for Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Politics ›

Protesters picket Manhattan synagogue over Israel real estate sale, testing Mamdani and new law

Hannah Feuer in Forward

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan during an event promoting real estate in Israel and the West Bank, a demonstration that sparked debates over free speech and security measures around religious institutions.

0 Politics Culture

The New Terrorists

Katherine Dee in Tablet

Katherine Dee explores the evolution of extremist movements, highlighting how online platforms have changed the nature and perception of extremism.

0 Politics Israel

Liberal Zionists are under attack. A new book proves their work has never been more important

Rob Eshman in Forward

Ariel Beery's book, "Being Israeli After the Destruction of Gaza," provides an intimate look at the challenges faced by liberal Zionists in Israel today.

0 Politics Literature

A best-selling novelist identified a minor character as Israeli. Some fans are canceling their orders.

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA

Bestselling author Rebecca R.F. Kuang is facing backlash after an advance copy of her upcoming novel, "Taipei Story," identified a minor character as Israeli.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Sponsored: Washington’s Jewish Community Is Finally Playing Political Offense

The Cholent in The Cholent

Faced with increasing antisemitism in Seattle, the Jewish community is taking political action through Washingtonians for a Brighter Future (WBF), a group focused on educating officials and influencing elections.

0 Politics Communities

I’m a Jewish teen. I asked my neighbors what they meant by ‘Free Palestine.’

Asher Gershenoff in JTA

In a piece from the New York Jewish Week's Teen Journalism Fellowship, Asher Gershenoff, a Jewish teenager from Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, explores the meaning behind the "Free Palestine" signs in his neighborhood.

0 Politics Israel

How Rahm Emanuel is recalibrating on Israel ahead of 2028

Matthew Kassel in Jewish Insider

Rahm Emanuel, the prominent Democratic politician with deep ties to the Jewish community and Israel, has recalibrated his stance on the U.S.-Israel relationship in light of shifting political dynamics and criticism over Israel's military actions in Gaza.

0 Politics Education

Cornell’s Jewish president clashes with students following on-campus debate about Israel

Philissa Cramer in Forward

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff found himself in a tense situation with student protesters after a debate on Israel, reflecting ongoing campus tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

0 Politics Education

U of Michigan apologizes after faculty chair praises pro-Palestinian students during commencement speech

Andrew Lapin in JTA

The University of Michigan faced controversy after a faculty member praised pro-Palestinian student activists during a commencement speech, alongside honoring the university's first Jewish professor.

0 Politics History

Reform Judaism helped craft the Voting Rights Act. Its evisceration gives Jews a new mission

Jonah Dov Pesner in Forward

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision further weakening the Voting Rights Act (VRA), Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner emphasizes the historical and ongoing role of Reform Judaism in shaping and defending voting rights in America.

Communities ›

0 Communities Culture

How Yossi Farro, the 22-year-old tefillin wrapper, chases influential Jews from coast to coast

Gabby Deutch in Jewish Insider

Yossi Farro, a 22-year-old Hasidic Jew from the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, utilizes his Instagram platform and energetic persona to encourage influential Jews across the US to participate in the mitzvah of wrapping tefillin.

0 Communities Science

Her body has been unidentified for decades. Her Ashkenazi DNA may explain why

Hannah Feuer in Forward

Authorities in Arizona are grappling with the challenges of solving a cold case from 1989 involving an unidentified woman, whose Ashkenazi Jewish DNA presents unique issues.

0 Communities Culture

A new alliance between Jewish and Indian communities

eJewishPhilanthropy

In Los Angeles, a new and promising Jewish Indian Alliance emerged, marking a deliberate effort to strengthen ties between Jewish and Indian diaspora communities.

0 Communities Antisemitism

Park Slope Food Coop condemns member over ‘Jewish supremacy’ remark

Grace Gilson in JTA

The Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn faces controversy after a member's comment about Jewish supremacism at a community meeting was condemned as antisemitic by both the coop's general manager, Joe Szladek, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

History ›

0 History Politics

Something big is happening between Jews and Persians right now.

Matthew Nouriel in Future of Jewish

The article by Matthew Nouriel explores a revitalized relationship between Jews and Persians, tracing back over 2,500 years to the era of Cyrus the Great, whom the Jews regard as a key figure in their historical return to Zion.

0 History Communities

Indiana synagogue that shaped Reform movement is sold — and will become a coffee shop, event space

Benyamin Cohen in Forward

The historic 1867 Ahavas Achim synagogue in Lafayette, Indiana, known for its significant role in the Reform movement, has been sold and is set to become a coffee shop and event space.

Television/Film ›

0 Television/Film Music

Mike Stoller and Iris Rainer Dart talk ‘Beaches’ and reviving their Yiddish musical

PJ Grisar in Forward

Veteran artists Mike Stoller and Iris Rainer Dart reflect on their enduring contributions to musical theater, revisiting their Yiddish influences and storied careers.

Culture ›

0 Culture Language

How Yiddish and Savta Sarah shaped my Jewish journey

Kyle Desrosiers-Levine in Forward

Kyle Desrosiers-Levine recounts how his Jewish journey began with an academic interest in Jewish languages during his time as a Fulbright fellow in Israel.

0 Culture Gender/Identity

Jamie Lee Curtis Just Used the Best Yiddish Word

Lior Zaltzman in Kveller

Jamie Lee Curtis, renowned actress and daughter of Jewish singer Tony Curtis, creatively utilizes her Jewish heritage and Yiddish language to comment on societal issues.

0 Culture Antisemitism

Tony nominee Mark Rosenblatt’s ‘Giant’ journey began with Menachem Begin

Dan Friedman in Forward

Mark Rosenblatt's Tony-nominated play "Giant" explores themes of antisemitism and divergent views on Israel, sparked by Rosenblatt's experiences from a school assembly on Menachem Begin.

0 Culture History

We need to talk about the unwritten rules of Jewish success in America.

Hana Raviyt Schank in Future of Jewish

Hana Raviyt Schank explores the nuanced history of Jewish representation in American media, focusing on how Jewish creators have often masked overt Jewish identity in their works to achieve mainstream success.

0 Culture Communities

Stuck on a Mother’s Day Gift? Here’s Our Jewish Charitable Giving Guide

70 Faces Media in Kveller

With Mother's Day approaching, consider honoring mom with a meaningful donation to a Jewish charity focused on women and children.

Antisemitism ›

0 Antisemitism Politics

Synagogues, homes, a school and a Kristallnacht memorial plaque sprayed with swastikas in Queens

New York Jewish Week Staff in JTA

In the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens, which has a significant Jewish population, several synagogues, homes, and a Jewish preschool were defaced with swastikas and antisemitic messages, including the word "Hitler."

0 Antisemitism Communities

Jewish library and Chabad near Buenos Aires attacked, Argentine Jewish advocates say

Jackie Hajdenberg in Forward

A Jewish library and a Chabad center near Buenos Aires were attacked in a series of antisemitic incidents in La Plata, Argentina.

Food ›

0 Food Culture

Scallion and Cheddar Babka

Leah Koenig in Jewish Table

Leah Koenig, cookbook author, introduces a unique Scallion and Cheddar Babka, diverging from traditional sweet babkas with a savory twist.

Holocaust ›

0 Holocaust Antisemitism

Mourner in Zion

Dara Horn in Jewish Review of Books

Dara Horn's poignant exploration into Rachel Goldberg-Polin's memoir, "When We See You Again," draws a powerful parallel to the biblical matriarch Rachel, emphasizing the relentless anguish and mourning experienced by those impacted by antisemitic violence.

Jewish Law ›

0 Jewish Law History

The Date of the Omer Sacrifice According to Rabbi Yehuda Halevi – an example of rabbinic re-interpretation of Torah law

David Neustadter in Lehrhaus

Rabbi Yehuda Halevi, through some commentators, presents a unique interpretation of the date for the Omer sacrifice, suggesting that originally, the date was linked to the barley harvest instead of being fixed on the 16th of Nissan.

Leadership ›

0 Leadership Communities

We need to rethink the Jewish leadership pipeline

eJewishPhilanthropy

The Jewish community faces a challenge in leadership development, as there is a lack of structured pathways for transforming young volunteers into future leaders.

Literature ›

0 Literature Culture

What to Read This Spring

Rivka Bennun Kay in 18forty

Rivka Bennun Kay offers a curated list of books to read in the spring, each catering to different moods and interests.

0 Literature Culture

A new Hebrew press in Berlin argues that Israel doesn’t own the language

Shira Li Bartov in Forward

Altneuland, a pioneering Hebrew publishing house established by Dory Manor and Moshe Sakal in Berlin, seeks to create a global platform for Hebrew literature that operates independently of Israeli state funding.

Holidays ›

0 Holidays History

The Jewish Holiday That Most Jews Don’t Understand

Joshua Hoffman in Future of Jewish

Lag BaOmer is a unique Jewish holiday that represents defiance and cultural reclamation, celebrated largely in Israel with vibrant bonfires.

JL;DR

for Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Politics ›

Communities ›

History ›

Television/Film ›

Culture ›

Antisemitism ›

Food ›

Holocaust ›

Jewish Law ›

Leadership ›

Literature ›

Holidays ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

May 6's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

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Politics ›

Communities ›

History ›

Television/Film ›

Culture ›

Antisemitism ›

Food ›

Holocaust ›

Jewish Law ›

Leadership ›

Literature ›

Holidays ›

Editors' Note

Top Topics in Jewish Media

May 6's Short Reads

Recent podcast episodes

for Wednesday, May 6, 2026