History

Sages, synagogues, and seaside: Discovering Jewish history along the French Riviera

When identifying ourselves, we did not hide the fact that we are Israeli, and reactions were polite. I consider visiting places of Jewish interest a way of supporting the local community.

Chateau D'if, viewed from Marseille.
 Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attend a group photo session with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14, 2025.

Beyond war: Why the Middle East needs courage, dialogue, and reconciliation - opinion

Russia's President Vladimir Putin takes part in a ceremony to present Gold Star medals to service members, who were involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine and awarded the title of Hero of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, December 17, 2025.

Putin embraces the dark corners of Russia’s history – opinion

THE AUTHOR attempts to place today’s challenges within the broader sweep of Jewish history and Torah.

'Reclaiming Redemption Vol. II': Tracing Jewish survival from exile to war - book review


Before passports: How travelers crossed borders

The passport was not the beginning of travel documentation, but the result of centuries of attempts to control movement, identity and access across borders.

Before passports became standard, travellers relied on permits, letters and personal recognition to cross borders.

European Jews migrate for unparalleled reasons now – opinion

The average European citizen changes location primarily to improve their quality of life. Not so for Jews, forced to migrate nowadays, given a resounding lack of protection

A HAREDI (ultra-Orthodox) family packs their belongings in Belgium as they prepare to make aliyah.

Recognition of Armenian Genocide belongs to Israel, not to one government - opinion

The Knesset's postponement need not be a setback. If the next parliament completes the process, recognition of the Armenian Genocide should be completed in order to do the right thing.

The Knesset plenum is seen during a vote on the communications reform, in Jerusalem, July 16, 2026

Middle Israel: How 'The Odyssey' echoes the Jewish story of homecoming - opinion

Written roughly in the time of Isaiah, The Odyssey had nothing to do with the Jews. Its narrative, however, sure is relevant to the Jews, as their own narrative comes under assault. 

JEWISH IMMIGRANTS from Europe arrive in Haifa in 1929. Drawing on Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of ‘The Odyssey,’ the writer explores why the Jewish return to Zion remains one of history’s enduring homecoming narratives.

How the international response to October 7 makes the case for Zionism - opinion

The aftermath of October 7 is a chilling reminder that no matter how accommodated or assimilated we believe ourselves to be, some will always see us as “too Jewish” to be accepted.

A memorial ceremony at the Nova festival marking two years since the October 7 massacre when Hamas terrorists infiltrated southern Israel, murdering more than 1200 people. October 07, 2025.

Things for tourists to do in London: A visitor's guide

From historic attractions and renowned museums to bustling food markets, West End shows, and hidden nightlife gems - everything visitors need to know for an unforgettable London experience.

Panoramic aerial view of the skyline of London, England, with Tower Bridge, River Thames and City skyscrapers during a colorful sunset.

From blood libels to ‘genocide’: Has the Church of England learned from history? - opinion

These libels, often promoted or legitimized by influential churchmen, fueled massacres, dispossession, and ultimately the expulsion of every Jew from England in 1290.

Yaël Perl-Ruiz, Alfred Dreyfus' great grand-daughter

'Out of the Sky': The Jewish parachutists who jumped into Nazi-occupied Europe - review

Matti Friedman uncovers the forgotten stories behind the Jewish parachutists who risked everything to return to Nazi-occupied Europe.

HANNAH SZENES, 16, in Budapest.

'Digging Deep': The lost Jewish football greats who once shaped European soccer - review

"Digging Deep" reconstructs a lost Jewish sporting world and the remarkable careers of 11 players whose stories were nearly forgotten.

OTTO ‘SCHLOIME’ FISCHER, third from left, with his Hakoah team-mates before a game in Riga, 1926.

This week in Jewish history: The SS Exodus, Tisha B’Av, and Nobel pioneers

From the destruction of the Temples to Nobel Prize breakthroughs, the coming weeks mark defining moments of Jewish loss, resilience and achievement.

‘SS EXODUS,’ now derelict, in Haifa Port, 1952.