, Maya Rudolph.

Ethics ›

0 Ethics Jewish Law

Circumcision could be ‘child abuse’ if done wrong, UK prosectors warn after deaths

Shira Li Bartov in JTA

British authorities are considering labeling poorly conducted circumcisions as child abuse following instances where the procedure led to fatalities.

Education ›

0 Education Politics

Tulsa’s Jewish community pushes back on Oklahoma Jewish charter school proposal

Asaf Elia-Shalev in JTA

The Jewish community leaders in Tulsa are opposing a proposal for a publicly funded Jewish charter school in Oklahoma, expressing concerns over the lack of local consultation and potential destabilization of existing Jewish institutions.

0 Education Jewish Law

We need a different model: From tuition to stipends

eJewishPhilanthropy

Rabbi Matthew Goldstone, in response to the Atra report "From Calling to Career: Mapping the Current State and Future of Rabbinic Leadership," argues that the costs associated with rabbinical education are the primary barriers preventing potential clergy from pursuing their vocations.

Torah ›

0 Torah History

How God Taught a Broken People to Hope Again

Reuven Taragin in 18forty

Reuven Taragin discusses how God revitalized hope amongst the ancient Israelites through the use of the Tetragrammaton, emphasizing God's reliability and enduring presence across time.

0 Torah Philosophy

5 Ways a Heart Hardens: When Choice Becomes Destiny

18Forty Staff in 18forty

18Forty's Parsha Guide delves into Parshat Vaera, focusing on Pharaoh's hardened heart and its implications for free will and determinism.

0 Torah Philosophy

The Other Patriarchal Narratives

Malka Simkovich in Lehrhaus

Malka Simkovich examines the patriarchal narratives within Genesis, highlighting the stories of Noah's flood and the destruction of Sodom as parallel events featuring sexual transgressions and divine intervention.

Philosophy ›

0 Philosophy Communities

How Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe Saw the Jewish People

Yosef Bronstein in 18forty

Yosef Bronstein's article explores how Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe perceive the relationship between the Jewish People and the Torah.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Communities

Conservative Judaism’s new line on intermarriage is a great start. What comes next is key.

Adam Pollack in JTA

The Conservative/Masorti movement's recent report signifies a significant shift in its approach to interfaith relationships, moving from disapproval to engagement and acknowledging past harms caused by a categorical rejection of intermarriage.

JL;DR

for Friday, January 16, 2026

Sports ›

Culture ›

Food ›

Politics ›

Antisemitism ›

Communities ›

Music ›

Television/Film ›

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Education ›

Torah ›

Philosophy ›

Jewish Law ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

January 16's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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Sports ›

Culture ›

Food ›

Politics ›

Antisemitism ›

Communities ›

Music ›

Television/Film ›

Ethics ›

Education ›

Torah ›

Philosophy ›

Jewish Law ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

January 16's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Friday, January 16, 2026