The Weekly News Nosh – June 7, 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 Jewish genealogy resources, DNA ancestry studies, synagogue restorations, Holocaust remembrance, and more.

Editor: Phil Goldfarb, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

This week’s news links:

1. Immigrant Heritage Month. As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence, explore the U.S. immigration records on MyHeritage and discover how your ancestors began their lives in America. Records include 56 immigration collections with 206.1 million historical records documenting arrivals, travel, and naturalization across the United States. To search, go to: Historical Record Catalog: Immigration & Travel, USA
2. Jewish Genealogy: IIJG Journal, Issue 3 now available online. ISSUE 3 – INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH GENEALOGY and Paul Jacobi Center
3. Finding Female Ancestors in The U.S. Genealogy…A Cheat Sheet! Tips, Maiden Names, Women’s Records, Coverture Clues and Free Research Resources Cheat Sheet. Go to: CHEAT+SHEET+Finding+Female+Ancestors+Genealogy+Cheat+Sheet.pdf
4. Who Knew? GEDmatch has a YouTube Channel! Genetic Genealogy Comparison Website. Unlock your DNA’s full potential with GEDmatch, the trusted platform with over 2 million profiles worldwide. Find DNA matches across all major testing companies in one place, and analyze shared DNA segments with their powerful, free tools. Check it out here: Getting Started with GEDmatch – Genetic Genealogy Comparison Website
5. Before You Erase the Jews, Read This. From railroads to penicillin to the food on your table, Jewish innovation shaped the modern world. Read the story from Aish: Before You Erase the Jews, Read This | Aish
6. Patrilineal Genetic Ancestry of Moroccan Jews. Congratulations to Raquel Levy-Toledano and the Avotaynu Project upon the publication of their landmark DNA study describing the remarkable origins of Moroccan Jewish men. Read the study: Patrilineal Genetic Ancestry of Moroccan Jews
7. A secret bunker, tunnel and a Star of David tell a story of Jewish resistance in a Polish town. Read from AP News about the rare findings in a house in southern Poland that was used by Jews, including young members of the resistance, to hide from the Nazis. Secret bunker and tunnel for Polish Jews found in hideout | AP News
8. 85 years after Baghdad’s Farhud massacre, last survivors fear story is being forgotten. Inaugural commemoration sees Iraqi Jews remember the June 1, 1941, pogrom that killed about 180 Jews and marked the decline of one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities. Read the story from The Times of Israel: 85 years after Baghdad’s Farhud massacre, last survivors fear story is being forgotten | The Times of Israel
9. Seven Siblings Survived the Holocaust and Emigrated to the US Together. The Weber’s hid on a German farm for two years and were separated upon arrival in America. Eighty years ago, seven Jewish children boarded the first boat out of Bremerhaven, Germany, bound for New York. Read their story from Aish: 7 Siblings Survived the Holocaust and Emigrated to the US Together | Aish
10. Sicily’s Forgotten Jewish Legacy. Millions visit Sicily every year. Few know it was once home to one of the world’s largest Jewish community whose fingerprints are still everywhere. Read the story from Aish: Sicily’s Forgotten Jewish Legacy | Aish
11. The Chmielnicki Massacre: Ukraine’s Celebrated Hero Was a Mass Murderer of Jews. In one of the most devastating attacks in Jewish history, over 300 years ago, the Jews of present-day Ukraine were terrorized in an orgy of unimaginable violence and vicious attacks. About 100,000 Jews were murdered in what became known as the Chmielnicki Pogroms. Read the story from Aish: The Chmielnicki Massacre: Ukraine’s Celebrated Hero Was a Mass Murderer of Jews | Aish
12. The Ashkenazic Great Synagogue in the Black Sea port of Constanţa, Romania has been rededicated with a joyous ceremony after a full restoration. Designed in the Moorish style and built between 1910 and 1914, the synagogue was used as a German military warehouse during WW2. Read more from Jewish Heritage Europe: https://jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2026/05/31/romania-constanta-rededicated/
13. Number of Nazi victims’ descendants given German citizenship jumped 61% in 2025. Federal authority figures show 12,000 people gained citizenship under restitution laws, though unclear how many were Jews; one in five people naturalized in 2025 was Syrian. Read the story from The Times of Israel: Number of Nazi victims’ descendants given German citizenship jumped 61% in 2025 | The Times of Israel
14. A decaying historic farmhouse finds a savior in Chabad. One of the last pre-Revolutionary War houses in New York City is being restored by a rabbi and rebbitzin as a Lubavitch outpost. Read their story from The Forward: Chabad of Flatbush saves a decaying piece of Brooklyn history – The Forward
15. An organ divided a synagogue. The fallout helped create Reform Judaism. Happyland’ tells the true story of a synagogue in antebellum South Carolina. Read the story from The Forward: ‘Happyland’ tells the true story of Reform Judaism’s origins – The Forward
16. Five Jewish WWI soldiers receive Star of David headstones in France after a century beneath crosses. The American Battle Monuments Commission made the changes in coordination with Operation Benjamin, a nonprofit that works to identify Jewish U.S. service members buried under incorrect religious markers. Read the story from JNS: Five Jewish WWI soldiers receive Star of David headstones in France after a century beneath crosses – Israel & Jewish News – JNS
17. 12-year-old finds ancient gemstone in Galilean Jewish village cursed by Jesus. Sixth grader finds rare ‘Nicolo’ stone, likely dating back at least 1,500 years, during community excavation at Korazim National Park. Read more from The Times of Israel: 12-year-old finds ancient gemstone in Galilean Jewish village cursed by Jesus | The Times of Israel
18. Jewish Museum London unveils first public exhibition space since closure. New gallery at JW3 marks major step in museum’s revival as leaders target permanent home by 2030. Read more from Jewish News UK: Jewish Museum London unveils first public exhibition space since closure – Jewish News
19. Bneimitzvah service breathes Jewish life back into German shul not used since Kristallnacht. A British German couple have infused Jewish life back into a synagogue which hadn’t been used since Kristallnacht by using it to host their children’s bneimitzvah. Wittlich’s original synagogue was active from 1910 to 1938 before it was destroyed. With many of the community’s members murdered by the Nazis, survivors never returned. Read more from The Jewish Chronicle: Bneimitzvah service breathes Jewish life back into German shul not used since Kristallnacht – The Jewish Chronicle
20. Eight Amazing Jewish NBA Players You Need To Know About. Did you know the first person to make a basket in an NBA game was Jewish? Read more from Kveller: 8 Amazing Jewish NBA Players You Need To Know About – Kveller
21. Marilyn Monroe would be 100 today. Are we making too much of her conversion? The actor’s 1956 leap of faith has long been a piece of Jewish trivia. Read the story from The Forward: Does it matter that Marilyn Monroe was Jewish – The Forward
22. This Yiddish Word Fills Us With So Much Pride and Contentment. It’s one of famous Jewish comedian Stephen Fry’s favorite words. Read more from Kveller: This Yiddish Word Fills Us With So Much Pride and Contentment – Kveller
23. Tower of David Museum wants your old Western Wall photos. Request for people to search for images comes as Jerusalem institution prepares 2027 exhibit for 60th anniversary of city’s reunification following 1967 Six Day War. Read the story from The Times of Israel: Tower of David Museum wants your old Western Wall photos | The Times of Israel
24. ‘I AM ISRAEL’ campaign launched to attract American tourists. The Tourism Ministry’s initiative aims at three distinct U.S. audiences: general leisure travelers, and Jewish and Christian markets. Read more from JNS: ‘I AM ISRAEL’ campaign launched to attract American tourists – Israel & Jewish News – JNS
25. Finalists announced for lucrative Jewish literary award. The winner of the 2026 Sami Rohr Prize will be named this month. The annual award — which alternates each year between works of fiction and nonfiction and which honors emerging Jewish writers — is considered one of the most prominent awards in Jewish literature. Read the story from JTA: Finalists announced for lucrative Jewish literary award – Jewish Telegraphic Agency

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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.