The Weekly News Nosh – May 24, 2026

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 military records, AI genealogy tools, Yiddish survivor interviews, kosher cookbook history, and more.

Editor: Phil Goldfarb, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

This week’s news links:

Honoring Veterans this Memorial Day in the United States and always remembering to pay tribute for those who served, those who made the ultimate sacrifice and never returned home in order to defend our freedom, guard our liberty, and who wore the uniform in times of war and peace.

As someone who proudly served as an officer in the United States Army, it is my strong feeling and belief that we should always remember that for ANY Country:

“Freedom is not free”

“All gave some, some gave all”

“Land of the free because of the brave”

“In memory of many, in honor of all”

“A nation reveals itself by how it honors its heroes”

“Their sacrifice bought our freedom”

“A grateful nation remembers”

“If you enjoy your freedom, thank a veteran”

… Phil Goldfarb

1. Free military records for Memorial Day. MyHeritage is opening free access to all 213 million U.S. military historical records from May 22–26, 2026. As the United States celebrates its 250th year, it’s a meaningful time to explore the stories, service, and sacrifices of the ancestors who helped shape the nation across generations of military history. Go to: Search U.S. Military Records for Free The free access includes 286 collections spanning early American conflicts through modern wars, including major additions from the past year such as World War II enlistment and draft registration records and navy muster rolls.
2. com adds 133 new papers spanning nine states and seven countries. To read more, go to their blog: New Papers Added! – The official blog of Newspapers.com Editor’s Note: A reminder that there are TWO levels of Newspapers.com…Basic and Publisher’s Extra. Personally, from a genealogical standpoint, I have found the Publisher’s Extra much more complete and worth the extra money.
3. The JGS Toronto has launched a FREE AI Resource Library — and it’s open to everyone. Whether you’re just starting to use AI in your research or already experimenting with prompts, this library has tools built specifically for Jewish genealogical documents, including: Guidebooks on using AI for Jewish genealogy, Free, ready-to-use prompts — organized by topic, Resources covering Hebrew, Yiddish, and multi-language documents, obituary, Hebrew headstone, research plan, etc. To access: Go to: JGS Toronto Resources – Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto Then to Artificial Intelligence Resources → AI Resource Library → then choose Guidebook or Prompt sections.
4. Interviews with Holocaust survivors reveal the richness of Yiddish. Thanks to a new online resource, the Corpus of Spoken Yiddish in Europe, anyone can now hear or view these recordings. Read more from The Forward: Interviews with Holocaust survivors reveal the richness of Yiddish – The Forward
5. Wiener Library launches Britain’s first exhibition on Nazi camp slave labor. Survivor Eva Clarke and writer Jonathan Freedland highlight individual stories from brutal slave labor system. Read the story from Jewish News UK: Wiener Library launches Britain’s first exhibition on Nazi camp slave labour – Jewish News
6. Legacy Family Tree Webinars. Enrich your knowledge of genealogy anytime, anywhere. Welcome to the world’s most popular webinar website for genealogy, AI and DNA testing, where you can enjoy a robust offering of live and recorded webinars presented by top speakers. To see more, go to: Legacy Family Tree Webinars – live and recorded genealogy webinars Editor’s Note: In addition, For book clubs, festivals, summits, artists, history of unusual Jewish communities, workshops, AI education, film nights, conversations, 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…check out 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 for free if you subscribe: Subscribe – L’Dor V’Dor Foundation (LDVDF)
7. What does a swastika mean? The infamous symbol is inflammatory and inscrutable — it can be used to promote fascism and white supremacy, and to condemn it. Read more from The Forward: What does a swastika mean? – The Forward Editor’s Note: As a bit of history, the symbol was used beginning in 1924 as the shoulder patch insignia for the U.S. National Guard’s 45^th Infantry Division as at that time the Native American image was recognized as a symbol of good luck or spirituality. As the swastika became increasingly associated with the Nazi party, the 45^th Division realized that it was no longer appropriate and stopped using it in 1939 and switched to the Thunderbird patch. Ironically, the 45^th Infantry Division helped liberate the Dachau concentration camp on April 29, 1945.
8. 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 rest of the story from Aish: Medieval France’s Blood Libel Playbook | Aish
9. Israel acquires world’s first kosher cookbook. Rare 180-year-old cookbook reveals secrets of kosher cuisine at the Victorian Jewish table. Read the story from Jewish News UK: Israel acquires world’s first kosher cookbook – Jewish News
10. Restoration work on the synagogue in Seini, Romania has been completed. It will become a Museum of the Jews of Transylvania, concert hall, and cultural space. Read more from Jewish Heritage Europe: https://jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2026/05/17/romania-update-seini-complete/
11. Swiss teens clean up graves in Jewish cemetery to ‘take care of memory.’ The Lausanne Project aims to build a generation that is proud of its identity and deeply connected to Jewish values and Israel. Read the story from JNS: Swiss teens clean up graves in Jewish cemetery to ‘take care of memory’ – Israel & Jewish News – JNS
12. Israel OKs $85 million investment in heritage sites across Judea and Samaria. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said: “After years in which sites were neglected or looted, Israel is making historical corrections.” Read more from JNS: Israel OKs $85 million investment in heritage sites across Judea and Samaria – Israel & Jewish News – JNS
13. UK launches Jewish Culture Month. “This is a time to celebrate Britain’s Jewish community and its contribution to our shared story,” said Communities Secretary Steve Reed. Read more from JNS: UK launches Jewish Culture Month – Israel & Jewish News – JNS
14. A nostalgic glimpse into Shavuot celebrations in pre-state Israel. “Beyond the beauty of the images themselves,” says Efrat Sinai, director of archives at KKL-JNF, “they reflect the way an ancient holiday took on new meaning in the Land of Israel.” Read more from JNS: A nostalgic glimpse into Shavuot celebrations in pre-state Israel – Israel & Jewish News – JNS
15. More On Shavuot from Aish: Why Shavuot Is the Most Important Holiday You’re Ignoring: Why Shavuot Is the Most Important Holiday You’re Ignoring | Aish and When Heaven Meets Earth: The Complete Picture of Shavuot: When Heaven Meets Earth: The Complete Picture of Shavuot | Aish
16. A Biblical Story That Passes the Bechdel Test? Yes Please! The bible is not known for highlighting the plight of women, but the Book of Ruth delivers. Read the story from Hey Alma: A Biblical Story That Passes the Bechdel Test? Yes Please! – Hey Alma
17. Did medieval Jews hide a ‘secret synagogue’ in tarot cards? Boston exhibit turns over clues. ‘Torah in the Tarot,’ named for researcher Stav Appel’s book of the same name, runs through June at the Vilna Shul, makes claim the deck was created by early crypto-Jews. Read the story from The Times of Israel: Did medieval Jews hide a ‘secret synagogue’ in tarot cards? Boston exhibit turns over clues | The Times of Israel
18. As AI spreads, Jewish groups grapple with what it means for Torah study. Some organizations, like Sefaria, are using state-of-the-art systems to supercharge translations and customize experiences; others, like Aish, are using them to distill thousands of hours of classes into a more digestible curriculum. Read more from eJewishPhilanthropy: As AI spreads, Jewish groups grapple with what it means for Torah study – eJewishPhilanthropy
19. For Bob Dylan’s 85th birthday, an 85-minute playlist. A journey through Dylan’s voluminous discography, highlighting songs that are as idiosyncratic and iconoclastic as the man himself. Read and listen from The Forward: For Bob Dylan’s 85th birthday, an 85-minute playlist – The Forward Editor’s Note: The outstanding Bob Dylan Center and Museum is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. If you are a fan, it is well worth your time to visit: Bob Dylan Center | Tulsa, OK
20. Mel Brooks to Donate His Expansive Career Archive to National Comedy Center in New York. Nonprofit based in Jamestown, N.Y. also houses the papers of Brooks’ longtime collaborator Carl Reiner. Read the story from Variety: Mel Brooks Donates His Archive to National Comedy Center in New York
21. Jackie Tohn’s Jewish Summer Camp Movie Is Finally Coming to Theaters. “‘The Floaters’ is a joyful summer comedy about finding your people and leaving your mark,” said director Rachel Israel. Read more from Kveller: Jackie Tohn’s Jewish Summer Camp Movie Is Finally Coming to Theaters – Kveller

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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.