Monthly Archives: June 2025
Third-century queen, target of Syrian government, may have converted to Judaism
The third-century Palmyra queen Zenobia, who ruled in present-day Syria from about 267 or 268 to 272, stands on a dais among her soldiers in Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s c. 1725-1730 painting in the collection of Washington’s...
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame reboots, despite 2025 delay
On July 8, 2025, a new class featuring the likes of basketball's Amar’e Stoudemire, judoka Oren Smadja, Paralympian Moran Samuel, swimmers Sarah Poewe and Helen Plaschinski Farca de Finkler, sports commentator Chris Berman and...
Trump orders end of sanctions on Syrian government institutions
U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Monday removing longstanding sanctions on the Syrian government while maintaining sanctions on the regime of deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad and other destabilizing actors.
The executive...
Jews arrested in Iran released after round-up by regime security forces, sources say
All 14 Jews the Iranian regime arrested have been released, Iranian opposition activists and journalists told JNS, after news reports last week that the Islamic Republic arrested some 600 people across the country after...
Hostage Itzhik Elgarat died under Hamas torture, brother says
Danny Elgarat, the brother of Itzhik Elgarat, 67, who was captured by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, revealed at a Knesset House Committee meeting on Monday that he learned that his brother died of...
Sa’ar: Israel seeks Gaza deal, expansion of Abraham Accords
Israeli is serious about reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza and is interested in expanding the Abraham Accords, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Monday.
Speaking alongside Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger—the first...
Top Iranian cleric issues fatwa against Trump
Following the June 21 U.S. strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites, a prominent Iranian cleric has issued a fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) which is being interpreted by some as calling for the assassination of...
Netanyahu: Victory over Iran opened window for ‘broad’ regional move
"Many opportunities" have opened up in the wake of Israel's military campaign against Iran, including "broad" regional moves, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
"We removed an immediate existential threat—two deadly threats to...
J Street vs. Israel over Iran
When Israel launched a precision strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 13, nearly every segment of the U.S. Jewish community rallied behind it. Zev Stub of The Times of Israel wrote, “Jewish organizations from across...
Lessons from America’s first Jews
This Fourth of July marks an unprecedented time for American Jewry. For most of us, this day has always stood as the one golden date in the year when neighbors and communities come together...