News About Jewish Genealogy, Jewish History, and Jewish Culture
Editor: Phil Goldfarb, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- 5 Super-Cool Features of MyHeritage. 1. Cousin Finder™ 2. Fan View 3. Chromosome Browser 4. Diagram of Possible Relationships 5. Photo Dater. Read the specifics of each from the family Tree Advice Blog: Fortify Your Family Tree: 5 Super-Cool Features of MyHeritage
- Ancestry’s New Network Feature/Tool. Ancestry recently unveiled a new tool that has the potential to reshape how we document, visualize, and analyze the relationships surrounding our ancestors. Simply called Networks, this new Pro Tools feature allows researchers to build out dynamic relationship webs that go far beyond traditional family lines. Announced at RootsTech and currently in BETA. Read the details: How to Use Ancestry’s Networks Feature to Expand Your Family History Research – Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family:Family History and Genealogy
- Update on 23and Me bankruptcy. Genetic testing company 23andMe agreed to allow a court-appointed overseer to take charge of ensuring customers’ genetic data remains protected during the company’s bankruptcy, settling a dispute with several U.S. states. Those states had argued the company was not taking data security seriously enough. Read more from Reuters: 23andMe will have court-appointed overseer for genetic data in bankruptcy | Reuters
- Mysterious capital depicting menorahs found in 1,500-year-old Roman site in Jerusalem. Artifact, made of local limestone, was discovered in a settlement dating from a time when no Jew was allowed to live in the region. An impressive limestone capital decorated with menorahs (Jewish ritual candelabras) unearthed in Jerusalem and dating from a period when Jews were barred by the Romans from living in the holy city will be on display for the first time on Independence Day. Read more from The Times of Israel: Mysterious capital depicting menorahs found in 1,500-year-old Roman site in Jerusalem | The Times of Israel
- ‘Violin of hope’: Secret note hidden in Dachau-built musical instrument found after 80 years. A message written from within Nazi concentration camp Dachau, which remained undiscovered for more than 80 years, has been found. It tells a tale of survival, craftsmanship, and reveals the only known musical instrument built inside the camp. Read the incredible story from Euro News: ‘Violin of hope’: Secret note hidden in Dachau-built musical instrument found after 80 years | Euronews
- Argentina Releases Trove of Documents Detailing Nazi War Criminals’ Activities After World War II. Government officials announced the completion of restoration and digitization work, making more than 1,850 reports and nearly 1,300 previously classified decrees accessible online. These documents shed light on the activities of prominent Nazi war criminals who took refuge in Argentina after World War II. Read more from Algemeiner: Argentina Releases Trove of Documents Detailing Nazi War Criminals’ Activities After World War II – Algemeiner.com
- Dachau unveils memorial honoring US troops on 80th anniversary of liberation. The monument honors U.S. 45th Division as ceremonies recall the camp’s liberation 80 years ago and the voices of survivors and liberators. The ceremony took place at the former Jourhaus gatehouse of the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Read more from JNS: Dachau unveils memorial honoring US troops on 80th anniversary of liberation – JNS.org
- A Hungarian Jewish Museum exhibit displays remnants of the 18th century wooden synagogue that once stood in Náznánfalva, Transylvania — now Nazna, Romania. A small exhibit at the Jewish Museum in Budapest details the history and displays the remnants of the 18th century wooden synagogue that once stood in the town of Náznánfalva, Transylvania just outside of Târgu Mures. Read the story from Jewish Heritage Europe: https://jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2025/04/29/hungary-nazna/
- With new gift of $1.25m, Jewish museum in New Orleans boosts its reach. The South historically didn’t draw as many Jewish immigrants, families and individuals as the U.S. coasts and major cities in the Midwest. But its traditions are rich and go back centuries, as its archives document. Read more from JNS: With new gift of $1.25m, Jewish museum in New Orleans boosts its reach – JNS.org
- Ben-Gurion diary entries on day of independence revealed: ‘I mourn among the joyful.’ Document found in archives reveals how first PM worried over Arab invasion, writing on May 14, 1948, that nascent state’s fate was ‘in the hands of the security forces.’ Read the story from The Times of Israel: Ben-Gurion diary entries on day of independence revealed: ‘I mourn among the joyful’ | The Times of Israel
- Israel’s population tops 10 million for 1st time, on eve of 77th Independence Day. Central Bureau of Statistics says nearly 10.1 million people live in Israel — 12 times as many as in 1948 — including about 45% of world’s Jews. Read more from The Times of Israel: Israel’s population tops 10 million for 1st time, on eve of 77th Independence Day | The Times of Israel
- First Jewish woman minister in German cabinet since Holocaust. Karin Prien, Christian Democratic Union politician and granddaughter of survivors, appointed to federal education, family and youth post. A senior figure in the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Prien is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and serves as a spokeswoman for her party’s Jewish Forum. Read about her from Jewish News UK: First Jewish woman minister in German cabinet since Holocaust – Jewish News
- The Jewish Culture Question of the Week: Cardinals are Catholic not Jewish — so why do they all wear yarmulkes? The conclave gathering to elect the next pope are all wearing familiar small hats. Kippahs are usually a reliable sign that the wearer is Jewish! You can usually even tell what kind of Jew they might be: embroidered styles are common amongst Bukharian Jews; Breslovers wear white with a pom-pom; crochet is so popular amongst the Religious Zionist movement that its members are also called “kippah srugah,” which translates to “knitted cap”; and colorful satin implies you probably got it for free at someone’s bar mitzvah. Cardinals are definitely not Jewish. So why do they wear yarmulkes? Read the story from The Forward: Why do Catholic cardinals wear yarmulkes? – The Forward
- What Are Jewish Genetic Diseases? As many as 1 in 3 Ashkenazi Jews are estimated to be carriers for one of about 19 genetic diseases. Read more from My Jewish Learning: What Are Jewish Genetic Diseases? | My Jewish Learning
- What Does L’Dor V’Dor Mean? An emotional Jewish catchphrase explained from My Jewish Learning: What Does L’dor Vador Mean? | My Jewish Learning
- Why Do So Many Orthodox Men Have Beards? The Jewish reasons for facial hair, including sidelocks (payot). Read the story from My Jewish Learning: Why Do So Many Orthodox Men Have Beards? | My Jewish Learning
- After decades of waiting, we’re finally getting a Bob Dylan-Barbra Streisand duet. The two legends will join in song for Babs’ new album of duets. They could both be the Jewish voices of their generation — but they are just now getting the chance to harmonize. Read the story from The Forward: We’re finally getting a Streisand-Dylan duet – The Forward
- That Time Barbra Streisand Sang ‘Hatikvah’ to Golda Meir. On Israel’s Independence Day back in 1978, Streisand had a very special celebratory video call with the country’s first woman prime minister. Read the story from Kveller: That Time Barbra Streisand Sang ‘Hatikvah’ to Golda Meir – Kveller
- Andrew Garfield on BBC Who Do You Think You Are. Worthy of a film plot line, Andrew Garfield’s family history takes him from Nazi-occupied Poland to early Hollywood glamour as he uncovers stories which veer from tragedy to hope. Read about him here: The Story of Andrew Garfield’s Jewish Ancestry Is Like a Hollywood Epic – Hey Alma Watch it on YouTube if you are in the UK: BBC One – Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 22, Andrew Garfield The BBC’s “Who Do You Think You Are?” is generally available in the US on streaming services soon after it airs in the UK. While there’s no specific time frame, it’s common for new episodes to be added to streaming platforms like Discovery+, Amazon Prime Video Channels, and Apple TV shortly after their UK broadcast. Thanks to The Weekly News Nosh reader Debra Soled for bringing it to my attention!
- New Investigative Genealogy Series “Relative Secrets” to Premiere Monday, June 2 on BBC America and Acorn TV. Each episode in this suspenseful new series will investigate an everyday American family’s darkest mystery, aiming both to solve the mystery and explore how it shapes that family today. Read more from EOGN: https://eogn.com/page-18080/13492820
- For Jewish Heritage Month…Book Lists to Read, Read, Read! A great time to read about Jewish Genealogy, Jewish History and Jewish Culture for adults and children! Just a very small sampling of what is available: From the Oakland Public Library: Jewish American Heritage Month Book List — a community-created list from BiWeiMa | Oakland Public Library | BiblioCommons (Thanks to News Nosh reader Susan Goldsmith) The New York Public Library: A Reading List for Jewish American Heritage Month | The New York Public Library The Library Journal: Jewish American Heritage Month | A Reading List | Library Journal and the Jewish Book Council: Jewish American Heritage Month | Jewish Book Council
- This Is What the American Dream Actually Looked Like for Your Ancestors. Before unions and labor laws, before workplace safety and minimum wage, America was built by single mothers sewing through the night, skilled workers hunched over machines, and families turning tenements into factories. Photographer Lewis W. Hine captured these untold stories across factory floors and city streets in the early 1900s. See the New York Library’s amazing pictures from Genealogy Explained: This Is What the American Dream Actually Looked Like for Your Ancestors – Genealogy Explained
- Israel of yore seen in Jerusalem exhibit of French photographer’s works. Stills from New Wave director Chris Marker’s award-winning 1961 film, missing until now, are currently exhibited at the Israel Museum in ‘Chris Marker: The Lost Photographs of Israel.’ Read about this exhibit from The Times of Israel: Israel of yore seen in Jerusalem exhibit of French photographer’s works | The Times of Israel
- Nine Jewish Inventions: From Mr. Potato Head to the Pregnancy Test. Chances are you didn’t know that Jews were behind all of these ubiquitous inventions. Read about the nine from Aish: 9 Jewish Inventions: From Mr. Potato Head to the Pregnancy Test | Aish
- Top 10 Jewish Words to Teach Your Kids. If you’re looking to add a few Jewish words to your family’s lexicon, look no further than this list. From Kveller: Top 10 Jewish Words to Teach Your Kids – Kveller
- 24 Baby Names Inspired by Israel. Israel, with its dazzling landmarks and rich historical details, is filled with beautiful names. Here are 24 baby names inspired by the people, places, and history of the Land of Israel. From Aish: 24 Baby Names Inspired by Israel | Aish
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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.