World Jewish News

A Paris Chef Is Making Mouthwatering Kosher Meals For Jewish Doctors And Nurses — For Free

A Paris Chef Is Making Mouthwatering Kosher Meals For Jewish Doctors And Nurses — For Free

  PARIS (JTA) – When she’s not busy with her four kids, Ellie Balouka can usually be found in her kitchen at home in Paris,… Read More ›

In Germany, Where Coronavirus Is At Bay, Synagogues Prepare To Reopen With Precautions

In Germany, Where Coronavirus Is At Bay, Synagogues Prepare To Reopen With Precautions

  BERLIN (JTA) – When synagogues reopen in Germany in the coming weeks, there will be no handshakes, no hugs and no parading with the… Read More ›

‘Gift of Life’ founder Rabbi Haber passes away at age 55 due to COVID-19

‘Gift of Life’ founder Rabbi Haber passes away at age 55 due to COVID-19

‘He touched all our hearts with extraordinary modesty and humanity. His wisdom and his love of people were a symbol for the man himself and… Read More ›

US ultra-Orthodox whistleblowers targeted as traitors, including amid pandemic

US ultra-Orthodox whistleblowers targeted as traitors, including amid pandemic

New York Jews who inform secular authorities of services held despite virus restrictions face harassment, threats, as community shuns outside intervention on sensitive issues  … Read More ›

The survivors who ‘didn’t survive’: Photographer captures Shoah psych patients

The survivors who ‘didn’t survive’: Photographer captures Shoah psych patients

Gili Yaari, a Holocaust survivor’s son, did two stints documenting life at Sha’ar Menashe, a mental hospital where those whose lives were changed forever can… Read More ›

Watch: Policeman And Soldier Join Bnei Brak Porch Minyan

Watch: Policeman And Soldier Join Bnei Brak Porch Minyan

  BNEI BRAK — In this unusual clip taken this Shabbat by a Filipino working for a local resident, a motley group of people join… Read More ›

A gift for Passover: The tenth plague told from the perspective of an Egyptian child

A gift for Passover: The tenth plague told from the perspective of an Egyptian child

In time for the Jewish holiday, world-renowned Israeli author Etgar Keret has written a new iteration of the Plague of the Firstborn, which helped liberate… Read More ›

Borrowing Shiva Chairs:  WHY RISK IT?

Borrowing Shiva Chairs: WHY RISK IT?

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com Unfortunately, there will be a very large number of families that will be sitting shiva right after Yom Tov. … Read More ›

Israel needs a proper exit for coronavirus crisis

Israel needs a proper exit for coronavirus crisis

Opinion: Increasingly detailed reports of a plan for post-virus life are giving the false impression that the crisis is behind us; decision-makers must set a… Read More ›

Former Sephardic chief rabbi Bakshi-Doron succumbs to coronavirus, aged 79

Former Sephardic chief rabbi Bakshi-Doron succumbs to coronavirus, aged 79

Rabbi dies 5 days after admission to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek and testing positive for COVID-19; Deri mourns loss of ‘giant of a scholar, a guide… Read More ›

10 People Attended ‘Birkat Kohanim’ Prayer Service That Usually Draws Tens Of Thousands. Even That Was A Crowd.

10 People Attended ‘Birkat Kohanim’ Prayer Service That Usually Draws Tens Of Thousands. Even That Was A Crowd.

  JERUSALEM (JTA) – A prayer service that typically packs the Western Wall plaza during Passover on Sunday took place with just over 10 men… Read More ›

Coronavirus: Jerusalem’s restricted zones announced, take effect Sunday

Coronavirus: Jerusalem’s restricted zones announced, take effect Sunday

There are four districts specified by the committee, which include mostly haredi (ultra-Orthodox) communities.   The special ministerial committee on coronavirus has approved creating “restricted… Read More ›

Can We Listen to Music Now?

Can We Listen to Music Now?

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times “Hey, I thought you are keeping the first Zman.” “I am.” “So, you can’t listen… Read More ›

After week-long lockdown, some Bnei Brak restrictions to be eased

After week-long lockdown, some Bnei Brak restrictions to be eased

Residents of ultra-Orthodox town will be allowed to leave for work or other essential matters, as rest of country emerges from four-days of banned travel… Read More ›

Alone at Passover, but not lonely

Alone at Passover, but not lonely

Opinion: Coronavirus doesn’t only force us to hunker down at home and stock up on toilet paper, it exposes issues we have long suppressed in… Read More ›

Criticism of Haredi coronavirus conduct is not racism

Criticism of Haredi coronavirus conduct is not racism

Opinion: Criticism of the ultra-Orthodox is based on concrete facts that can no longer be ignored; comparing this to anti-Semitism is pure demagogy Veteran TV… Read More ›

Cry for the people of Bnei Brak, whose leaders let them down

Cry for the people of Bnei Brak, whose leaders let them down

Opinion: The officials running the ultra-Orthodox city betrayed their community by blocking them from vital information, ignoring practical problems of maintaining quarantine and themselves violating… Read More ›

Senior health official calls for more virus-hit Haredi towns to be locked down

Senior health official calls for more virus-hit Haredi towns to be locked down

Ministry source says Elad, Migdal Haemek, Modiin Illit, and ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods of Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh should join Bnei Brak as restricted zones   A… Read More ›

War on coronavirus may help ultra-Orthodox integrate in society

War on coronavirus may help ultra-Orthodox integrate in society

Opinion: While virus sweeps through the ultra-Orthodox population due to misinformation, consequently putting the rest of Israel’s population also at great risk, it presents an… Read More ›

‘Purim came at really bad time in outbreak,’ why Jewish groups were hit so hard?

‘Purim came at really bad time in outbreak,’ why Jewish groups were hit so hard?

‘I would have canceled’ says rueful manager of band that performed for 300 people in Crown Heights, he looked for guidance from the CDC and… Read More ›