All her life, she sang other people’s songs. Now Sheila Dardashti is releasing her own music for the first time.

Sheila Dardashti has spent her lifetime making music — but until recently had never written any of her own. Raised in Queens by Jewish lovers of folk music, Dardashti studied classical guitar in high school. As a young woman, she toured as half of an international folk music duo with her husband, Farid Dardashti, who had […]

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Jewish Funders Network spotlights visionary leadership and groundbreaking research at International Conference

Amid the backdrop of immense challenges facing Israel and global Jewry, the Jewish Funders Network’s 2025 International Conference in Nashville brought together hundreds of Jewish philanthropists and changemakers from around the world to connect, collaborate, and explore bold visions for the future. A highlight of the annual gathering was the presentation of two prestigious awards […]

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Once-isolated Albania hopes for Israeli tourist boom with launch of El Al direct flights

TIRANA, Albania — One block off Tirana’s Skanderbeg Square, Harel Kopelman is bringing traditional Albanian culture — in the form of dazzling wedding rituals, colorful costumes and delicious wines and cheeses — to foreigners visiting what was once one of Europe’s most brutal dictatorships. Albanian Night, a medieval mix of Balkan sights, sounds and tastes, […]

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Maya Rudolph, James Schamus among filmmakers calling to protect ‘No Other Land’ team after director’s arrest

A number of Jewish filmmakers are among thousands who signed a petition in support of Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” who was arrested this week by Israeli troops. Ballal was released Tuesday, a day after he was beaten by West Bank settlers before being arrested. He is one […]

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Frankfurt’s Jewish community launches its own sexual abuse hotline amid crises and pressure

BERLIN — Keren Kesselmann felt alone. Her male colleague in a Frankfurt Jewish communal institution had been making sexual advances, despite her rejections. One day the colleague cornered her in the workplace and forcibly tried to kiss her. She ran to a female colleague. “’I can’t take this anymore,’” she said. “And then I told […]

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French far-right leader decries antisemitism and Islamism at contentious Israeli government conference

The far-right French leader Jordan Bardella spoke to applause at an Israeli government conference, in a landmark moment for the head of a party that was led for years by an antisemite. In the speech, Bardella condemned antisemitism and anti-Zionism. He also emphasized the key messages of his party, National Rally: combating Islamism and restricting […]

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