Obituary

Clive Davis, influential Jewish rock-and-roll executive, dies at 94

He signed Bruce Springsteen and Aretha Franklin – and allegedly used company money to pay for his son’s bar mitzvah.

Clive Davis (r) with Aretha Franklin at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, April 19, 2017
MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS

A master musician: Michael Tilson Thomas’s compositional legacy

Artist David Hockney poses in front of his work during the "Do You Remember They Can't Cancel The Spring - David Hockney 25" Exhibition at Louis Vuitton Foundation on April 7, 2025 in Paris, France.

David Hockney, one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, dies at 88

Cara Trager at the Western Wall in Jerusalem in January 2026.

Cara Trager, beloved Queens Jewish communal leader and lifetime journalist, dies at 71


Rabbi Albert Thaler, founding director of Ramah Nyack day camp, dies at 91

Rabbi Thaler, who ran the camp until 1997 and also served for 37 years as rabbi of Temple Gates of Prayer in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, died April 18. He was 91.

Rabbi Albert Thaler leads a havdalah service at the Queensboro Hill Jewish Center, the synagogue where he worked for 25 years until, in 1980, becoming rabbi of Temple Gates of Prayer, also in Queens, New York.

Naomi Polani, veteran performer and director dies at 96

Along with being in the popular Israeli band "The Roosters," Polani founded and performed with other groups, choreographed, taught music around the country, and hosted radio music programs.

 Naomi Polani.

Iconic Israeli singer and actress Naomi Polani passes away at 96

In 2018, president Reuven Rivlin honored Polani with the President’s Award, which coincided with her 90th birthday and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the state. 

 NAOMI POLANI.

O.J. Simpson, former NFL star acquitted of his wife's murder, has died, his family says

After his acquittal, Simpson said that "I will pursue as my primary goal in life the killer or killers who slayed Nicole and Mr. Goldman... They are out there somewhere... "

 O.J. Simpson is shown with his ex-wife Nicole Simpson and their children, daughter Sidney Brooke, 9, and son Justin, 6, at the March 16, 1994, premiere of Simpson's film "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, " in Los Angeles.

Iraqi-Israeli writer, civil rights activist Sami Michael dies at 97

He was celebrated not only for his literary works, but also for his social activism and work on behalf of human rights and coexistence in Israel. 

 Sami Michael, the Israeli writer and civil rights activist, who died on Monday at 97.

Texas man who lived seven decades in iron lung dies at age 78

Alexander graduated law school, passed the bar and practiced law. He also traveled to every continent, his brother said.

 Paul Alexander, who died on Monday, was one of the last people alive to live inside an iron lung.

Ben Stern, Holocaust survivor who stood up to neo-Nazis in Skokie, dies at 102

Stern's life story featured in the documentary film “Near Normal Man” and in his 2022 memoir, “Near Normal Man: Survival with Courage, Kindness and Hope.”

Holocaust survivor Ben Stern (blue shirt) leads 200 marchers in the "Bay Area Rally Against Hate" in Berkeley in August 2017. He is linking arms with his daughter Charlene Stern and Rabbi Menachem Creditor; Rabbi Yonatan Cohen of Congregation Beth Israel in Berkeley is at far left.

Fashion icon Iris Apfel dead at 102

Apfel devoured life as only she knew how, taking advantage of every opportunity that came her way and never allowing age to become a barrier. 

Iris Apfel at O Cinema Miami Beach to present IRIS, by Albert Maysles.

Remembering Ellen Bernstein, 70, the ‘birthmother’ of Jewish environmentalism

When the Song of Songs is read in synagogues around the world this Passover, Ellen’s earth-focused translation will breathe new life into the ancient, deeply sensual text.

 Ellen Bernstein, 'birthmother of Jewish environmentalism,' who died Monday night.

Brooklyn ‘Queer icon’ and progressive Jewish activist, Shelly Weiss, dies at 77

“How do we, as a queer Jewish community, look towards early Jewish roots in the immigrant experience and create community that really supports those of us who are disadvantaged?”

The rainbow flag, commonly known as the gay pride flag or LGBT pride flag, is seen during the first Gay Pride parade in Skopje, North Macedonia June 29, 2019