inspiring Jews today

If Ruth represents the harvests of ancient Israel, Eyal Shani celebrates the flavours of modern Israel. Born in Jerusalem in 1959, Shani is one of Israel’s most famous chefs, known for transforming simple ingredients into something unforgettable. In his hands, tomatoes, cauliflower, olive oil, pita and fresh herbs become something extraordinary. His distinctive, theatrical style has helped redefine how Israeli food is seen around the world. Shani’s cuisine is bold, creati

Born in Ra’anana in 1998 to French Jewish immigrant parents, Noam Bettan had already built a growing music career in Israel before Eurovision, releasing successful singles and a debut album after first gaining national attention on Israeli television. But Eurovision 2026 is his breakout moment. His song Michelle, blended Hebrew, French and English in a dramatic ballad about a toxic relationship. Bettan captivated audiences and earned second place in the public vote, helpi

Yuval Raphael’s journey to the Eurovision stage is one of extraordinary survival and resilience. On 7 October 2023, the then 23-year-old was at the Nova music festival when Hamas terrorists attacked. She escaped to a roadside bomb shelter, where dozens of people crammed inside as gunmen repeatedly returned, firing into the shelter and throwing grenades. Raphael survived by hiding for hours beneath the bodies of those murdered, later speaking in heartbreaking interviews abou

Deni Avdija was born in 2001 in Israel. He grew up around basketball. His father was a professional player, and from a young age he was already competing at a high level. As a teenager, he joined Maccabi Tel Aviv, one of Europe’s top clubs. By 18, he was playing professionally and winning championships. He also represented Israel internationally, leading the under-20 national team to a European Championship title, where he was named MVP. In 2020, he entered the NBA Draft and

J.J. Abrams grew up in Los Angeles, surrounded by the film industry. His father was a television producer, and from a young age he was making his own films. He built his career as a writer and director on projects like Alias, Lost, and Star Trek, learning how to tell big stories and doing so successfully. Then came the opportunity to work on Star Wars. By this point, the franchise had lost some momentum. The earlier films were still loved, but the more recent ones hadn’

If you are of a certain age, you know Debra Messing as the beautiful and spunky Grace Adler from Will & Grace. The show ran for 8 seasons from 1998 to 2006. Debra was one of the biggest TV stars in the world at the time. Her character, Grace was openly Jewish. And Debra herself has always been open about her own identity too. Over the years, she has supported Jewish and Israeli causes, hosting events and backing organisations like Magen David Adom. Debra is a loud and proud

Haviv Rettig Gur is a journalist and senior analyst at The Times of Israel, based in Israel. Born in Jerusalem in 1981, and raised in both Israeli and American contexts, he brings a perspective that connects local experience with an international audience. His role is to explain complex events and provide context, particularly around Israel, history and current events. Since October 7, his voice has become especially prominent. At a time when information has been overwhelming

Martin Seligman was born in 1942 in the United States. He built his career as a psychologist and academic, spending many years at the University of Pennsylvania.For much of its history, psychology focused on what goes wrong. The emphasis was on depression, anxiety and trauma. Seligman changed the question. Instead of only asking how to fix what is broken, he asked what makes life go well. He went on to found the field of positive psychology, the study of what helps people liv

Eylon Levy was born in the UK in 1991 and moved to Israel as a teenager. He studied at Oxford and built a career in media and government communications, including roles in the Prime Minister’s Office. On October 7, he was not an official spokesperson. He began giving interviews from home, explaining what had happened and defending Israel’s position. Those appearances quickly gained attention. Within a short time, the Prime Minister’s Office brought him in as an official g

The lead up to Pesach this year has been anything but normal. Israeli parents have had their children home from school for weeks. Nights have been repeatedly interrupted. For many Israelis, daily life has been punctuated by repeated trips to mamads or bomb shelters. And on top of all that, they prepare for Pesach. Shopping. Cleaning. Cooking. Pesach is usually a time of movement in Israel. Families travel across the country. Flights are full. Homes fill up with relati

Natasha Hausdorff is a British barrister specialising in international law. She comes from a Jewish background and has focused much of her work on legal issues relating to Israel. In recent years, she has become one of the leading voices advocating for Israel in global media. She appears regularly in interviews and public discussions, addressing claims about international law, war and human rights. She is known for her composure in challenging environments. She explains

Most people already know Magen David Adom, Israel's national ambulance service. Right now, during the current missile attacks on Israel, their work has taken on another level of urgency. And they are meeting this urgency with some truly innovative technology. Magen David Adom is using real-time warning systems and advanced dispatch technology to position medical teams even before a missile strike happens. Inside Magen David Adom’s national command centre, large screens

Boris Gurman z"l (69) and his wife Sofia Gurman z"l (61) showed a form of heroism that is immediate, instinctive, and deeply human. When the attack began at Bondi, they did not run. Dashcam footage shows Boris stepping toward the gunman, attempting to tackle him and wrestle the weapon away. Sofia moved forward to help him, trying to pull the attacker off her husband. In those critical moments, their actions saved lives by slowing the attacker and drawing his attention away

Josh Frydenberg has become one of the most important public advocates for Australian Jews in recent years. Over the last two years, he has worked relentlessly to confront rising antisemitism and support a community facing fear and uncertainty. A former Treasurer and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, Frydenberg is one of the highest-ranking Jewish politicians in Australia’s history. He carries that identity with confidence and pride. Since October 7, through speaking clear

Yotam Ottolenghi has done more than make Middle Eastern food famous. He has shown that cooking can build bridges. Born in Jerusalem to an Israeli father and a German Jewish mother, he grew up with many voices and tastes, and learned early that the table is where differences can meet. After moving to London, he kept that spirit alive. Through his books and restaurants, he introduced a wide audience to food that is colourful, generous, and meant to be shared. Every dish plays

Deborah Conway is one of Australia’s most respected and successful singer songwriters. For more than forty years she has been a central figure in Australian music, first with the band Do Re Mi and later through a long solo career that earned her awards, acclaim, and a loyal following. After October 7, Conway spoke openly as a proud Jew and a Zionist. That decision changed everything. She was doxxed, abused online, and blacklisted by most of the Australian music industry. Pe

Jonathan Conricus is an Israeli former army officer and communicator who has spent much of his career explaining Israel to the world with clarity and professionalism. He served in the IDF for 24 years, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. From 2017 to 2021, he was the international spokesperson for the IDF, responsible for public diplomacy, media engagement and global outreach. In the wake of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, he returned to duty as a reservist and again

Chaya Mushka Dadon is 14 years old. When gunfire erupted at the Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebration, she saw two young children exposed in the open. She ran toward them, pulled them close, and shielded their bodies with hers. She was shot in the thigh while protecting them. In interviews afterward, Chaya said she did not hesitate, she felt she had to act. She said she trusted in God, recited the Shema, and focused only on keeping the children safe. She described feeling a clea

During the current war, another response has spread across Israeli social media: humour. Not just from professional comedians, but from ordinary Israelis. Short clips appear across TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp groups. Some are silly. Some are clever satire. Many are simply people finding a way to breathe in the middle of uncertainty. Humour has long been one of the Jewish ways of surviving difficult times. Today’s Israeli content creators are continuing that tradition in re

In recent months, some of the Israeli women who were held hostage in Gaza have spoken publicly about the sexual assault and abuse they experienced in captivity. Arbel Yehud described being assaulted daily. Romi Gonen has also spoken about abuse and captivity conditions. They did not have to speak. They could have chosen privacy. Instead, they chose to make sure the world would know their stories. Others have chosen not to speak publicly. That too is strength. No survivor owes