JIFF Sydney opening
Did you attend the Jewish International Film Festival’s opening event in Sydney? A J-Wire photo gallery. Read more
From Australia’s Past: Striking Gold in Australia – when and where did it begin
A little-known fact is that the very first gold found in 1851 in New South Wales by Edward Hargreaves, was actually given a Hebrew name – ‘’Ophir’’ – the name and place in the bible famous for its gold and wealth. Read more
Israeli Health Ministry launches vaccination drive for Masa participants
Recent efforts by the Masa Israel Journey organization and the Jewish Agency to petition Israel’s Health Ministry came to fruition on Wednesday with the launch of a vaccination program for Masa participants currently residing in the country. Read more
Get vaccinated now; the Torah commands it
During my visits to coronavirus wards at hospitals across Israel, I encountered a most worrying statistic…writes Rabbi David Lau. Read more
Jerusalem District court schedules next Netanyahu hearing for April 5
The Jerusalem District Court said on Monday that it would start hearing witnesses in the corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 5, after the March 23 general election. Read more
Israel scrambles to save animals hurt in massive tar spill
A catastrophic tar spill washing up along Israel’s entire Mediterranean coast may be the worst environmental disaster in Israeli history. Read more
Report: Ramallah continues to allocate chunk of cash-strapped budget to terrorists
A new report by Palestinian Media Watch, a watchdog group that documents incitement in the Palestinian Authority, revealed that in 2020, the P.A. allocated 512 million shekels ($156 million), or 3.25 percent of its budget, to its “pay for slay” program. Read more
NGO Monitor: EU funding campaign to trigger UN sanctions against IDF
Palestinian and international NGOs, funded by European governments and working in tandem with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), have launched a campaign seeking to trigger U.N. sanctions against the Jewish state, according to a report published on Thursday by NGO Monitor. Read more
Hillel Neuer ‘not surprised’ by Biden’s return to UNHRC, but sees chance to hold abusers to account
Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch—a Swiss-based NGO that monitors the actions of the United Nations—has drawn praise for his fearless rebukes of dictatorial regimes who single out Israel criticisms, while ignoring human-rights violations elsewhere. Read more
In viral tweet, former Israeli UN envoy urges Biden to phone Netanyahu
Former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon on Wednesday tweeted an appeal to U.S. President Joe Biden that he contact Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, listing other world leaders to whom the newly elected American leader has already reached out. Read more
Polish ruling on Holocaust libel case causes profound concern among Jewish groups
A ruling issued by a court in Poland on Tuesday is meeting fierce criticism from Jewish groups and others who claim that the decision will silence further examination of the role of Polish citizens during the Holocaust…writes Faygie Holt. Read more
IDF appoints commander to coordinate battle against ICC
As a result of the decision on Friday by the International Criminal Court at The Hague that a Palestinian state exists in Judea, Samaria, Gaza and eastern Jerusalem, where it has jurisdiction to investigate Israel for “war crimes,” the Israel Defense Forces has appointed an officer to coordinate all aspects of the legal battle. Read more
Six actions Biden should take to hold the ICC and Palestinian leaders accountable
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague issued an illegitimate and politicized decision on Friday, falsely claiming that it has jurisdiction to open an investigation focused on false allegations of Israeli “war crimes.”…writes David Milstein. Read more
Israel transfers COVID-19 vaccines to PA, PA denies It
Israel transferred 2,000 vaccine doses to the Palestinian Authority (PA) on Monday, the first batch of a total of 5,000 doses. Read more
Large haredi funeral processions in Jerusalem hit raw nerve after recent violent clashes
Thousands of people packed the streets Sunday in Jerusalem to participate in the funeral processions of two prominent haredi rabbis, both of whom passed away due to complications from COVID-19…writes Meira Svirsky. Read more
New Zealanders gather to remember the Holocaust
New Zealand, one of few countries in a Covid-ravaged world still able to have large gatherings for the observance of United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, saw commemorations take place around the country in major centres including Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, as well as in Hamilton and Napier. Read more
As the world remembers the Holocaust, the Palestinians blame it on the Jews
For most people, Holocaust memorial events such as those taking place now to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day are crucial both to remember the victims and to ensure that the horror of Nazism can never again raise its head. In the Palestinian Authority, Holocaust remembrance is a very different story. Read more
Hidden bunker discovered in Warsaw Ghetto
A bunker containing 100-year-old tefillin (phylacteries) hidden from the Nazis in World War II has been discovered in the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto. Read more
Six Holocaust survivors to tell their stories for generations to come
The Sydney Jewish Museum is currently undertaking a Dimensions in Testimony filming project, capturing six Holocaust survivors in three-dimensions. Read more
With great sorrow: Sheldon Adelson, 1933-2021
It is with unbearable pain that I announce the death of my husband, Sheldon, of complications from a long illness…writes Miriam Adelson. Read more
Palestinian succession battle heats up as Biden prepares to take office
In the run-up to the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, Mohammed Dahlan, the former leader of the PLO’s Fatah faction in Gaza, has launched a major media campaign against Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas. Read more
IDF deploys new female combat intelligence unit to the northern front
For the first time in Israeli history, female combat intelligence soldiers have been deployed to the country’s northern front—currently, its most volatile…reports Hanan Greenwood. Read more
Yamina’s chief to challenge Netanyahu in upcoming election
Yamina Party leader Naftali Bennett on Wednesday officially announced his candidacy for the premiership in Israel’s upcoming election, saying Israel is “in need of a new leadership.” Read more
Hasmonean-era oil lamp found in Jerusalem
Israeli archaeologists have unearthed a candle-holder from the Hasmonean period in the City of David in Jerusalem. Read more
Morocco to become first Arab nation to teach Jewish history, culture in schools
Trailblazing change, Morocco on Sunday announced that its schools will soon begin teaching Jewish history and culture as part of the official curriculum—a first in the region and in the North African country, where Islam is the state religion. Read more
Maus forty years later
A beginning. Seems as good a title as any for musing on an everyday story of life these days. It was the Torah portion our older son had for his bar mitzvah twenty-seven years ago…writes Sue Fox. Read more
Antony Blinken’s track record
According to Dr. Albert Ellis, one of the world’s top psychologists, “The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour”…writes Yoram Ettinger. Read more
Reflections of a Retiring President
New technology caters for a JCA President retiring in the middle of a pandemic…writes Stephen Chipkin. Read more
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an annual campaign that calls for an end to violence against women. Read more
Arab normalization and Palestinian radicalization: The Middle East tug of war
The Sept. 15 signing at the White House of the Abraham Accords between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel, followed by Sudan’s declaration of normalization with the Jewish state, reflects tectonic shifts in Middle East geopolitics…write Dan Diker and Khaled Abu Toameh. Read more