News About Jewish Genealogy, Jewish History, and Jewish Culture
Editor: Phil Goldfarb, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Introducing MyHeritage DNA Traits: Discover How Your DNA Influences Who You Are. The 40 reports are organized into five categories: Personality, Nutrition, Fitness, Lifestyle, and Cognition. They are available to anyone with DNA results on MyHeritage, including those who uploaded their DNA files in the past, and no new test is required. Read more from their blog: Introducing MyHeritage DNA Traits: Discover How Your DNA Influences Who You Are – MyHeritage Blog You can also check out their MyHeritage 2025 Year in Review on their blog: MyHeritage 2025 Year in Review – MyHeritage Blog
- Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA) has added six new databases and updated two databases, adding over 21,306 new listings, many of them with images. With a variety of subjects, from immigration to military, from the Ottoman period to the Israel times after the British mandate. See what’s new from their website: Eight Databases Release for 2025 (December) – Israel Genealogy Research Association
- Reclaim The Records Year in Review 2025. Here’s a quick recap of 2025, and a brief look towards 2026. Reclaim The Records Year in Review 2025 – Reclaim The Records
- 2,000-year-old Jewish ritual bath discovered under Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem. The mikveh still bears ash remains that testify to the destruction of the Second Temple, according to researchers. Read the story from JNS: 2,000-year-old Jewish ritual bath discovered under Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem – JNS.org
- The oldest complete biblical scroll ever found was originally split in 2, scholar finds. Study comes as ‘Great Isaiah,’ a 24-foot-long text parchment found with the Dead Sea Scrolls, set to be displayed by the Israel Museum in full for the first time since 1968. Read more from The Times of Israel: The oldest complete biblical scroll ever found was originally split in 2, scholar finds | The Times of Israel
- Meet the Non-Jew Who Revolutionized the Talmud. Daniel Bomberg capitalized on the disruptive new technology – printing, understanding the potentially huge market for books amongst Jews. Read the story from Aish: Meet the Non-Jew Who Revolutionized the Talmud | Aish
- How the next generation of rabbis is preparing for the age of AI. In the absence of denominational guidelines, rabbinical students draw their own ethical maps. Read more from The Forward: How the next generation of rabbis is using AI and ChatGPT – The Forward
- Meet the Jewish family behind the New Year’s Eve ball drop. Jacob Starr designed the very first New Year’s Eve ball in 1907. Read the story from The Forward: The History of the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop
- Made in Palestine? Not Quite. Museums around the world erroneously label ancient Jewish artifacts “Palestinian.” That has to change. Read more from Aish: Made in Palestine? Not Quite | Aish
- Sephardic Cuisine: How It Emerged, Evolved, and Persisted. For centuries, Sephardic food was shaped not only by flavors and ingredients, but also by the need for Jews to conceal their identity. Read more from My Jewish Learning: Sephardic Cuisine: How It Emerged, Evolved, and Persisted | My Jewish Learning
- The rabbi running a digital clubhouse for Jewish hockey fanatics. Chabad Rabbi Zvi Hershcovich thought he was the ‘only weirdo’ following Jewish hockey players, until he started an X account for fellow aficionados. Read the story from Jewish Insider: The rabbi running a digital clubhouse for Jewish hockey fanatics
- Lech L’Tulsa program provides pathway for Jewish Canadians to escape surging antisemitism. The program will provide immigration lawyer support, including a free consultation and discounted services, to assist prospective individuals and families throughout the relocation process. Read the story from the Jerusalem Post: Jewish Canadians relocate to Oklahoma with Lech L’Tulsa | The Jerusalem Post Welcome to Tulsa!
- More than 69,000 Israelis left Israel in 2025, as population reached 10.18 million. According to government, the population grew just 1.1% in the shadow of war, an unusually low rate, as the country saw a net negative migration of 20,000 people. Read the story from The Times of Israel: More than 69,000 Israelis left Israel in 2025, as population reached 10.18 million | The Times of Israel
- Somaliland’s little-known Jewish past spans Yemenite traders and contested legends. Though no Jews live there today, the African territory has a history of Jewish merchants and a tribal clan with a crypto-Jew origin story. Read more from The Times of Israel: Somaliland’s little-known Jewish past spans Yemenite traders and contested legends | The Times of Israel
- Irving Berlin’s 1926 interfaith marriage sparked a Jewish debate that, 100 years later, hasn’t gone away. A century after the famed composer wed Ellin Mackay, a Catholic heiress, their marriage offers a window into how Jewish attitudes toward interfaith unions have evolved — and how much they haven’t. Read the story from JTA: Irving Berlin’s 1926 interfaith marriage sparked a Jewish debate that, 100 years later, hasn’t gone away – Jewish Telegraphic Agency
- At Illinois Holocaust Museum, teens learn the Shoah’s Jewish history — and how to apply its lessons to today. A leadership program for Chicago teens insists the lessons of the Holocaust are both particular and universal. From JTA: At Illinois Holocaust Museum, teens learn the Shoah’s Jewish history — and how to apply its lessons to today – Jewish Telegraphic Agency
- What is the Star of David? This common symbol for Judaism and Israel is newer than one might think. Read the story from My Jewish Learning: What is the Star of David? | My Jewish Learning
- The News Nosh Trivia Story of the Week. The State Of Israel’s First General Was an American Jew. David Daniel “Mickey” Marcus, a tough Brooklyn, NY street kid, became the first general in the fledgling nation’s army since Judah Maccabee. Read the story from The Tulsa Jewish Review: TJR_2025_12_Web-1.pdf
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About The Weekly News Nosh
The Weekly News Nosh contains news about Jewish Genealogy, Jewish History and Jewish Culture. NewsNosh 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.