Life

Jewish names

The curious case of the fast-shrinking Cohens

Over the past 125 years, my surname has declined by 42 percent in the UK. Why are we on the way out?

By David Cohen

8 min read

So farewell, Cohen: (clockwise from top left) Major Sir Benn Jack Brunel Cohen; rugby player Ben Cohen; Tesco founder Sir Jack Cohen; Sacha Baron Cohen; Janet Cohen, Baroness Cohen of Pimlico; footballer George Cohen

Private reality: drink and drug abuse is a well hidden problem in the frum world

addiction

Yes, addiction is a problem for observant Jews too

By Gaby Koppel

5 min read

Children's books

‘Am I being charged for mentioning I had breast cancer?’

By Karen E H Skinazi

3 min read

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Adeni Jews

My father’s new-found chutzpah is causing mayhem

2 min read

(Photo: Inbal Bar-Oz and Layla Freedman)

Cheesecake

Gluten free white chocolate, lime and rhubarb cheesecake

This cleverly balanced cake has a lively, fruity tang

By Anne Iarchy

allies

'I’m a gay, baptised Roman Catholic – and the Jews’ greatest friend’

An HR manager explains why being an ally to the Jewish people has become his life’s work

4 min read

Jewish journey: Carlton (left) and his partner, Ross

Cheesecake

Ferrero Rocher chocolate hazelnut no-bake cheesecake

An indulgent dessert that’s perfect for Shavuot celebrations

By Sarah Mann-Yeager

Cook time: 1 hr 40 mins

Books

The Inspired review: ‘Reminds us that comfort can always be found in music’

James Inverne’s debut novel conveys the turmoil of a person under huge political pressure and is imbued with a musicality honed from decades of experience as a music journalist

By Ethan Daws

1 min read

The Inspired review: ‘Reminds us that comfort can always be found in music’

Lifestyle

Film

Mortal Kombat II review: Cage fights on repeat in silly game-to-screen re-bash ★★

How to describe this action fantasy iteration of the video game franchise? Fight, after fight, after fight, after….

By John Nathan

1 min read

Mortal Kombat II. (Photo: Warner Bros Pictures)

Cheesecake

Dubai-style pistachio chocolate cheesecake

The winning flavour combination means this crunchy, showstopper delivers on every level

By Fabienne Viner-Luzzato

Cook time: 20 mins, plus 20 mins freezing/chilling

Ireland

Irish footballers and celebrities sign open letter calling for cancellation of Israel matches

Ten uncapped Irish players and a former manager of the national team are among the signatories

By Ben Conway

2 min read

The Aviva Stadium, venue for home fixtures of the Irish men's football team (photo: Getty Imahes)

Israeli food

‘We’re trained to think about what is impossible – and then we try to do it’

Ben Conway meets a university professor at the forefront of Israel’s food technology revolution

By Ben Conway

3 min read

‘We’re trained to think about what is impossible – and then we try to do it’

Theatre

‘Here, I’m a star’: Richard Kind on the victory lap that is his West End run

Playing Max Bialystock in The Producers is a full-circle moment for the oh-so Jewish actor, who can’t help but be a leading man

By John Nathan

4 min read

Richard Kind as Max Bialystock in 'The Producers' on the West End. (Photo: Manuel Harlan)

Israeli theatre

Between the River and the Sea review: An Israel far too complex for the keffiyeh-wearing hordes ★★★★

Yousef Sweid’s one-man autobiographical play dares to convey the nuance of an Israeli Arab’s experience of our times

By John Nathan

4 min read

Theatre

The Price review: ‘If this is Henry Goodman’s swansong, he’s going out on a high’ ★★★★

The actor’s performance is a career highlight in this sure-footed production of the Arthur Miller play

By John Nathan

2 min read

theatre

My play about families being ripped apart by Israel and Gaza

Ryan Craig on The Holy Rosenbergs, his work that dares to explore the moral turmoil of diaspora Jews when the Jewish state is at war

4 min read

Dorothea Myer-Bennett as Ruth Rosenberg and Adrian Lukis as Stephen Crossley (Photo: Manuel Harlan)

Film & TV

All TV

Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci in 'Devil Wears Prada 2'. (Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios)

Film

The Devil Wears Prada 2 review: The Devil goes digital – but loses none of its icy sheen ★★★★

By John Nathan

1 min read

Michael review: The real Jackson? The insights stop long before we get enough ★★

This ‘biography’ about the king of pop presents a bland, sanitised version of Jackson, played by his real-life nephew

By John Nathan

2 min read

The Wizard of the Kremlin review: Magnificent Will gives us Berezovsky the man, not Boris the Jew ★★★★

This engrossing film about the oligarch behind Putin’s rise to power ignores his Jewishness, thankfully

By John Nathan

2 min read

Nice Jewish boy Tom Brook celebrates 50 years as BBC’s film guru

The face of ‘Talking Movies’ is finally a star in his own right in a new documentary marking his half a century at the Beeb

By Jenni Frazer

4 min read

Travel

All Travel

Travel

Since his aunt died, Keith Hallegua has been the last Jew left of a once-thriving community in this region of India. But he still prays every week, hoping that tourists will join him at the historic synagogue

By Andy Mossack

5 min read

A perfect Paris escape in the Marais

From falafel feasts to late-night cocktails, 24 hours in the French capital

By Jane Prinsley

5 min read

In praise of Prague

Visit the Czech capital and step back in time to when there was a thriving Jewish community that built beautiful synagogues

By Anthea Gerrie

5 min read

Books

All Books

Like (grand)mother, like (grand)daughter: Jess and Rosi

memoir

Noughties, Nazis and tittle-tattle – how my and my survivor grandma’s lives chime

6 min read

The Melted Pot review: ‘Why has this intolerance been tolerated?’

Harry Saul Markham’s sure-footed exploration of the forces of extremism which threaten Britain, and its Jews in particular, will alarm moderates, but it also offers a way ahead

By Ben Felsenburg

1 min read

Worlds Apart review: How a terrible childhood can last a lifetime

This is beautifully written and translated autofiction by an author desperate to make sense of her bleak start in life

2 min read

Famesick review: Lena Dunham bares her soul on a pitiful cycle of fame, abuse, drugs and self-harm

In her new memoir, the creator and writer of the hit TV series Girls writes with fluency and candour about the price of stardom

By Eliana Jordan

2 min read

Music

All Music

Opera

Siegfried review: Spellbinding Schager is the greatest Siegfried of our age ★★★★★

By Stephen Pollard

2 min read

Haunting music of the exiled composers

On Sunday Wigmore Hall is featuring a day of music by composers forced to uproot and flee

By Mark Glanville

3 min read

2025 in review: Music

It’s been a difficult year for Jewish musicians and music fans alike, but Elisa Bray says virtuoso musicianship defiantly drowned out the hate

By Elisa Bray

4 min read

London venue appalled by Primal Scream’s use of ‘antisemitic imagery’ during gig

The band displayed a Star of David entwined with a Nazi symbol during a performance of their song Swastika Eyes

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

Sport

All Sport

Old Trafford Stadium (photo: Getty Images)

Manchester

Company claiming to be ‘official’ Manchester United ticket reseller shared posts calling IDF ‘baby killers’

By Ben Conway

1 min read

Palestinian football chief snubs handshake from Arab-Israeli official at Fifa Congress

Jibril Rajoub claimed that Basim Suleiman’s appointment to the Israeli FA was designed to ‘whitewash their fascism and genocide’

By JC Reporter

1 min read

London Marathon 2026 roundup: fundraisers run up a big cheque for Jewish charities

Yoni Bartal ran a staggering time of 2 hours 24 minutes for Chai Cancer Care

By Ben Conway

4 min read

Israel wins gold at rhythmic gymnastics World Cup in Baku

The event has drawn top teams and individual competitors from around the world

By JC Reporter

1 min read

Let's Eat

All Food

Sudi Pigott has been obsessed with anchovies for decades (Photo: Sudi Pigott/ Instagram)

Food

Meet the anchovy evangelist: the Jewish foodie championing the ‘little fish with the big flavour’

4 min read

Recipe

A riff on pissaladière

This classic continental dish is perfect for parties or picnics

By Sudi Pigott

Cook time: 20-25 minutes, plus 45 minute onion caramelising time

Recipe

Anchovy, parmesan, pecorino and Aleppo pepper shortbreads

These savoury biscuits come with a warning: they are extremely moreish

By Sudi Pigott

Cook time: 12 minutes

Recipe

Spanish chicken and rice

A one pot wonder that feels special enough for family Shabbats or dinner parties

By Amy Sheppard

Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Life

The curious case of the fast-shrinking Cohens

Yes, addiction is a problem for observant Jews too

Children’s books: 7-12 years

‘Am I being charged for mentioning I had breast cancer?’

JC LifeDelivered Weekly

Unlock access to our community and get the latest news straight to your inbox!

Support the world’s oldest Jewish newspaper

My father’s new-found chutzpah is causing mayhem

Gluten free white chocolate, lime and rhubarb cheesecake

'I’m a gay, baptised Roman Catholic – and the Jews’ greatest friend’

Ferrero Rocher chocolate hazelnut no-bake cheesecake

The Inspired review: ‘Reminds us that comfort can always be found in music’

Lifestyle

Mortal Kombat II review: Cage fights on repeat in silly game-to-screen re-bash ★★

Dubai-style pistachio chocolate cheesecake

Irish footballers and celebrities sign open letter calling for cancellation of Israel matches

‘We’re trained to think about what is impossible – and then we try to do it’

Theatre

‘Here, I’m a star’: Richard Kind on the victory lap that is his West End run

Between the River and the Sea review: An Israel far too complex for the keffiyeh-wearing hordes ★★★★

The Price review: ‘If this is Henry Goodman’s swansong, he’s going out on a high’ ★★★★

My play about families being ripped apart by Israel and Gaza

Film & TV

The Devil Wears Prada 2 review: The Devil goes digital – but loses none of its icy sheen ★★★★

Michael review: The real Jackson? The insights stop long before we get enough ★★

The Wizard of the Kremlin review: Magnificent Will gives us Berezovsky the man, not Boris the Jew ★★★★

Nice Jewish boy Tom Brook celebrates 50 years as BBC’s film guru

Travel

World Cup goals

Searching for the last Jew of Kochi

A perfect Paris escape in the Marais

In praise of Prague

Books

Noughties, Nazis and tittle-tattle – how my and my survivor grandma’s lives chime

The Melted Pot review: ‘Why has this intolerance been tolerated?’

Worlds Apart review: How a terrible childhood can last a lifetime

Famesick review: Lena Dunham bares her soul on a pitiful cycle of fame, abuse, drugs and self-harm

Music

Siegfried review: Spellbinding Schager is the greatest Siegfried of our age ★★★★★

Haunting music of the exiled composers

2025 in review: Music

London venue appalled by Primal Scream’s use of ‘antisemitic imagery’ during gig

Sport

Company claiming to be ‘official’ Manchester United ticket reseller shared posts calling IDF ‘baby killers’

Palestinian football chief snubs handshake from Arab-Israeli official at Fifa Congress

London Marathon 2026 roundup: fundraisers run up a big cheque for Jewish charities

Israel wins gold at rhythmic gymnastics World Cup in Baku

Let's Eat

Meet the anchovy evangelist: the Jewish foodie championing the ‘little fish with the big flavour’

A riff on pissaladière

Anchovy, parmesan, pecorino and Aleppo pepper shortbreads

Spanish chicken and rice