for Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law Ethics

The Sde Teiman incident: a retrospective

Ari Zivotofsky in Lehrhaus

The article revisits the controversial Sde Teiman incident, where Israeli reservists were accused of abusing a detained Hamas terrorist.

0 Jewish Law Communities

Argentina’s chief Sephardic rabbi reaffirms century-old ban on local conversions, sparking backlash

Juan Melamed in JTA

Argentina's Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yosef Chehebar reaffirmed a century-old ban on local conversions, allowing them only if conducted in Israel.

Politics ›

0 Politics Israel

J Street hopes to capitalize on growing Democratic frustration with Israel

Gabby Deutch in Jewish Insider

J Street aims to harness growing Democratic discontent with Israel for increased influence in U.S.-Israel relations.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Mourner’s Kaddish for Bondi Beach victims recited in Australian parliament as tougher hate crime laws pass

Grace Gilson in Forward

Following a deadly attack during a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney's Bondi Beach that left 15 people dead, Australian parliamentarian Mark Dreyfus delivered a poignant tribute in Parliament by reciting the Mourners Kaddish in memory of the victims.

0 Politics Ethics

An activist criticized Miami Beach’s Jewish mayor on Facebook — then police came knocking

Hannah Feuer in Forward

Raquel Pacheco, a local activist in Miami Beach, faced police questioning after critiquing Jewish Mayor Steven Meiner on Facebook for actions perceived as anti-Palestinian.

0 Politics Ethics

Cracks in the Wall +

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

As tensions in Iran escalate toward a potential civil war, Mishpacha Magazine shares the harrowing experiences of dissidents who endured the country's most notorious prisons.

0 Politics Communities

The Fatal Consequences of Dangerous Disregard for Laws

Natan Slifkin in Rationalist Judaism

Following the tragic deaths of two infants at an unlicensed daycare in Israel, significant attention is being drawn to the widespread issue of illegal charedi daycare centers.

0 Politics Culture

How the push to unionize at Breads Bakery became a debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Andrew Silverstein in Forward

The attempt to unionize at Breads Bakery, an Israeli-owned business, has transformed into a contentious issue intertwined with Israeli-Palestinian politics.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Jewish leaders express outrage after Josh Shapiro reveals that Kamala Harris team asked if he’d been ‘Israeli agent’

Philissa Cramer in JTA

Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, in his upcoming memoir, reveals that during the vetting process for the 2024 vice-presidential candidacy on Kamala Harris's ticket, he faced invasive questions about alleged connections to Israeli intelligence, raising concerns of antisemitism.

0 Politics Antisemitism

How Trump's first year back in office destabilized our country — and our Jewish community

Rob Eshman in Forward

Donald Trump's first year back in office has deeply shaken the American Jewish community, mirroring the broader instability in the United States.

0 Politics Antisemitism

British Jews could be offered asylum in the US, Trump’s UK-born Jewish lawyer says

Shira Li Bartov in JTA

British Jews might be offered asylum in the United States due to perceived antisemitic threats in the UK, as proposed by Trump’s lawyer Robert Garson, a Jewish attorney originally from Manchester.

0 Politics Holocaust

Are Jews Still Welcome in the White House?

Tevi Troy in Tablet

This article delves into the evolving state of Jewish participation in American political life, particularly in light of recent antisemitic incidents such as the query into whether Pennsylvania's Jewish Governor, Josh Shapiro, was an Israeli agent.

Holocaust ›

0 Holocaust Art

This Holocaust survivor turned creativity into an act of resistance.

Lee Tanenbaum in Future of Jewish

Joseph Bau, a Holocaust survivor and artist, used creativity as a means of resistance against oppression.

0 Holocaust Ethics

Chosen to Live

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky and the Satmar Rebbe attribute their survival during the Holocaust to personal spiritual disciplines they maintained from a young age.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Sports

A Documentary About Jewish Chess Legend Judit Polgár Is Coming to Netflix

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

The upcoming documentary "Queen of Chess" on Netflix explores the life of Judit Polgár, an extraordinary Jewish Hungarian chess player who shattered gender barriers in the world of competitive chess.

Education ›

0 Education Politics

School’s Out

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

The Lakewood school district in New Jersey has been taken over by the state, largely due to the district's financial struggles and purported mismanagement claims despite oversight already in place.

0 Education Culture

Einstein’s Fool

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Cindy Scarr discusses the ongoing trend of secular Israelis emigrating abroad, noting the contrasting lack of emigration among the Orthodox community.

Science ›

0 Science Education

Folic Acid, Without the Fear

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Dr. Jennie Berkovich elucidates the essential role of folic acid in ensuring healthy pregnancies, addressing common misconceptions and the debate around synthetic versus natural forms of folate.

Torah ›

0 Torah Philosophy

Parshas Bo: 5786

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

The Aseres Hamakkos, or the Ten Plagues, are traditionally seen as supernatural events, but this interpretation frames them as metaphorical representations of spiritual and psychological challenges.

Music ›

0 Music Communities

Just Like the Tish

Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha

Joey Newcomb's latest album, "HISkashrus," aims to capture the spiritual and communal experience of the tish gatherings led by Rav Itche Meir Morgenstern in Jerusalem.

History ›

0 History Antisemitism

A Jewish lawyer sued Henry Ford and changed how we think about hate speech

Olivia Haynie in Forward

Aaron Sapiro, a Jewish lawyer and labor leader, made history by suing Henry Ford for libel in a case that became America's first modern hate speech trial.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Politics

Nick Fuentes, Andrew Tate and other right-wing influencers filmed singing Ye’s ‘Heil Hitler’ at Miami nightclub

Philissa Cramer in JTA

In a concerning incident at a Miami nightclub, a group of far-right influencers, including Nick Fuentes and Andrew Tate, were filmed chanting along to "Yes Heil Hitler," a song banned on many platforms for its offensive content.

0 Antisemitism History

The Jewish Thing About Anti-Jewish Things

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Joshua Hoffman explores the paradoxical role of antisemitism in history, illustrating how Jews have been both indispensable and resented across various societies.

0 Antisemitism Education

British schools are erasing the Holocaust.

Leo Pearlman in Future of Jewish

Leo Pearlman addresses a troubling trend in British education where the recognition and teaching of the Holocaust are diminishing significantly, linked to rising antisemitic attitudes within educational institutions.

Culture ›

0 Culture History

How 'a bundle of letters' became a cornerstone of life advice for American Jews

Andy Carvin in Forward

A Bintel Brief, the advice column from the Yiddish-language newspaper Der Forverts (The Forward), celebrates its 120th anniversary as a significant element of Jewish-American culture.

0 Culture Politics

His mother is Israeli, his father is Palestinian. His life? Complicated.

Noah Hirsch-Rechter in Forward

"In Between" is a one-man autobiographical show by Ibrahim Miari, exploring his complex identity as a person born to a Palestinian-Muslim father and a Jewish-Israeli mother, who converted to Islam to marry.

Communities ›

0 Communities Education

A national student Shabbaton 20 years in the making

eJewishPhilanthropy

More than 300 Jewish student leaders from over 25 Canadian universities gathered in Toronto for a national Shabbaton, the first such event in nearly 20 years.

0 Communities Politics

Setting the agenda: 6 priorities for strengthening the Jewish community and Israel in 2026

eJewishPhilanthropy

In "Setting the agenda: 6 priorities for strengthening the Jewish community and Israel in 2026," leading philanthropic voices outline strategic priorities to fortify Jewish life amidst contemporary global challenges.

0 Communities Antisemitism

Mississippi’s Jewish community rallies after antisemitic arson

Haley Cohen in Jewish Insider

In a powerful display of resilience and unity, Mississippi's Jewish community came together for Shabbat services in a Baptist church after an antisemitic arson attack heavily damaged Beth Israel Congregation, the sole synagogue in Jackson.

Ethics ›

0 Ethics Communities

I Did the Outreach New York Is Proposing. It Didn’t Work.

Ariel Goldstein in Tablet

Ariel Goldstein critiques New York City's proposed initiative to address homelessness, drawing on her personal experience as a social worker in the field.

Literature ›

0 Literature Jewish Law

Oy Vey, Who Needs Another Biography of Philip Roth?

Elan Kluger in Tablet

Philip Roth's life and work are examined in the context of literary biography, exploring whether his complex and often controversial persona can be reconciled with his impressive literary contributions.

JL;DR

for Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Jewish Law ›

Politics ›

Holocaust ›

Television/Film ›

Education ›

Science ›

Torah ›

Music ›

History ›

Antisemitism ›

Culture ›

Communities ›

Ethics ›

Literature ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

January 21's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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Jewish Law ›

Politics ›

Holocaust ›

Television/Film ›

Education ›

Science ›

Torah ›

Music ›

History ›

Antisemitism ›

Culture ›

Communities ›

Ethics ›

Literature ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

January 21's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Wednesday, January 21, 2026