News About Jewish Genealogy, Jewish History, and Jewish Culture
Editor: Phil Goldfarb, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Gesher Galicia’s War Orphans Bureau Project. After World War One, the Joint Distribution Committee established the War Orphans Bureau to manage the care of Jewish children who had at least one parent deceased or needed assistance. The bureau requested lists of orphaned children from local leaders which were then used by the JDC to raise and allocate resources for their benefit and assist in the reunification with family where possible. These lists provide important genealogical information. Read more about this project: War Orphans Bureau Project
- JIMENA shares findings from 1st national study of Sephardic and Mizrahi American Jews. The study found that Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews combined account for 10% of the Jewish population in the U.S. Read more from eJewishPhilanthropy: ‘We need to have this data’: JIMENA shares findings from 1st national study of Sephardic and Mizrahi American Jews – eJewishPhilanthropy
- Using the new full text search from FamilySearch.org. FamilySearch announced a new full text search product, called a “game changer” that can help you find historical records using artificial intelligence (AI). To see how to explore this product, go to: 💡 Imagine finding your ancestor in a handwritten record no index ever captured…
- New database of indexed Ukrainian archive records boosts genealogy research. Koreni, a new Ukrainian database, has more than 350 records that are indexed and searchable in English and Ukrainian. Step-by-Step Guide for Using Koreni Database Without Knowing Ukrainian go to: flruf-koreni-database-guide.pdf
- The “Lost” 1820 U.S. Census Records Have Been Found. The U.S. Census records for the extreme northern strip of land in Maine have been missing for more than 150 years but now have been found. Read the story from EOGN: https://eogn.com/page-18080/9287638
- Henry Louis Gates Says Show Will Go on Despite Loss of Federal Funding for Public Television. “It’s especially important to all of us at ‘Finding Your Roots’ that our viewers know, despite the loss of federal funding for public television, our show and PBS are not going anywhere,” Gates said in his statement. “We encourage everyone to support PBS by becoming a member of your local PBS station if you aren’t already, and continuing to spread the word about the great work PBS is doing.” Jewish celebrities on the show this year include Lizzy Caplan and Barry Diller.
- 1,600 years of care: Archaeologists in northern Israel uncover world’s earliest home for elderly. University of Haifa researchers discover mosaic medallion bearing inscription ‘Peace be with the elders’ in Byzantine city of Hippos. Designated institutions for the elderly have been referenced in texts from the fifth and sixth centuries, but this was the first physical evidence of such a practice. Read the story from The Times of Israel: 1,600 years of care: Archaeologists in northern Israel uncover world’s earliest home for elderly | The Times of Israel
- References to Moses Found in Exodus-Era Sinai Inscriptions. Ancient Sinai inscriptions may hold the earliest extra-Biblical references to Moses, sparking fresh debate over the Exodus and the origins of the alphabet. Israeli epigrapher Michael Bar-Ron has identified what he believes are several direct references to Moses on 3,500-year-old stone inscriptions from the Sinai desert. Read more from Aish: References to Moses Found in Exodus-Era Sinai Inscriptions | Aish
- Rare gold coin minted for Egyptian Queen unearthed in Jerusalem. The discovery sheds new light on the development of the ancient city even after the destruction of the first Jewish Temple in 586 BCE. The small denomination quarter-drachma, made of pure gold (99.3%), and dated to 246–241 BCE, was minted for Queen Berenice II during the reign of her husband, Ptolemy III. Read more from JNS: Rare gold coin minted for Egyptian Queen unearthed in Jerusalem – JNS.org
- Speaking of coins…Silver was key currency in Israel long before invention of coins, study finds. Researchers examine hordes of silver discovered throughout the land, investigating its commercial use in Bronze, Iron Ages. Silver was used as currency in ancient Israel more than 1,000 years before the invention of the coin. Read more from The Times of Israel: Silver was key currency in Israel long before invention of coins, study finds | The Times of Israel
- Homo Sapiens procreated with Neanderthals 100,000 years earlier than previously thought. Study applies new techniques to a fossilized child’s skull found in northern Israeli cave, and finds physical characteristics of both types of humans. Read more from The Times of Israel: Homo Sapiens procreated with Neanderthals 100,000 years earlier than previously thought | The Times of Israel
- The History of Yiddish. Yiddish originated in Germany but was eventually spoken by Jews all over Europe. In its 1,000-plus-year history, the Yiddish language has been called many things, including the tender name mameloshen (mother tongue), the adversarial moniker zhargon (jargon) and the more matter-of-fact Judeo-German. Read the story from My Jewish Learning: The History of Yiddish | My Jewish Learning
- Why Do We Have Middle Names? What’s the point, and who got us started with this seemingly superfluous naming process? Take a look back through history to see when and why middle names emerged, and how they became commonplace. From History Facts: Why Do We Have Middle Names? — History Facts
- Jews and Japan: 7 Interesting Facts. Seven fascinating facts about Jewish links with the Land of the Rising Sun. Some of Japan’s biggest influences have come from contacts with Jews, and Japan in turn has influenced Jewish culture and history. Read the story from Aish: Jews and Japan: 7 Interesting Facts | Aish
- An all but forgotten monument on the Tuscan coast in Italy marks a little-known chapter in the early history of the state of Israel. Few people visit the monument or even seem to know about it. Read more from Jewish Heritage Europe: https://jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2025/08/20/italy-argentario/
- 36 Gorgeous Ketubahs. The ketubah, or the Jewish wedding contract, is signed at a wedding ceremony. There are laws and customs that dictate what the document should say, but when it comes to the actual design, there are no rules. Read and see more from My Jewish Learning: 36 Gorgeous Ketubahs | My Jewish Learning
- All About Jewish Wedding Rings. What do Jewish wedding rings look like and what do they mean? The wedding ring, which came into use in Jewish circles probably in the medieval period, carries a certain minimal monetary value which means it can be used for the bride price. By giving his beloved a ring, the husband effectively gives her the monetary sum required to make her his bride. Read more from My Jewish Learning: All About Jewish Wedding Rings | My Jewish Learning
- Jews in Classic Western Literature. From Shakespeare to Eliot, classic literature shows Jews as villains, outsiders, and visionaries—revealing how we’ve been seen, and how we might see ourselves. Read the story from Aish: Jews in Classic Western Literature | Aish
- Update On Exciting New Israeli Research. In world 1st bid to cure paralysis, Israeli team gears up to implant innovative spinal cord. With Health Ministry okay, Tel Aviv University prof will perform surgery that will mark the first time pieces of spine are engineered from human cells and then transplanted. Read the story from The Times of Israel: In world 1st bid to cure paralysis, Israeli team gears up to implant innovative spinal cord | The Times of Israel
- Common Prayer Words. 50 of the most frequent Hebrew words that appear in the siddur. They include the Hebrew, English and a transliteration of each word. More from My Jewish Learning: Common Prayer Words | My Jewish Learning
- New US Postal Service stamp honors Holocaust survivor and humanitarian Elie Wiesel. Wiesel is the 18th person to be featured in the USPS’ Distinguished Americans Series. Read more from JTA: New US Postal Service stamp honors Holocaust survivor and humanitarian Elie Wiesel – Jewish Telegraphic Agency
- Henrietta Szold: The Woman Who Built Hadassah. How one woman’s vision transformed healthcare in Israel and sparked a worldwide women’s movement that continues to save lives today. Read her story from Aish: Henrietta Szold: The Woman Who Built Hadassah | Aish
- Defying 20,000 Nazis in New York City. In 1939 Isadore Greenbaum risked his life to disrupt a major Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden. Read the story from Aish: Defying 20,000 Nazis in New York City | Aish
- Harry Houdini. The world’s most famous magician, whose real name was Erich Weisz, was the son of a rabbi. Read his story from My Jewish Learning: Harry Houdini | My Jewish Learning
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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.