History

This month in Jewish history: The first permanent government of Israel

A highly abridged monthly version of Dust & Stars – Today in Jewish History.

DIZENGOFF SQUARE, named for the Tel Aviv founding father.
Supporting a ‘Free Palestine’ as part of a ‘Stop Bombing Iran’ protest following the US attack on Iranian nuclear sites, near the US Embassy in London, June 23, 2025.

From Der Judenstaat to modern Israel: Herzl’s vision in today’s world - opinion

Declaration of Independence of the United States. New Canaan, 1950. Featuring George Washington.

Looking back at George Washington’s 1790 letter, the root of American religious freedom

MAO concert (see Thursday)

Jerusalem highlights: February 13-19


Parashat Vayigash: Sharp emotional transitions

The Torah describes the emotional upheaval, the sharp transition from deep sorrow to astonishment and joy, when Jacob discovers that Joseph is alive and even holds a senior position in Egypt.

'The Recognition of Joseph by his Brothers,’ by Peter von Cornelius, 1817.

Byzantine-era coins, ring discovered in Judean Desert point to Christian presence in region

The site is linked historically with Saint Sabbas, one of the founders of Judean Desert monasticism, whose legacy shaped monastic practices for centuries.

Rare Byzantine-era gold coins discovered at the Hyrcania archaeological site in the northern Judean Desert.

New Rome metro stations showcase ancient treasures after years of delays

Excavations for the new stations revealed remarkable finds, which slowed work as archaeologists painstakingly preserved layers of ancient Rome they hadn't known were there.

eople look at the artifacts found during the construction of the new metro line at the Colosseum metro station which promise to dazzle locals and tourists with museum-like displays of archaeological discoveries, in Rome, Italy December 16, 2025.

Archaeologists find 2,000-year-old labyrinth that reveals India’s role in ancient global trade

The structure is composed of 15 concentric stone circuits - the highest number ever documented in an Indian circular labyrinth.

India archeologist. Ilustrative.

Archaeologists find Switzerland’s oldest gold coins dating back 2,200 years

Two rare Celtic gold coins dating to the 3rd Century BCE were uncovered near Arisdorf, marking the oldest gold coins ever found in Switzerland, shedding light on ancient trade and ritual practices.

Ancient Celtic gold coins found in Switzerland.

From Antiochus to Mitsotakis: Israel's Mediterranean ties defy historical precedent - editorial

King Antiochus IV Epiphanes must be turning in his grave as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel to discuss regional security, energy, and technological advancement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides hold a press conference in Jerusalem, December 22, 2025.

Oldest evidence of transport technology uncovered in White Sands, New Mexico

Archaeologists working at White Sands National Park have uncovered traces of a pre-wheeled vehicle alongside human and mammoth footprints preserved in late Pleistocene sediments.

The White Sands National Monument Visitor Center is seen at the White Sands National Park, New Mexico, U.S. June 24, 2025

Hanukkah 2025: From Hellenism to today’s culture wars

Still reeling from the horrors of violent fascism and extreme nationalism, humanity has grown enamored of a universal self-conception that denies meaningful differences of race, religion, or culture.

Heroes from the Israel-Hamas War light candles on the sixth night of Hanukkah with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana in December 2024

Sacrificing the Jews will not save Western civilization - opinion

The massacres, the pogroms and the terror, are focused on Israel’s eradication: to be achieved by crushing Jews and the Jewish spirit.

 A PRO-PALESTINIAN protest takes place in Chicago on October 8, 2023.

How Israel's amateur radio operators used quiet diplomacy, saved lives on Oct. 7 - opinion

In a world where trust has become a scarce resource, amateur radio operators offer something different: human communication that connects people around the world who share the same passion.

An illustrative image of an amateur radio.