History

The Yom Kippur War: How Israel missed the warning signs before the surprise attack - opinion

Israel’s greatest failure in the Yom Kippur War was self-inflicted, as intelligence chief Eli Zeira’s confidence in his own assessment led Israel to dismiss mounting warnings of an Arab attack.

Then-prime minister Golda Meir (R) accompanied by then-defense minister Moshe Dayan, meets with Israeli soldiers at a base on the Golan Heights after intense fighting during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
(L-R): Photo of Maurycy Gottlieb’s “Jews Praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur”; One of the earliest surviving illuminated medieval texts of Kol Nidre (Worms Machzor, c. 1280).

The surprising history of Kol Nidre: How Yom Kippur’s legal formula became a sacred anthem

Dr. Chaim Meir Neria, curator of the Haim and Hanna Salomon Judaica Collection at the National Library of Israel, with one of the two volumes of the Lisbon Mahzor recently received by the Library.

Yom Kippur through the centuries: The prayer books that preserve centuries of Jewish history

The Azcatitlan Codex, an ancient Aztec pictorial manuscript on loan from France, is displayed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City on September 17, 2026

France loans Mexico rare Aztec manuscript as nations celebrate 200 years of diplomatic ties


Sages, synagogues, and seaside: Discovering Jewish history along the French Riviera

When identifying ourselves, we did not hide the fact that we are Israeli, and reactions were polite. I consider visiting places of Jewish interest a way of supporting the local community.

Chateau D'if, viewed from Marseille.

Beyond war: Why the Middle East needs courage, dialogue, and reconciliation - opinion

Yet history teaches us something different. Military victories may change realities on the ground, but they rarely resolve the deeper wounds that fuel conflict.

 Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attend a group photo session with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14, 2025.

Putin embraces the dark corners of Russia’s history – opinion

The topic of Ukraine’s western borders is of particular interest to Russia’s president, but his so-called Marxism-Leninism argument reveals his flawed logic

Russia's President Vladimir Putin takes part in a ceremony to present Gold Star medals to service members, who were involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine and awarded the title of Hero of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, December 17, 2025.

'Reclaiming Redemption Vol. II': Tracing Jewish survival from exile to war - book review

Moshe Taragin’s wartime essays argue that Jewish faith is carried not only through ideas, but through the people whose resilience has preserved it across history.

THE AUTHOR attempts to place today’s challenges within the broader sweep of Jewish history and Torah.

Before passports: How travelers crossed borders

The passport was not the beginning of travel documentation, but the result of centuries of attempts to control movement, identity and access across borders.

Before passports became standard, travellers relied on permits, letters and personal recognition to cross borders.

European Jews migrate for unparalleled reasons now – opinion

The average European citizen changes location primarily to improve their quality of life. Not so for Jews, forced to migrate nowadays, given a resounding lack of protection

A HAREDI (ultra-Orthodox) family packs their belongings in Belgium as they prepare to make aliyah.

Recognition of Armenian Genocide belongs to Israel, not to one government - opinion

The Knesset's postponement need not be a setback. If the next parliament completes the process, recognition of the Armenian Genocide should be completed in order to do the right thing.

The Knesset plenum is seen during a vote on the communications reform, in Jerusalem, July 16, 2026

Middle Israel: How 'The Odyssey' echoes the Jewish story of homecoming - opinion

Written roughly in the time of Isaiah, The Odyssey had nothing to do with the Jews. Its narrative, however, sure is relevant to the Jews, as their own narrative comes under assault. 

JEWISH IMMIGRANTS from Europe arrive in Haifa in 1929. Drawing on Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of ‘The Odyssey,’ the writer explores why the Jewish return to Zion remains one of history’s enduring homecoming narratives.

How the international response to October 7 makes the case for Zionism - opinion

The aftermath of October 7 is a chilling reminder that no matter how accommodated or assimilated we believe ourselves to be, some will always see us as “too Jewish” to be accepted.

A memorial ceremony at the Nova festival marking two years since the October 7 massacre when Hamas terrorists infiltrated southern Israel, murdering more than 1200 people. October 07, 2025.

Things for tourists to do in London: A visitor's guide

From historic attractions and renowned museums to bustling food markets, West End shows, and hidden nightlife gems - everything visitors need to know for an unforgettable London experience.

Panoramic aerial view of the skyline of London, England, with Tower Bridge, River Thames and City skyscrapers during a colorful sunset.