The JC - Jewish News, Comment & Culture

Boy George

Boy George says he’s ‘devastated’ by loss of ‘innocent lives on both sides’ of Gaza War amid backlash over new ‘pro-peace’ song

By Elisa Bray

2 min read

US President Donald Trump during the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace" (Image: Getty Images)

By Jonathan Harounoff

Opinion: Trump’s Hamas deal deserves credit – but the true test is whether the terrorists will disarm

3 min read

Illustrious and intriguing history: Trent Park House near Enfield

Jewish country houses

Brideshead’s Jewish secret

How the Sassoon stately home inspired Evelyn Waugh

By Michele Goldsmith

9 min read

Boy George

Boy George pulls out of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ days after releasing pro-Israel song

By Daniel Ben-David

1 min read

Gary Lineker

Rat post was ‘self-harming’ and ‘gave people a chance to have a pop at me’, says Gary Lineker

By Daniel Ben-David

1 min read

Andy Slaugher and Jeremy Corbyn with Hamas officials Muhammad Totah, Ahmed Attoun, and Khaled Abu-Arafah (MEMO, Delegation to the West Bank and Israel, November 2010)

Labour Party

Tory chair asks Labour to investigate new solicitor general’s 2010 Hamas meetings

By Jane Prinsley

2 min read

Editor’s picks

Jewish leaders demand answers from Andy Burnham after Diane Abbott re-admitted to Labour

Did my circumcision make the cut? You’ll have to see my show

Eyewitness accounts of the Nazi war machine

New feature on kosher-checking app allows users to scan supermarket products

Barnet Shul becomes first Orthodox community to hold DeafShul service

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

All Newsletters

Support the world’s oldest Jewish newspaper

Latest US News

Auctions

Iconic white suit from ‘Saturday Night Fever’ owned by Jewish film critic goes up for auction

Experts expect the suit, which was worn by John Travolta in the 1977 classic, could fetch as much as £300,000

By Jamie Shapiro

1 min read

John Travolta as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, 1977 (Alamy)

Iran

US resumes strikes against Iran after IRGC ‘surprise attack’

The renewal of hostilities came just days after President Trump called off US operations to leave room for diplomacy

By Melanie Swan

1 min read

IN FLIGHT - JULY 27: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks while aboard Air Force One for a trip to Michigan on July 27, 2026 in flight. Trump is scheduled to tour General Motors' Milford Proving Ground while in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Football

Who is Joshua Kushner, the billionaire tipped to lead World Cup sale talks?

Fifa boss Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell off stakes in football’s most prestigious tournaments has prompted

By Gabrielle Apfel

3 min read

Joshua Kushner and his wife, Karlie Kloss, attend the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, on July 8, 2026 (Getty Images)

Zohran Mamdani

New York legal coalition complain to Mamdani as ‘representative’ committee has no Jews on it

The mayor originally promised that the judiciary committee would be ‘reflective’ of the city’s make up

By Jamie Shapiro

1 min read

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (Image: Getty Images)

World news

Bob Vylan

Bob Vylan frontman was deported from Germany over ‘death to IDF’ chant and ‘Hamas propaganda’

By Rob Hyde

1 min read

President Donald Trump speaking in the the White House in April (Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty)

Gaza

Donald Trump says Hamas disarmament agreed under Board of Peace plan for Gaza

By JC Reporter

3 min read

Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee (Getty Images)

Ireland

‘No sign’ of EU sanctions on settlement goods, says Irish foreign minister

By Jamie Shapiro

1 min read

Israelis enjoy a water spring on a hot summer day in Jerusalem, July 30, 2026 (Getty Images)

Extreme weather

Israel braces for 47C heatwave as forecasters warn of summer wildfires

By Daniel Ben-David

1 min read

Alex with his tefilin in the sea, by Michael Zavros (ArtGalleryofNSW/MichaelZavros)

Australia

Australian Jewish leader’s post-Bondi portrait wins major art award

By Gabrielle Apfel

1 min read

Belgium

Belgian Jewish group suing government and national rail operator over death camp deportations

By Gabrielle Apfel

1 min read

Letter from Jerusalem

As the US and Iran trade blows over Hormuz, how long before the nuclear threat forces Israel to go back to war?

With the conflict currently focused on the oil chokepoint, existential questions over the regime’s ballistic programme have not gone away

By Jotam Confino

6 min read

WJR partner organisation’s director survives Russian rocket attack German postal service allows Star of David stamp after U-turn

UK News

BBC

BBC upholds complaint over Lord Walney appearance for its failure to disclose Israel links

The former government advisor, who appeared on BBC News to discuss the proscription of Palestine Action, told the JC he is proud of his connections to the Jewish state

By Jamie Shapiro

1 min read

John Woodcock, Lord Walney (Image: House of Lords)

Heaton park synagogue attack

Imam at Heaton Park attacker’s mosque ‘called on God to deal with the Jews’

The preacher also reportedly asked God to ‘deal with the Zionist aggressors’ and ‘hasten victory for our brothers in Palestine’

By Mark Wood

3 min read

Police and ambulance services pictured near Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester, on October 2, 2025, following a terror attack at the synagogue (Getty Images)

JW3

The destinies of Black and Jewish people are ‘intertwined’ says Ashley Jackson

Jesse Jackson’s daughter, who announced her conversion to Judaism last week, spoke about her life and her civic activism at JW3 this week

By Simon Rocker

4 min read

AJEX

101-year-old D-Day veteran honoured at House of Lords

Lifelong AJEX supporter and member Mervyn Kersh was among those who liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp

By Ben Conway

2 min read

AJEX honorary president Dan Fox (left) and Mervyn Kersh (photo: David Roth)

Opinion

The Green councillor’s troubling Israeli hostage talk

What we are witnessing is a wider degradation of British politics. Instead of inflaming overseas passions for electoral advantage, political leaders should return their attention to the duties for which they were chosen

By The JC Leader

2 min read

Kamel Hawwash speaking on Algerian TV on October 7, 2023 (Image: Almagharibia TV/ YouTube screenshot)

By Liel Leibovitz

The best answer to antisemitism? Read the Torah

The Simchat Torah Challenge attracts young Jews long assumed adrift, inspiring them not through a social cause but by reconnecting them with the book that has held us together for millennia

3 min read

By Susan Hall

Sadiq Khan’s false genocide claims against Israel are fuelling antisemitism

Instead of tackling London’s acute problems, the mayor has drifted ever further beyond the responsibilities of his office

2 min read

By Nicholas Lezard

Asterix, Palestine propaganda and the left’s shattered consensus

Nowadays you cannot claim to be a Progressive if you do not also subscribe to the entire anti-Israel agenda

3 min read

By Simon Rocker

Can our burial system reflect the way we live now?

Synagogue membership and burial rights are linked – which can cause problems for some Jewish people

2 min read

By David Bennun

Do critics of FIFA’s plans to ‘sell off’ the World Cup not remember Qatar 2022?

Gianni Infantino’s new proposal has stirred up controversy – but many will think the beautiful game has sold its soul long ago

3 min read

By Andy Burnham

Why as Prime Minister I’m using Jewish Care as a model for my social care reforms

Labour’s new leader writes for the JC about why he chose the charity’s Golders Green care home as the place to launch his new policy agenda

3 min read

Sponsored

As Hearing Care Changes, Independent Expert Advice Matters More Than Ever

By Pindrop Hearing Clinics

3 min read

Sponsored

Designs on your summer décor

By Gina Benjamin

4 min read

Sponsored

Bringing out the barbecue? Try Sharon Lurie’s best braai

By Sharon Lurie

3 min read

Sponsored

The rise of super prime north London

By Mark Sumray

1 min read

Life

Got a play script in your drawer? Fish it out now

By John Nathan

4 min read

Rivalries and royalties: Josh Radnor and (right) Noah Galvin (Credit: Bautista Araya)

Theatre

Josh Radnor and Noah Galvin on playing brothers in a new comedy

The American stars are on stage at Soho Theatre

By John Nathan

5 min read

Film

Award-winning director Mike Leigh says next film will be his last after health struggles

Leigh was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that causes chronic pain and weakness last year

By Gabrielle Apfel

1 min read

English screenwriter, producer and director Mike Leigh at the Cinematheque Française in Paris on March 27, 2025 (Getty Images)

Kosher chef

‘Kosher catering feels like a mitzvah’: how the chef behind Shuk is elevating simchahs

Chef Mark Jankel has been a major player in London’s culinary scene for 20-plus years, but, he tells Siam Goorwich, it is his latest gastronomic project that is really bringing him nachas

By Siam Goorwich

4 min read

Chef and kosher caterer, Mark Jankel (Photo: Blake Ezra)

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Bucket list? I kissed goodbye to that when I got cancer

Why should I be beholden to a plan I made when I was 20?

By Karen E H Skinazi

3 min read

Smacker: Karen and her husband at the last stop on her wish-list, the Taj Mahal

JC recipes

Light and fresh, this salad pairs particularly well with fish (Photo: Columbus Leth)

Recipes

Kartoffelsalat – Danish potato salad

By Trine Hahnemann

Cook time: 30 mins

Shavuot recipe

Raspberry goat’s cheese bars

By Jake Cohen

Cook time: 60 minutes

Vegan

Herby lemon bean salad with asparagus and pumpkin seeds

By Denise Phillips

Cook time: 20 minutes

Bil’eifi: The Taste of My Iraqi Home is on sale now (Photo: Giora Hirsch)

Jewish food

Bil’eifi cookbook: a love letter to Iraqi-Jewish food

By Siam Goorwich

4 min read

The Jewish Chronicle

Boy George says he’s ‘devastated’ by loss of ‘innocent lives on both sides’ of Gaza War amid backlash over new ‘pro-peace’ song

Opinion: Trump’s Hamas deal deserves credit – but the true test is whether the terrorists will disarm

Brideshead’s Jewish secret

Boy George pulls out of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ days after releasing pro-Israel song

Rat post was ‘self-harming’ and ‘gave people a chance to have a pop at me’, says Gary Lineker

Tory chair asks Labour to investigate new solicitor general’s 2010 Hamas meetings

Editor’s picks

Jewish leaders demand answers from Andy Burnham after Diane Abbott re-admitted to Labour

Did my circumcision make the cut? You’ll have to see my show

Eyewitness accounts of the Nazi war machine

New feature on kosher-checking app allows users to scan supermarket products

Barnet Shul becomes first Orthodox community to hold DeafShul service

Insights Delivered Daily

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

The Daily

Editor’s Picks

The Israel Briefing

Community Matters

Support the world’s oldest Jewish newspaper

Latest US News

Iconic white suit from ‘Saturday Night Fever’ owned by Jewish film critic goes up for auction

US resumes strikes against Iran after IRGC ‘surprise attack’

Who is Joshua Kushner, the billionaire tipped to lead World Cup sale talks?

New York legal coalition complain to Mamdani as ‘representative’ committee has no Jews on it

World news

Bob Vylan frontman was deported from Germany over ‘death to IDF’ chant and ‘Hamas propaganda’

Donald Trump says Hamas disarmament agreed under Board of Peace plan for Gaza

‘No sign’ of EU sanctions on settlement goods, says Irish foreign minister

Israel braces for 47C heatwave as forecasters warn of summer wildfires

Australian Jewish leader’s post-Bondi portrait wins major art award

Belgian Jewish group suing government and national rail operator over death camp deportations

As the US and Iran trade blows over Hormuz, how long before the nuclear threat forces Israel to go back to war?

UK News

BBC upholds complaint over Lord Walney appearance for its failure to disclose Israel links

Imam at Heaton Park attacker’s mosque ‘called on God to deal with the Jews’

The destinies of Black and Jewish people are ‘intertwined’ says Ashley Jackson

101-year-old D-Day veteran honoured at House of Lords

Opinion

The Green councillor’s troubling Israeli hostage talk

The best answer to antisemitism? Read the Torah

Sadiq Khan’s false genocide claims against Israel are fuelling antisemitism

Asterix, Palestine propaganda and the left’s shattered consensus

Can our burial system reflect the way we live now?

Do critics of FIFA’s plans to ‘sell off’ the World Cup not remember Qatar 2022?

Why as Prime Minister I’m using Jewish Care as a model for my social care reforms

Sponsored

As Hearing Care Changes, Independent Expert Advice Matters More Than Ever

Designs on your summer décor

Bringing out the barbecue? Try Sharon Lurie’s best braai

The rise of super prime north London

Life

Got a play script in your drawer? Fish it out now

Josh Radnor and Noah Galvin on playing brothers in a new comedy

Award-winning director Mike Leigh says next film will be his last after health struggles

‘Kosher catering feels like a mitzvah’: how the chef behind Shuk is elevating simchahs

Bucket list? I kissed goodbye to that when I got cancer

JC recipes

Kartoffelsalat – Danish potato salad

Raspberry goat’s cheese bars

Herby lemon bean salad with asparagus and pumpkin seeds

Bil’eifi cookbook: a love letter to Iraqi-Jewish food