Life

2025 in review: Theatre

John Nathan chooses the best plays of the year, from a new stage adaptation of Mel Brooks’s musical The Producers to a comic revenge fantasy about the kidnap of Jeremy Corbyn

By John Nathan

4 min read

Books

Goodbye to Berlin – a lost Jewish Germany is brought back to life in an epic saga

By David Bennun

5 min read

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Music

Christmas Day review: A not-quite-realised effort at Jewish catharsis ★★★

Arguments over Jewish identity become super-heated in this dark comedy full of timely – although unfortunately random – elements

By John Nathan

2 min read

breast cancer

Pilates? Isn’t that just stretching?

Karen Skinazi gets a reality check in the shape of a Pilates Reformer machine at a California exercise studio

By Karen E H Skinazi

3 min read

Dance

The Red Shoes review: Trademark Bourne wit in an ultimately tragic tale ★★★★★

Matthew Bourne’s ballet about a woman who must choose between love and dance is full of passion and self-awareness

By Joy Sable

1 min read

Kosher

This year was a great one for kosher food

In 2025 we saw more high-end kosher restaurants and some fantastic new cookbooks – including one from the JC!

By Victoria Prever

4 min read

This year was a great one for kosher food

Lifestyle

Christmas

Christmas Schmistmas: the top 10 Yuletide films made by Jews

From ‘Elf’ to ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, we bring you the season’s most iconic Yiddishe movies

By Mark Solomons

6 min read

Will Ferrell, right, with Jewish actor James Caan, centre, in the 2003 Christmas film 'Elf'. (Photo: Warner Bros)

Culture

What to see this winter, from Marty Supreme to Into the Woods

Elisa Bray on the Jewish films, plays and exhibitions not to miss

By Elisa Bray

3 min read

What to see this winter, from Marty Supreme to Into the Woods

Christmas

How it really feels to be the only Israeli at a British Christmas dinner

After October 7 it’s lot harder for many celebrating Xmas with their non-Jewish partner and family

By Florit Shoihet

6 min read

For some Israelis, celebrating Christmas with their non Jewish families has become difficult after October 7

Israeli actors

‘Portraying October 7 was my privilege’ says Israeli actor Rotem Sela, star of Red Alert

In the Paramount+ drama Sela plays a mother who was kidnapped from her kibbutz home

By Lianne Kolirin

7 min read

Rotem Sela as Batsheva Yahalomi and Libi Atia as Yael in Red Alert ( Photo: Ran Mendelson/Green Productions, Bender Brown Productions, Keshet 12, the IEF, & Paramount+)

Theatre

It is called Christmas Day but it is about being Jewish

Nigel Lindsay on why he’s pleased to play a Jew on the London stage amid soaring antisemitism

By John Nathan

5 min read

Theatre

This version of Roald Dahl’s BFG shows that giants can be small and pathetic ★★★★

Unlike The Witches in which Dahl was accused of having Jews in mind when he created the cabal of child-killers, Jewish theatregoers can relax with this adaptation

By John Nathan

2 min read

Not so gentle: Ellemie Shivers (as Sophie) with the gargantuan puppet (Photo: Marc Brenner)

jewish pantomime

Oh yes they have! This panto is unashamedly Jewish – and all the funnier for it ★★★★

The makers of Cinderella and the Matzo Ball deserve all the praise (naches) for conjuring up something so blissfully unapologetic at a time of Jewish erasure in the arts

By Etan Smallman

2 min read

Behind you! The Giant Prawn in the JW3 panto (Photo: Charlie Flint)

Theatre

A Dracula spoof to enjoy, but no fangs for my seat ★★★

Excellent music and the jokes come thick and fast. I just wish I could have seen what was happening centre stage!

By John Nathan

1 min read

Ciarán Dowd in Dracapella (Photo: Craig Sugden)

Film & TV

All TV

Film

Peter Hujar’s Day review: ‘a hymn to the wet process of photography’ ★★★★

By John Nathan

1 min read

The all-singing, all-dancing Limmud Festival 2025

The JC previews some of the musical highlights of the forthcoming Jewish cultural jamboree

By Ben Conway

4 min read

Scarlett Johansson interview: ‘My film represents where I am in my life now’

Hollywood’s outspoken superstar on her directorial debut Eleanor the Great and finding empathy for its main character, an elderly Jewish woman who lies about surviving the Holocaust

By James Mottram

6 min read

Marty Supreme reviews round-up: Timothée Chalamet tipped for Oscars glory with comparsions made to De Niro and Pacino

Rave reviews have been pouring in for the Jewish star’s performance as Marty Mauser in Marty Supreme

By Elisa Bray

2 min read

Travel

All Travel

A view from the top of Thermae Bath Spa on a winter morning.

Travel

High teas, hot springs and Jane Austen: Finding winter wellness in Bath

By Nicole Lampert

3 min read

My own butler? This is how to cruise...

From a deluxe Friday night dinner and spa treatments to lectures about Jewish heroes and a round of golf, Mark Silver on his sails of the unexpected

By Mark Silver

5 min read

14 fantastic Chanukah gifts to light your foodie’s festive season

Spark joy with these tasty treats and gourmet gadgets

By Victoria Prever

1 min read

The Italian spa town where the end of the line became a new beginning for Europe’s Jews

Plus, how South Tyrol could, according to a local guide, hold the secret to peace in Israel

By Jacob Jaffa

5 min read

Books

All Books

Good intentions: John Irving and his new book

Books

John Irving’s latest: ‘an unapologetically Zionist heroine’

By Ben Felsenburg

3 min read

‘He was one of the most remarkable writers who ever lived’

Called a ‘Polish Franz Kafka’ by Bashevis Singer, Bruno Schulz wrote two books of short stories before he shot dead by an SS officer in 1942. Now the Pushkin Press has released a new anthology of his work

By David Herman

2 min read

How being Jewish shaped the career of a Seventies music superstar

This critical biography of Carole King pays close attention to her Jewishness and how, while lightly worn, it informed her life and work

By David Bennun

1 min read

So what exactly is Dan Brown’s secret? Who knows

I can’t recommend the author’s latest novel, but I have no doubt his fans will buy it in their millions

By Jenni Frazer

2 min read

Music

All Music

Primal Scream perform Swastika Eyes at the Camden Roundhouse on December 8, 2025 (Image: YouTube/JohnW)

Music

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

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

Björk, Lorde and Paul Weller join 1,000 artists and labels to block Israelis from streaming their music

A new campaign aims to pressure music companies such as Sony, UMG and Warner to follow suit

By Jamie Shapiro

1 min read

Oi Va Voi live review: A homecoming concert with the feel of a north London Jewish wedding ★★★★

The dynamic band’s hometown performance at Islington Assembly Hall on Wednesday was a show of joyful Jewish defiance

By John Lewis

2 min read

Coldplay fans boo Israeli women, leading to ‘dehumanising’ exchange on stage with Chris Martin

Martin awkwardly described the women as ‘equal humans’, before welcoming gig-goers from Palestine

By Elisa Bray

2 min read

Sport

All Sport

Lineker was accused of antisemitism when he shared a social media post about Zionism featuring an image of a rat

Gary Lineker

Netflix condemned for Gary Lineker deal after he quit BBC over sharing post about Zionism with rat image

By Mark Wood

4 min read

Ronald Araújo ‘heads to Israel for spiritual reset’ after online abuse from Barcelona fans

The defender is a devout Christian

By Ben Conway

1 min read

Jewish football team walk off pitch after ‘big nosed’ slur

The Maccabi London Lions and Hitchin Town match was abandoned after a player allegedly made antisemitic remarks.

By Ben Conway

1 min read

Man City fan vows never to watch another game after Pep Guardiola’s ‘genocide’ comments

Jewish fan of the club says he feels ‘betrayed’ by the manager’s rhetoric on Israel

By Jamie Shapiro

2 min read

Let's Eat

All Food

Jewish food

Celebrating the spice-filled cuisine of my Bukharian Jewish ancestors

By Eliana Jordan

3 min read

An expert suggests the perfect wine pairings for Chanukah feasts

What goes best with doughnuts and other fried festive favourites?

By Jacob Betito

2 min read

Stir the pot this Mitzvah Day with a warming batch of home made soup

If you’re looking for a way to help others a big broth could be the answer

By Victoria Prever

1 min read

The traditional Jewish foods the Ozempic generation should be choosing

GLP-1’s are on the rise – here’s what to eat if you’re using one of them

By Laura Southern

3 min read

Life

2025 in review: Theatre

2025 in review: Books

2025 in review: Film

Goodbye to Berlin – a lost Jewish Germany is brought back to life in an epic saga

JC LifeDelivered Weekly

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

2025 in review: Music

Christmas Day review: A not-quite-realised effort at Jewish catharsis ★★★

Pilates? Isn’t that just stretching?

The Red Shoes review: Trademark Bourne wit in an ultimately tragic tale ★★★★★

This year was a great one for kosher food

Lifestyle

Christmas Schmistmas: the top 10 Yuletide films made by Jews

What to see this winter, from Marty Supreme to Into the Woods

How it really feels to be the only Israeli at a British Christmas dinner

‘Portraying October 7 was my privilege’ says Israeli actor Rotem Sela, star of Red Alert

Theatre

It is called Christmas Day but it is about being Jewish

This version of Roald Dahl’s BFG shows that giants can be small and pathetic ★★★★

Oh yes they have! This panto is unashamedly Jewish – and all the funnier for it ★★★★

A Dracula spoof to enjoy, but no fangs for my seat ★★★

Film & TV

Peter Hujar’s Day review: ‘a hymn to the wet process of photography’ ★★★★

The all-singing, all-dancing Limmud Festival 2025

Scarlett Johansson interview: ‘My film represents where I am in my life now’

Marty Supreme reviews round-up: Timothée Chalamet tipped for Oscars glory with comparsions made to De Niro and Pacino

Travel

High teas, hot springs and Jane Austen: Finding winter wellness in Bath

My own butler? This is how to cruise...

14 fantastic Chanukah gifts to light your foodie’s festive season

The Italian spa town where the end of the line became a new beginning for Europe’s Jews

Books

John Irving’s latest: ‘an unapologetically Zionist heroine’

‘He was one of the most remarkable writers who ever lived’

How being Jewish shaped the career of a Seventies music superstar

So what exactly is Dan Brown’s secret? Who knows

Music

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

Björk, Lorde and Paul Weller join 1,000 artists and labels to block Israelis from streaming their music

Oi Va Voi live review: A homecoming concert with the feel of a north London Jewish wedding ★★★★

Coldplay fans boo Israeli women, leading to ‘dehumanising’ exchange on stage with Chris Martin

Sport

Netflix condemned for Gary Lineker deal after he quit BBC over sharing post about Zionism with rat image

Ronald Araújo ‘heads to Israel for spiritual reset’ after online abuse from Barcelona fans

Jewish football team walk off pitch after ‘big nosed’ slur

Man City fan vows never to watch another game after Pep Guardiola’s ‘genocide’ comments

Let's Eat

Celebrating the spice-filled cuisine of my Bukharian Jewish ancestors

An expert suggests the perfect wine pairings for Chanukah feasts

Stir the pot this Mitzvah Day with a warming batch of home made soup

The traditional Jewish foods the Ozempic generation should be choosing