Life

The full story of George Michael and Wham!’s hidden Jewish identity

The author of a new biography of the late pop legend reveals how the singer’s heritage shaped his personality and career

8 min read

Careless obsession: Sathnam Sanghera and his new book

Greg Doran's 'Walking Shadow: Love, Loss and Shakespeare'. Bloomsbury.

Book review

Walking Shadow: Love, Loss and Shakespeare review: ‘On loving Shakespeare and hating cancer’

By David Herman

2 min read

Fi (left) and BJ Woodstein. (Photo: Lee Blanchflower)

Health

Time to end the gay IVF tax, say Jewish lesbian mums

By Gaby Koppel

5 min read

The patter of tiny paws: Minnie the miniscule maltipoo

Animals

The latest addition to our family? The grand-dog

2 min read

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Palestine flags among the Irish fans during a Euro 2024 qualifier match against Greece on October 13, 2023 (photo: Charles McQuillan / Getty Images)

Ireland

Ireland v Israel to take place at neutral venue and without fans over pro-Palestine protest fears

By Ben Conway

2 min read

Comic superpower: Maureen Lipman with Bailey Patrick Credit: Marc Brenner

Theatre

Allegra review: Maureen Lipman is the clowning glory ★★★

Quilter’s goofy comedy reminds us that Dame Maureen is, in the best possible sense, a clown

By John Nathan

2 min read

By Ben Conway

From Mussolini to Iran: the politics of the World Cup

The war in the Middle East has given the tournament a tense backdrop – but football’s biggest stage has never been insulated from global events

3 min read

Iran's captain and defender Ehsan Haji Safi and teammates walk on the tarmac on arrival at the Tijuana International Airport on June 7 (Image: Getty Images)

World Cup 2026

Could England face Iran at the 2026 World Cup?

There is a complicated and unlikely route which would see the two world powers face off in the knockout stages

By Ben Conway

2 min read

Jewish Comedy

Yohay Sponder’s Genesis review: Israeli stand-up comic’s London show brings escapism, with a few awkward moments ★★★

In his UK performance, the charismatic comedian emphasised the absurdity of being Jewish and Israeli in today’s world

By Charlotte Henry

2 min read

Yohay Sponder. (Photo: Limor Azran Garfinkle via Facebook)

Lifestyle

Books

JPC party gives ‘strength’ to Jewish publishers and authors facing racism post October 7

Guests at the event heard a panel chaired by Hadley Freeman with writers Adam LeBor, Max Olesker and Hilary Freeman

By Elisa Bray

2 min read

(Left to right) Adam LeBor, Hilary Freeman, Max Olesker and Hadley Freeman, together with Steph Thwaites and Larry Finlay, co-chairs of the Jewish Publishing Circle

World Cup 2026

Swiss World Cup squad trains with 500 students at San Diego Jewish school

Switzerland’s first group stage match is against Qatar on Saturday

By Ben Conway

3 min read

Swiss defender Silvan Widmer high-fiving children from the San Diego Jewish Academy (photo: FIFA)

Jewish food

‘Hey, it’s Falmer’: meet the social media chef serving up bold flavours and opinions

Siam Goorwich meets the Gen Z foodie advocating for Jews and Israel one recipe at a time

By Siam Goorwich

4 min read

Recipes

Dark chocolate and halva lava cake

A Middle Eastern twist on the classic French dessert

By Falmer

Cook time: 16 mins

Falmer's famous dark chocolate halva lava cake (Photo: Falmer)

Theatre

High Society review: Fizzing stage reboot starring Felicity Kendal ★★★★

The individual performances are all excellent in this iteration of Cole Porter masterpiece

By John Nathan

2 min read

High stakes: (left to right) James Hume, Felicity Kendal and Naomi Pacquette Photo: Pamela Raith

Theatre

Black Comedy review: Peter Shaffer’s big idea lacks the light to really shine★★★

Characters are plunged into the dark for most of this escalating slapstick show

By John Nathan

2 min read

Theatre

Equus review: Gripping revival of Shaffer’s foray into a troubled teenager’s mind ★★★★★

Noah Valentine should win awards for a performance of the stable boy who blinds the six horses he adores

By John Nathan

1 min read

Wild ride: Toby Stephens as Martin Dysart and (right) Noah Valentine as Alan Strang

Jewish theatre

NIUSIA review: ‘it increasingly feels as if we’re listening to the wrong story’ ★★★

Beth Paterson’s journey to her Jewishness is a worthy story, but her Holocaust survivor grandmother steals the show

By John Nathan

2 min read

Beth Paterson in her one-woman show, NIUSIA (Photo: Mayah Salter)

Film & TV

All TV

Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor in 'Disclosure Day.' (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Film

Disclosure Day review: Emily Blunt is superb in Spielberg’s fun but derivative return to the alien thriller ★★★

By John Nathan

2 min read

Power Ballad review: ‘star-powered comedy’ ★★★★

Washed-up wedding singer and boyband star make sweet music

2 min read

Meet the director who made Dustin Hoffman an irresistible offer

Could young Canadian Daniel Roher tempt the 88-year-old legend into acting in his first feature film?

By James Mottram and Susan Hornik

6 min read

Orphan review: Life in the wake of two era-defining historical events ★★★★

Director László Nemes’s new film is a powerful exploration of what came after the Shoah and the Hungarian anti-Soviet uprising – through the eyes of a child

By John Nathan

2 min read

Travel

All Travel

Travel

A week of wellness in Santa Monica

By Zoe Strimpel

5 min read

Traversing the wonders of Austria’s Lake Wörthersee and the hunt for Jewish history

The turquoise water is made for wild bathing in the summer heat and makes an ideal setting for pondering the country’s troubled past

By Imogen Garfinkel

5 min read

World Cup goals

Jewish American sightseeing opportunities for this year’s World Cup

By Anthea Gerrie

6 min read

Searching for the last Jew of Kochi

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

Books

All Books

Death

‘Judaism and heavy metal teach us how to live – and what it means to die well’

By Daniel Ben-David

3 min read

Judy Blume’s story, told lovingly and in exhaustive detail – but without her input

This is a lovingly delivered portrait but it feels too often like a sanitised version of the writer’s life

By Jennifer Lipman

2 min read

‘I had a treasure in my hands’: Nikki Goldstein on the book she co-wrote with Bondi victim Rabbi Eli Schlanger

‘He prepared me to be his foot soldier,’ Goldstein said as Conversations with My Rabbi was published after the rabbi’s murder

By Jane Prinsley

4 min read

The centenary of Allen Ginsberg

A reflection on the life of the Jewish poet who formed the core of America’s Beat Generation

By David Herman

2 min read

Music

All Music

Opera

Peter Grimes review: Glories of a post-Brexit ‘Britten’ frittered away in a poor revival ★★

By Stephen Pollard

1 min read

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

The opera’s flawless cast, set design and music are led by Andreas Shager, who delivers one of the finest theatrical performances London has seen in many years

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

Sport

All Sport

Clockwise from top left: Ivor Baddiel, David Bernstein CBE, Joe Jacobson, Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky. (photos: Yakir Zur; Ian Walton / Getty Images; Andy Rowland; Zoe Norfolk)

World Cup 2026

Rabbi, who’s going to win the World Cup?

By Ben Conway

6 min read

Maccabiah Games 2026: final decision made not to take junior delegation

Adult athletes in the Open and Masters categories will still attend the Games

By Ben Conway

1 min read

‘Iron Dome’ Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz joins Southampton FC on permanent deal from Bayern Munich

The south coast side spent more than £6 million to acquire Peretz, who is married to pop star Noa Kirel

By Ben Conway

2 min read

Maccabiah Games 2026: Open and Masters going to Israel, while Juniors await decision

Maccabi GB are reviewing the decision to pull their Juniors from the competition in Israel since the change in travel guidance

By Ben Conway

1 min read

Let's Eat

All Food

Recipes

Bissli schnitzel with sweet potato mash

By Falmer

Cook time: 15 mins

Recipe

Sticky onion, blue cheese and bitter leaf salad with chipotle honey

A wonderful starter or decadent lunch

By Thomasina Miers

Cook time: 1hr, 20 mins

Recipe

Asparagus and green bean mimosa salad

This French-style salad makes a lovely al fresco lunch

By Alexandra Dudley

Cook time: 15 minutes

Recipe

Roasted feta and grape fattoush

Fresh, filling, and the perfect dinner for warm summer evenings

By Jessica Prescott

Cook time: 20-30 mins

Life

The full story of George Michael and Wham!’s hidden Jewish identity

Walking Shadow: Love, Loss and Shakespeare review: ‘On loving Shakespeare and hating cancer’

Time to end the gay IVF tax, say Jewish lesbian mums

The latest addition to our family? The grand-dog

JC LifeDelivered Weekly

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

Support the world’s oldest Jewish newspaper

Ireland v Israel to take place at neutral venue and without fans over pro-Palestine protest fears

Allegra review: Maureen Lipman is the clowning glory ★★★

From Mussolini to Iran: the politics of the World Cup

Could England face Iran at the 2026 World Cup?

Yohay Sponder’s Genesis review: Israeli stand-up comic’s London show brings escapism, with a few awkward moments ★★★

Lifestyle

JPC party gives ‘strength’ to Jewish publishers and authors facing racism post October 7

Swiss World Cup squad trains with 500 students at San Diego Jewish school

‘Hey, it’s Falmer’: meet the social media chef serving up bold flavours and opinions

Dark chocolate and halva lava cake

Theatre

High Society review: Fizzing stage reboot starring Felicity Kendal ★★★★

Black Comedy review: Peter Shaffer’s big idea lacks the light to really shine★★★

Equus review: Gripping revival of Shaffer’s foray into a troubled teenager’s mind ★★★★★

NIUSIA review: ‘it increasingly feels as if we’re listening to the wrong story’ ★★★

Film & TV

Disclosure Day review: Emily Blunt is superb in Spielberg’s fun but derivative return to the alien thriller ★★★

Power Ballad review: ‘star-powered comedy’ ★★★★

Meet the director who made Dustin Hoffman an irresistible offer

Orphan review: Life in the wake of two era-defining historical events ★★★★

Travel

A week of wellness in Santa Monica

Traversing the wonders of Austria’s Lake Wörthersee and the hunt for Jewish history

World Cup goals

Searching for the last Jew of Kochi

Books

‘Judaism and heavy metal teach us how to live – and what it means to die well’

Judy Blume’s story, told lovingly and in exhaustive detail – but without her input

‘I had a treasure in my hands’: Nikki Goldstein on the book she co-wrote with Bondi victim Rabbi Eli Schlanger

The centenary of Allen Ginsberg

Music

Peter Grimes review: Glories of a post-Brexit ‘Britten’ frittered away in a poor revival ★★

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

Haunting music of the exiled composers

2025 in review: Music

Sport

Rabbi, who’s going to win the World Cup?

Maccabiah Games 2026: final decision made not to take junior delegation

‘Iron Dome’ Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz joins Southampton FC on permanent deal from Bayern Munich

Maccabiah Games 2026: Open and Masters going to Israel, while Juniors await decision

Let's Eat

Bissli schnitzel with sweet potato mash

Sticky onion, blue cheese and bitter leaf salad with chipotle honey

Asparagus and green bean mimosa salad

Roasted feta and grape fattoush