This Jewish heritage news digest is this week’s NewsNosh (The Weekly News Nosh) from L’Dor V’Dor Foundation—a curated set of links for anyone interested in Jewish family history, Jewish history, and Jewish heritage. This week’s NewsNosh Jewish heritage news digest includes World War II records, Jerusalem history, archaeology discoveries, Holocaust remembrance, and more.
Editor: Phil Goldfarb, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
This week’s news links:
- Looking for numerous and diverse Jewish educational events and programs to attend? Tired of seeing promotional postings of the same program over and over that are of no interest to you? (In my personal opinion…there should be more “discussion” or “exchange” or “discourse” and less “meeting promotion” on these sites) Do yourself a favor…make it easy on yourself with the solution! For book clubs, festivals, summits, artists, history of unusual Jewish communities, workshops, AI education, film nights, conversations (Jonah Platt for example), seminars, “kvell & tell” sessions, Jewish Special Interest Groups, unusual Jewish events and programs from not only Jewish Genealogy Societies globally, but from Museums, Judaic Studies programs and various organizations, institutions, and groups…the only place you need to go is the Worldwide Jewish Event Calendar called JDays found on the L’Dor V’Dor Foundations website: JDays. Available 24/7/365. New programs/events are added daily. You can even have JDays sent to you via e-mail each month (As well as the Weekly News Nosh) for free if you subscribe: Subscribe – L’Dor V’Dor Foundation (LDVDF)
- MyHeritage adds a significant new collection: United States, World War II Enlistment, 1938–1946. These historical records document American soldiers at the moment they enlisted. They capture personal details that can help you understand your relatives’ lives before military service. Created at the time of enlistment, these records reflect each individual’s background just before entering the war. They offer a detailed snapshot of millions of soldiers across the United States. In these records, you can find birth years and places, places of residence, enlistment dates and locations, military branch and service status, civilian occupations and education levels, citizenship.
- MyHeritage Introduces Family Infographics: Turn a Loved One’s Life Story into a Beautiful Work of Art. Read all about how to do it from their blog: Introducing Family Infographics: Turn a Loved One’s Life Story into a Beautiful Work of Art – MyHeritage Blog
- See what’s new at Ancestry! Here are just a few of the things that they have been working on lately: New Products & Features | Ancestry
- A Museum of the Extinct Jewish People – That Never Was. Did the Nazis intend to establish a Jewish Museum after the Holocaust, in order to present the Jews as an evil from which they had saved the world? Read the story from Yad Vashem: A Museum of the Extinct Jewish People – That Never Was
- Jerusalem: From Biblical Desolation to Over 1 Million People. For centuries, Jerusalem was a ghost town. Today it’s a city of 1 million, one of the fastest-growing travel destinations on earth. How did this happen? Read more from Aish: Jerusalem: From Biblical Desolation to Over 1 Million People | Aish
- What Is Jerusalem Day? The two-millennia love affair of the Jewish People. In the year 70 CE we lost her. The Roman army conquered what had been the glory of the Jewish nation for a thousand years. They pillaged Jerusalem, and slaughtered or enslaved every Jewish resident. Read the rest of the story from Aish: What Is Jerusalem Day? | Aish
- Medieval France’s Blood Libel Playbook. When powerful medieval rulers conspired to profit from a deadly blood libel. Eight hundred years ago, a frightened horse and a servant’s imagination were enough to send 30 Jews of Blois, France to the stake. Read the story from Aish: Medieval France’s Blood Libel Playbook | Aish
- Massive ancient tunnel on Jerusalem’s outskirts baffles archaeologists. The discovery near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel has left researchers puzzled about its purpose and age. Read the story from JNS: Massive ancient tunnel on Jerusalem’s outskirts baffles archaeologists – Israel & Jewish News – JNS
- How ancient seeds are rewriting the history of biblical-era trade with Arabia. New radiocarbon dating of Ein Hatzeva fortress on ancient trade route in the Arava suggests it was built 2,800 years ago by the Kingdom of Israel, shoring up Bible’s account. Read more from The Times of Israel: How ancient seeds are rewriting the history of biblical-era trade with Arabia | The Times of Israel
- From the Old City market to the newspaper vendor: Jerusalem before statehood. To mark Jerusalem Day, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) unveils rare historical documentation from its archives, depicting the city between the 1930s and the 1950s, before the establishment of the State of Israel. Read and see more from JNS: From the Old City market to the newspaper vendor: Jerusalem before statehood – Israel & Jewish News – JNS
- Experts debate whether AI-generated Holocaust content aids memory or distorts it. A World Jewish Congress clip of Anne Frank highlights potential and peril of new tools as firsthand testimony dies out — and opportunists capitalize on endless supply of ‘slop.’ Read the story from The Times of Israel: Experts debate whether AI-generated Holocaust content aids memory or distorts it | The Times of Israel
- Art looted from Jewish collector hanging in home of Dutch SS leader’s family, sleuth says. Discovery made when descendant of Nazi collaborator revealed ‘Portrait of a Young Girl’ by Toon Kelder was displayed in relative’s hallway; theft has passed statute of limitations. Read more from the Times of Israel: Art looted from Jewish collector hanging in home of Dutch SS leader’s family, sleuth says | The Times of Israel
- Lost symbols of ancient Israel recovered in international antiquities sting. The coins were allegedly looted from archaeological sites in Israel and smuggled to the United States. Read the story from JNS: Lost symbols of ancient Israel recovered in international antiquities sting – Israel & Jewish News – JNS
- Stolpersteine laid to commemorate family of Holocaust survivor and classmate of Anne Frank. A large crowd gathered in Amsterdam to witness the laying of Stolpersteine (memorial stumbling blocks) in memory of the family of Holocaust survivor and classmate of Anne Frank, 97-year old Nanette Blitz König. Read more from Jewish News UK: Stolpersteine laid to commemorate family of Holocaust survivor and classmate of Anne Frank – Jewish News
- Rohatyn Jewish Headstones Database Project. This status report summarizes what has been done, and what is now in progress, with some interesting examples. The larger project is called Jewish Stones UA, and currently covers five cities within 150km of Lviv where Ukrainian, Jewish, and other heritage activists have been working to recover Jewish headstones displaced during or after the German occupation of World War II, and/or to document those stones and anything which remains in the Jewish cemeteries. Read more from their web site: Status Report: Rohatyn Jewish Headstones Database Project – Rohatyn Jewish Heritage
- Why Were the Graves of So Many Jewish GIs Marked by a Cross? Thanks to the tireless efforts of Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter and a group of dedicated volunteers, Jewish heroes are finally being buried with a Star of David. Read more from Aish: Why Were the Graves of So Many Jewish GIs Marked by a Cross? | Aish
- Sealed files on Nazi ‘Angel of Death’ Mengele to be opened, Swiss intel agency says. Josef Mengele, who fled to Argentina, was never prosecuted for sadistic Auschwitz experiments despite possibly visiting Zurich after West Germany issued arrest warrant against him. Read more from The Times of Israel: Sealed files on Nazi ‘Angel of Death’ Mengele to be opened, Swiss intel agency says | The Times of Israel
- Eight-year-old boy finds 1,700-year-old statuette fragment while hiking in Negev. Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist says the artifact might depict Roman god Jupiter. Read more from The Times of Israel: Eight-year-old boy finds 1,700-year-old statuette fragment while hiking in Negev | The Times of Israel
- BBC marks Jewish Culture Month. Across TV and Radio, the BBC is featuring a range of voices and perspectives exploring Jewish faith and culture. Read more from the BBC: BBC marks Jewish Culture Month
- ‘King of Comics’ Jack Kirby honored with NYC street renaming. The creator of Captain America, the Avengers and the Hulk is “widely recognized as the most prolific and arguably most important creator in the history of the comic book,” a Center for Jewish History exhibit says. Read more from JNS: ‘King of Comics’ Jack Kirby honored with NYC street renaming – Israel & Jewish News – JNS
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About The Weekly News Nosh
The Weekly News Nosh (NewsNosh) is the L’Dor V’Dor Foundation’s weekly Jewish heritage news digest—a curated set of links for anyone interested in Jewish family history, Jewish history, and Jewish heritage. NewsNosh is published on Sundays and shared on our website and social media platforms. “A Family Without The Understanding Of Their Past History, Foundation And Ethnicity Is Like A Tree Without Roots.” Subscribe to receive NewsNosh every Sunday, directly in your inbox. Browse past issues of our Jewish heritage news digest in the NewsNosh archive.