News About Jewish Genealogy, Jewish History, and Jewish Culture
Editor: Phil Goldfarb, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Growing Russian family tree site offers valuable information on an easy platform. Russian Genealogical Fond is a quietly known database worth knowing to find people who made noteworthy accomplishments or came from nobility in the Russian Empire. The site has grown to a database with information on more than 350,000 people and photos of almost 10,000 people. Read more from Lost Russian Family: Growing Russian family tree site offers valuable information on an easy platform – Find Lost Russian & Ukrainian Family
- Soviet Repression Records: Memory of repression. A single point of search in the principal resources and databases of the Memorial associations and other memory projects. People, places, items, and photographs in the history of Soviet political repressions and resistance to the regime. Read more and search from Memsearch: Memsearch
- Request a death certificate from Israel. First degree relatives can use this service to request a death certificate of deceased family members who passed away in Israel. Go to: Request a death certificate | Population and Immigration Authority
- Laser scans document the elaborate murals in three synagogues in the Bucovina region of western Ukraine. The scans, which allow the user to zoom in on details and virtually tour the spaces, are aimed at documenting, studying and digitally preserving these paintings. Read more from Jewish Heritage Europe: https://jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2025/01/29/ukraine-laser-scans/
- Ancient mikveh dating back to Roman times discovered in Ostia Antica, Italy. Objects discovered during the excavation include oil lamps decorated with the menorah (seven-branched lampstand) and the lulav (palm branch and symbol of the harvest festival). Read more from The Jerusalem Post: Ancient Roman-era mikveh found in Ostia Antica, Italy – The Jerusalem Post
- Could 1,600-year-old Galilee synagogue rewrite history of Jewish life under the Romans? New radiocarbon dating at grand Huqoq sanctuary near Tiberias puts its construction after the empire embraced Christianity, suggests Jews in Holy Land still enjoyed ‘relative prosperity.’ Read the story from The Times of Israel: Could 1,600-year-old Galilee synagogue rewrite history of Jewish life under the Romans? | The Times of Israel
- Nine Things You Didn’t Know About Purim. From Esther’s vegetarianism to the Jewish leap year, things that might surprise you. Read the nine from My Jewish Learning: 9 Things You Didn’t Know About Purim | My Jewish Learning
- Cairo Purim: When Cairo’s Jews Were Saved from an Evil Ruler in the 16th Century. Jews from Cairo, Egypt celebrate a unique holiday called Cairo Purim. The holiday commemorates the salvation of Cairo Jews from their enemies in 1524. These events are described in the Scroll of Egypt, very similar in style to the Scroll of Esther, written by a contemporary rabbi. Read more from Aish: Cairo Purim: When Cairo’s Jews Were Saved from an Evil Ruler in the 16th Century | Aish
- Burning Haman: The lost Purim tradition of India’s ancient Cochin Jewish community. For centuries, Cochin Jews marked Purim by burning effigies of Haman, while the holiday represented the day when Jews from all backgrounds celebrated together. Read more from The Times of Israel: Burning Haman: The lost Purim tradition of India’s ancient Cochin Jewish community | The Times of Israel
- How to Wish Someone Happy Purim. Purim greetings in Hebrew, Yiddish and Ladino. Read the story and expressions from My Jewish Learning: How to Wish Someone Happy Purim | My Jewish Learning
- Rare 17th-century Esther Scroll returns to Ferrara for Purim show. The National Library of Israel is lending the 400-year-old artifact to the National Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah for a new temporary exhibition. Read more from JNS: Rare 17th-century Esther Scroll returns to Ferrara for Purim show – JNS.org
- Hammering Haman: The Legend of the Fearsome Ottoman Tyrant and Purim. In 19th century Greece, a Jewish community’s unusual Purim noisemaking caught the attention of the despotic Ottoman ruler who entered the synagogue. Read the story from Aish: Hammering Haman: The Legend of the Fearsome Ottoman Tyrant and Purim | Aish
- Sapiens and Neanderthals coexisted in prehistoric Israel, rare cave burials show. Using dentists’ tools, archaeologists painstakingly uncover evidence that Israel’s Tinshemet Cave housed hominins who shared rituals and knowledge, and possibly lived in harmony. Read more from The Times of Israel: Sapiens and Neanderthals coexisted in prehistoric Israel, rare cave burials show | The Times of Israel
- Why are Jews buried in a plain pine coffin? Jewish burial customs reflect a fundamental belief: that in death, as in life, all people are equal. That’s why, for centuries, Jews have been buried in simple wooden caskets — most often, the proverbial plain pine box. The practice is rooted in Genesis. Read the full story from The Forward: Why are Jews buried in a plain pine box? – The Forward
- Drawing on Dutch masters, NY exhibit explores Christians painting themselves into Purim parable. Eschewing Persian version, Jewish Museum extends art curation scepter to masters like Rembrandt, who saw Esther’s heroism echoed in their own struggle against Catholic Spain. Read more from The Times of Israel: Drawing on Dutch masters, NY exhibit explores Christians painting themselves into Purim parable | The Times of Israel
- Methodist Church delivers three historic scrolls to Federation of Synagogues. Interfaith collaboration sees return of 19th century Torah written in Baghdad. Read the story from Jewish News UK: Methodist Church delivers three historic scrolls to Federation of Synagogues – Jewish News
- Why ‘Centered: Joe Lieberman’ is a must-see film for the Jewish community. Senator Lieberman proved that our obligations as Jews—to pursue justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God—are also what make for the finest leaders. NOTE: It will screen for only two nights, on March 18 and 19, at more than 60 Regal Cinemas nationwide. Read more about the film from JNS: Why ‘Centered: Joe Lieberman’ is a must-see film for the Jewish community – JNS.org
- Telling the World About the Nazi Genocide. The true story behind The World Will Tremble, how Jews escaped from a concentration camp and warned the world about the Holocaust. Read more from Aish: Telling the World About the Nazi Genocide | Aish
- The Jews of Senegal, West Africa. Portuguese Jews escaping the Inquisition received royal protection in Senegal. The Jews settled in the coastal area of the Petite Cote, in the cities of Joal and Porto de Ale. Each community had a synagogue. Records indicate that conversos underwent circumcision and adopted Hebrew names. They practiced kosher ritual slaughter. Read about them from Aish: The Jews of Senegal, West Africa | Aish
- New study details impact of Birthright Israel trips on children of participants. A new study from the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University highlights the impact of Birthright Israel across the generations, revealing how the effects extend beyond participants to their children as opposed to those who applied to the program but did not go. Read more from JNS: New study details impact of Birthright Israel trips on children of participants – JNS.org
- The first-ever Brooklyn SeltzerFest is a celebration of ‘Jewish champagne’. Organized by the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum, the family-friendly festival will take place at the borough’s Industry City on Sunday. Seltzer has played an important role in the history of Jewish New York ever since Eastern European Jews began making, delivering and selling it in the early 1900s, largely on the Lower East Side. Read more from New York Jewish Week: The first-ever Brooklyn SeltzerFest is a celebration of ‘Jewish champagne’ – New York Jewish Week
- Truth, justice and Yiddishisms: How superhero comics tell the tale of American Jews. Marvel and DC were both started by 2nd-generation Jewish immigrants eager to break comic industry’s glass ceiling, share their families’ stories and punch Hitler right in the kisser. Read more from The Times of Israel: Truth, justice and Yiddishisms: How superhero comics tell the tale of American Jews | The Times of Israel
- RootOne announces global summer travel opportunities for North American teens. New trip offerings for 2025 only include locations in Europe and Central America in addition to Israel; Israeli teens will join all alternative location trips. Read more from JNS: RootOne announces global summer travel opportunities for North American teens – JNS.org
###
About The Weekly News Nosh
The Weekly News Nosh contains news about Jewish Genealogy, Jewish History and Jewish Culture. The Nosh is published on Sundays and distributed by the L’Dor V’Dor Foundation on its 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 future announcements.