The Weekly News Nosh – March 15, 2026

This Jewish heritage news digest is this week’s NewsNosh (The Weekly News Nosh) from L’Dor V’Dor Foundation—a curated set of links for anyone interested in Jewish family history, Jewish history, and Jewish heritage. This week’s NewsNosh Jewish heritage news digest includes Yad Vashem’s “Remembrance in the Living Room,” Italy’s citizenship ruling, The Jewish Architects of Opera, and more.

Editor: Phil Goldfarb, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

This week’s news links:

1. MyHeritage Introduces Country Coding for Family Trees. This free new feature displays country flags for individuals in your tree based on key life events, transforming your family tree into a visual map of your origins. Read more from their blog: Introducing Country Coding for Family Trees – MyHeritage Blog
2. Yad Vashem: Finding relatives lost in the Holocaust. With the majority of Ashkenazi Jews having Holocaust connections, it’s becoming something of a tradition in Israel, on Yom HaShoah in the spring, to gather at someone’s home to share stories about family members who were lost in the Holocaust. This new ritual, known as “Remembrance in the Living Room,” is a way to ensure that the victims’ names are never forgotten. Read the story from the IAJGS blog: Yad Vashem: Finding relatives lost in the HolocaustBy Maura Lerner Fisher [email protected] – IAJGS
3. Italy ruling tells millions with Italian roots they have lost the right to citizenship. Since Italy became a country in 1861, there has been a surefire way to know who is and isn’t an Italian citizen: look at their parents. Read the story from MSN: Italy ruling tells millions with Italian roots they have lost the right to citizenship
4. When Hitler Nearly Reached Israel. In early 1942, half a million Jews in Palestine were weeks away from a Nazi invasion. What stopped Hitler from finishing what he started? Read the story from Aish: When Hitler Nearly Reached Israel | Aish
5. The Indian princess who rescued Jews from the Holocaust features in a major exhibition opening in London. Among the exhibits going on display at Kensington Palace is a never seen before item of jewelry that sheds new light on the bravery and humanity of Catherine Duleep Singh, one of the last princesses of Punjab. Read the story from the JC: The Indian princess who rescued Jews from the Holocaust – The Jewish Chronicle – The Jewish Chronicle
6. Meet the Jews who played pivotal roles in American history. 70 Faces Media and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History present a virtual lecture series spotlighting 250 years of Jewish life in the United States, from Colonial times to the present. Read more from JTA: Meet the Jews who played pivotal roles in American history – Jewish Telegraphic Agency
7. The Little Synagogue That Could. In the 1920s, Harlem was home to roughly 200 synagogues. Now, only one remains. Read the story from The Sundial: The Little Synagogue That Could – by Nick Baum
8. Visiting the Kyiv synagogue where Jewish life continues under fire. The rabbi of the Ukrainian capital’s Brodsky Synagogue spends half the year on the frontline, encouraging troops. Read more from The JC: Visiting the Kyiv synagogue where Jewish life continues under fire – The Jewish Chronicle – The Jewish Chronicle
9. The Origins of American Jewish Feminism. Contemporary Jewish feminism has made its impact on all of the major denominations of Jewish life. Read more from My Jewish Learning: The Origins of American Jewish Feminism | My Jewish Learning
10. The Jews of The Caribbean: The Roots of Jewish America. Jews began to arrive in the Caribbean in the late 1490’s. This was because of the Jews being driven out of Spain and Portugal during the Spanish Inquisition. Communities were established throughout the Caribbean, many of which were well before the arrival of the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock. Watch the video from Family Search: The Jews of The Caribbean: The Roots of Jewish America
11. A Brief History of Yiddish. I’m verklempt over these Yiddish words that have become part of today’s culture. Read the story from Aish: A Brief History of Yiddish | Aish
12. The Jewish Architects of Opera. Two Jews, Giacomo Meyerbeer and Jacques Offenbach, helped shape what Europe celebrated as its most refined art form. Read their story from Aish: The Jewish Architects of Opera | Aish
13. In a new opera, Tevye’s forgotten daughter takes the spotlight. ‘Tevye’s Daughters’ recalls a repressed memory from the women’s perspective. Read more from The Forward: In a new opera, Tevye’s forgotten daughter takes the spotlight – The Forward
14. This 12-year-old is enchanting people with her Yiddish singing. Her klezmer musician dad explains why. Many of Dinah Slepovitch’s performances, accompanied by her father Zisl Slepovitch, can be found on YouTube. Read more from The Forward: Teen Dinah Slepovitch sings in Yiddish with her dad Zisl – The Forward
15. In the work of 21 artists, 49 different ways to be Jewish. The Derfner Museum of Judaica’s ‘Envisioning the Sacred’ exhibit encompasses paintings, printings, drawings and linoleum cuts. Read and see more from The Forward: In an exhibit of modern art, 49 different ways to be Jewish – The Forward
16. For Chinese-speaking Jews in New York, ‘Mazel Tofu’ offers a new kind of community. One of the group’s founders appeared on a Chinese talent TV show. Another plays Yiddish and Chinese folk songs on the accordion. Read more from JTA: For Chinese-speaking Jews in New York, ‘Mazel Tofu’ offers a new kind of community – Jewish Telegraphic Agency
17. Jefferson and the Jews. Thomas Jefferson was a strong advocate for civic equality and religious freedom for American Jews. Read the story from My Jewish Learning: Jefferson and the Jews | My Jewish Learning
18. Willesden Jewish Cemetery in the London borough of Brent unveils heritage plaque scheme. The plaques will tell the stories of individuals buried there and celebrate their contributions to Jewish life. Read the story about this unique project from Jewish News UK: Willesden Cemetery unveils heritage plaque scheme – Jewish News Editors Note: What a great idea and terrific project! Think about how you can document the history of a loved one or famous Jewish contributor for all to view in perpetuity!
19. Every Jewish Best Actress Winner in Oscars History. Jewish actresses have been shining brightly for nearly a century of Academy Awards history. Whether born Jewish or converts, they were boundary-pushing figures — at once embodiments of feminine stereotypes and powerful cultural barometers of their time. See the list from Hey Alma: Every Jewish Best Actress Winner in Oscars History – Hey Alma
20. I had a shot at rock ’n’ roll fame. I chose a lifetime of Shabbat instead. Just as Peter Himmelman’s career was beginning, he risked everything to honor something far older than the music business. Read his story from The Forward: I had a shot at fame. I chose a lifetime of Shabbat instead. – The Forward
21. Scientists want you to smell ancient Egyptian mummies. Thanks to recent advances in the field of biomolecular archeology, scientists can now detect traces of molecular fingerprints on ancient artifacts. From these tiny particles, scientists can determine how the objects may have smelled. And smell can lead to better understanding of medicine, rituals, and daily lives in general from thousands of years ago. Read more from Yahoo News: Scientists want you to smell ancient Egyptian mummies

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About The Weekly News Nosh

The Weekly News Nosh (NewsNosh) is the L’Dor V’Dor Foundation’s weekly Jewish heritage news digest—a curated set of links for anyone interested in Jewish family history, Jewish history, and Jewish heritage. NewsNosh is published on Sundays and shared on our 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 NewsNosh every Sunday, directly in your inbox. Browse past issues of our Jewish heritage news digest in the NewsNosh archive.