Religion

Lebanon

IDF soldier jailed for holding cigarette in mouth of statue of Mary

The incident is the latest in a string of rows between Israel and the global Christian community

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

An IDF soldier placing a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of Mary in southern Lebanon (X/EthanLevins)

Israel

Israeli charged with hate crime after attack on French nun in Jerusalem

By Melanie Swan

1 min read

Israel

Israel appoints first envoy to the Christian world after dual scandals

By Melanie Swan

1 min read

Burgers cooking on a barbecue grill (Getty Images)

Israel

Israeli Border Police officers jailed for having barbecue on Shabbat

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa meets senior figures from the Israel Police on March 29, 2026 (Israel Police)

Jerusalem

Netanyahu gives Latin Patriarch ‘full and immediate access’ to Holy Sepulchre after Palm Sunday ban row

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

The headquarters of the Chief Rabbinate in Jerusalem, October 31, 2024 (Flash90)

Israel

Israeli chief rabbinate to accept female applicants for rabbinical exams for first time ever

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during a meeting with US President Trump and President Milei of Argentina in the Cabinet Room at the White House on October 14, 2025 (Getty Images)

US Politics

Senators urge Hegseth to consider religious exemption to military facial hair ban

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

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Century-old siddur found during preservation of Siberian synagogue

The wooden prayer hall was erected in Tomsk by Jews who'd been taken as children and forcefully conscripted to the Tsar’s army for 20 years.

By Canaan Lidor

1 min read

July 17, 2025 13:40

Workers preserving the Soldiers' Synagogue in Tomsk, Siberia discovered a century-old siddur hidden in the attic (Image: Canaan Lidor)

Ben-Gvir lifts ban on Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount

New guidelines from the national security minister reportedly instructed police not to enforce an unofficial prohibition which has remained in place for decades

By JC Reporter

1 min read

June 27, 2025 09:39

Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (centre) has reportedly issued new policing guidance effectively lifting the ban on Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount

Bosnian minister apologises after gathering of top rabbis turned away over claim it would ‘justify genocide’

Borjana Krišto said she ‘regretted’ that the conference had been cancelled following comments from one of her ministerial colleagues

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

June 26, 2025 14:06

Bosnian minister Borjana Krišto has apologised after the Conference of European Rabbis had its conference cancelled following comments from one of her ministerial colleagues (Image: X/@MartaKosEU)

Gathering of top rabbis turned away from Bosnia after minister claimed it would ‘legitimise’ the ‘genocidal’ state of Israel

The politician appeared to conflate the purely religious event with political Zionism, claiming that the presence of the event would ‘justify genocide’

By Jacob Jaffa

3 min read

June 11, 2025 16:04

Members of the Conference of European Rabbis at its headquarters in Munich, Germany (Image: CER)

Brooklyn bus driver suspended after telling schoolchildren that ‘Jews killed Jesus’

The driver allegedly pulled over for 30 minutes to give his passengers an unsolicited religious lecture

By JC Reporter

1 min read

May 27, 2025 16:02

A school bus driver in New York has reportedly been suspended after pulling over to deliver an unsolicited religious rant to a group of children, including the claim that 'Jews killed Jesus' (Image: stock via Getty)

By Rabbi Hayim Leiter

The actions of a short-sighted few are endangering the practice of brit milah

If, outside Israel, the law is that a bris must be performed by a medical professional, then they are the only ones who can do it.

3 min read

May 16, 2025 16:10

A Charedi mohel performs a circumcision in Mea She'arim, Israel (Image: Flash90)

Former hostage blessed at Western Wall as thousands attend Passover ceremony

The chief rabbis of Israel, the rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, and the mayor of Jerusalem were present and led prayers for the safe return of those still held in Gaza

By Lidor Sultan

1 min read

April 16, 2025 13:18

Freed hostage Eliya Cohen (centre left) was among the crowds at a Passover blessing service held at the Western Wall yesterday (Image: Flash90)

A quarter of US Jews no longer practise Judaism as adults, new survey finds

But compared to some other faiths, Judaism retains a high retention rate

By Simon Rocker

1 min read

March 27, 2025 15:33

Pesach shopping in Kansas (Photo: Getty Images)

How Israelis turned to God after the horrors of October 7

One rabbi labelled the increasingly prominent trend away from secularism as a ‘Jewish awakening’

By Florit Shoihet

6 min read

March 26, 2025 13:22

An increasing number of October 7 survivors are turning to religion as they reckon with their trauma (Image: Getty)

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Religion

IDF soldier jailed for holding cigarette in mouth of statue of Mary

Israeli charged with hate crime after attack on French nun in Jerusalem

Israel appoints first envoy to the Christian world after dual scandals

Israeli Border Police officers jailed for having barbecue on Shabbat

Netanyahu gives Latin Patriarch ‘full and immediate access’ to Holy Sepulchre after Palm Sunday ban row

Israeli chief rabbinate to accept female applicants for rabbinical exams for first time ever

Senators urge Hegseth to consider religious exemption to military facial hair ban

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More from Religion

Century-old siddur found during preservation of Siberian synagogue

Ben-Gvir lifts ban on Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount

Bosnian minister apologises after gathering of top rabbis turned away over claim it would ‘justify genocide’

Gathering of top rabbis turned away from Bosnia after minister claimed it would ‘legitimise’ the ‘genocidal’ state of Israel

Brooklyn bus driver suspended after telling schoolchildren that ‘Jews killed Jesus’

The actions of a short-sighted few are endangering the practice of brit milah

Former hostage blessed at Western Wall as thousands attend Passover ceremony

A quarter of US Jews no longer practise Judaism as adults, new survey finds

How Israelis turned to God after the horrors of October 7