News About Jewish Genealogy, Jewish History, and Jewish Culture
Editor: Phil Goldfarb, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Ashkenazi Jews, there’s 1,000 years of history you’ve been missing. The missing years include Jewish slavery in Italy. Many Ashkenazi Jews assume their ancestors came straight from ancient Israel to Germany and Eastern Europe. But that leaves out a huge, often overlooked chapter. Read the story from The Forward: Ashkenazi Jews, there’s 1,000 years of history you’ve been missing – The Forward
- When was the last time that you tried Family Search Full-Text Search? Unlock hidden discoveries in historical records that have never been searchable till now. Since its initial release in FamilySearch Labs during RootsTech 2024, the feature has undergone numerous enhancements to improve its power and usability. Check back often as they keep adding millions of images. Go to: Full-Text Search to try and break down a brick wall!
- RootsTech 2026 Registration Now Open. RootsTech by FamilySearch announced that registration for RootsTech 2026, the world’s largest family discovery event, is now open. The event will be held 5–7 March 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and online at RootsTech.org. Register now for the in-person or online experience: RootsTech 2026 Registration Now Open
- For Planning Purposes: The IAJGS 2026 Annual Meeting to be Virtual. It is their intention to continue in-person conferences in future years. The IAJGS has formed a committee to evaluate how best to provide financially viable in-person conferences.
- Reclaim The Records wins FOIA lawsuit for possibly the largest public database of deceased US veterans (over 18 million names), builds free searchable website with Free-FOIA-by-Fax system, for claims files. While this year the VA has scaled back what they will release, you can read more and search the database from their website: Search the BIRLS Database – over 19.5 million records about deceased US veterans, from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, now online and FREE from Reclaim The Records
- Two major Australian databases ease researching of USSR ancestors and relatives. Trove, a free service of the National Library of Australia, offers 28.5 million pages of scanned newspapers and gazettes from the 1800s to the current time. Read more from Lost Russian family: Two major Australian databases ease researching of USSR ancestors and relatives – Find Lost Russian & Ukrainian Family
- A Major Update to Ancestry Composition Is Coming Soon at 23andMe. The project, Version 7 of Ancestry Composition, is the most significant update to the feature ever, and it’s coming soon to all eligible 23andMe users. Read more from their blog: A major update to Ancestry Composition is coming soon | 23andMe Blog
- 100+ New Papers on Newspapers.com. They added 111 new papers to their archives this month, including titles from 12 U.S. states, England, Wales, and Ireland. Read more from their blog: 100+ New Papers on Newspapers.com – The official blog of Newspapers.com
- Uncanny Testimony. As the last Holocaust survivors approach the end of their lives, an AI scholar grapples with technology that promises to freeze them in time. Read more about this technology from Longreads: Uncanny Testimony – Longreads Thanks to Bruce Drake for sending me this story.
- How to greet people in Yiddish on the Jewish holidays. Learn how to wish someone a Happy New Year and beyond with this Yiddish language guide. From The Forward: Yiddish greetings for every Jewish holiday – The Forward
- Finding Sheba: The Search for an Ancient Queen. Journey across the Red Sea to uncover whether Sheba’s queen ruled from Yemen, Ethiopia, or both—where archaeology, legend, and faith converge in one of the Bible’s greatest mysteries. Read more from Aish: Finding Sheba: The Search for an Ancient Queen | Aish
- Thessaloniki’s Armenian minority and Jewish past are bound by a shared history of genocide. Half of the Greek port city’s residents were Jewish in 1919. Today, only a few are. Read more from The Forward: Thessaloniki’s Armenian minority and Jewish past are bound by a shared history of genocide – The Forward
- Lithuanian Jewish community remembered in country’s annual March of the Living. Before the Holocaust, Lithuania was home to approximately 200,000 Jews, with 70,000 living in the capital city of Vilnius (Vilna), where the main ghetto was later established. Read about the March from Jewish News UK: Lithuanian Jewish community remembered in country’s annual March of the Living – Jewish News
- Fabulous 1,400-year-old trove of gold coins sheds light on Galilee Christian city’s demise. Metal detector beeps lead archaeologists to nearly 100 coins and jewelry hidden during the 7th-century Sassanid invasion at Hippos (Sussita), including an unusual mix of denominations. Read more from The Times of Israel: Fabulous 1,400-year-old trove of gold coins sheds light on Galilee Christian city’s demise | The Times of Israel
- In these stunning psalms, everything is illuminated — including the lives of King David and Thomas More. At the Morgan Library, ‘Sing a Song’ focuses on the role of psalms in medieval life and literacy. Read more from The Forward: In these gorgeous medieval psalms, everything is illuminated – The Forward
- 14th-century ‘machzor’ book at Israel’s National Library reveals lost Yom Kippur prayers. Newly digitized prayer book from Crimea’s Kaffa rite preserves liturgical poems unknown elsewhere, giving a glimpse of traditions lost when prayers were largely standardized. Read the story from The Times of Israel: 14th-century ‘machzor’ book at Israel’s National Library reveals lost Yom Kippur prayers | The Times of Israel
- Nearly 70,000 Jews visited Temple Mount in 5785, setting modern record. The Temple Mount the holiest site for the Jewish people has seen a surge in visits by Jews with prayers and joy. Read more from JNS: Nearly 70,000 Jews visited Temple Mount in 5785, setting modern record – JNS.org
- A mural dedicated to Holocaust memory — in Babylonian, Yiddish and Chinese. Ella Ponizovsky-Bergelson’s installation comes to Philadelphia. See the mural and read the story from The Forward: A mural dedicated to Holocaust memory — in Babylonian, Yiddish and Chinese – The Forward
- This 3rd-generation Jewish family-run Bronx grocery has slung prosciutto since 1915. Opened by immigrant brothers who ditched the rag trade, Teitel Brothers is a beloved institution on a historic stretch of Arthur Ave. Read their story from The Times of Israel: This 3rd-generation Jewish family-run Bronx grocery has slung prosciutto since 1915 | The Times of Israel
- Itzhak Perlman celebrates his 80th birthday with a klezmer concert. The violin virtuoso will play “In the Fiddler’s House” at the Beacon Theater alongside other klezmer music greats. Read his interview from JTA: Itzhak Perlman celebrates his 80th birthday with a klezmer concert – New York Jewish Week
- Manischewitz unveils seasonal products and recipes for the fall holidays. A new lineup of holiday foods offers families a blend of convenience and tradition for Rosh Hashanah and beyond. See the products and recipes from JNS: Manischewitz unveils seasonal products and recipes for the fall holidays – JNS.org
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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.