Veteran Israeli singer Yaffa Yarkoni, who entertained Israeli troops for decades beginning in 1948, has died. Yarkoni, who late in life criticized the Israeli Defense Forces for its treatment of the Palestinians, died Sunday at the age of 86. She reportedly had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for many years. Yarkoni was called Israel's "War Singer" for her performances for the troops, beginning with Israel's War for Independence, when she was drafted into the army and joined a military band. She …More

Israel's Cabinet approved nearly $59 million worth of economic benefits for the southern city of Sderot and the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip. The assistance for 2012, approved on Sunday, is designed to strengthen the local economy, assist and support residents in light of the security situation, and boost employment in the area, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office. Among the benefits are tax credits of 20 percent; $2 million in assistance for psycho-social support for residents, …More

Israeli leaders criticized a haredi Orthodox demonstration in which protesters wore yellow stars to indicate that they are being oppressed like the Jews in Nazi Germany. More than 1,000 haredi Orthodox protesters gathered in Jerusalem Saturday night to protest what they described as persecution against their way of life, including separation of the sexes. Many of the protesters wore yellow stars with the word "Jude" written on them, using Holocaust imagery to hammer home their point. Young haredi Orthodox …More

Discovery of ancient Jewish scrolls may be one of the most significant finds in the last two centuries. [JPost] The EU has announced that it is open to nuclear talks with Iran without any preconditions. This is a significant change from the past since the West has consistently demanded that Iran suspend it uranium enrichment plan as a sign of goodwill. [Haaretz] A few simple words form Iran closed the Straight of Hormuz for 5 hours this weekend.  On Saturday morning, Iran’s state agencies reported …More

Jerusalem is set to host its first ever ice festival starting in March 2012. Held in the old train station plaza, the festival will include an exhibition of the city’s most famous sites carved in ice. [Ynet] Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party Shas, illustrates the fine points of Shabbat law in his 51st book, “Ovadia's Vision.” [Israel Hayom] Israelis are finally coming to grips with Soviet-born immigrants’ traditional celebration of the New …More

Jspace held its epic launch party on December 24 at Anja (check out the photos here). The event raised $1,500 for Jspace’s 20 partner organizations. New York Jews party rocked all night; watch the party video below! Email meara@jspacecorp.com a photo of your winning raffle ticket, and Jspace will give you an iPad! …More

Fox Latin America has apologized for a poll asking users whether they think the Jews killed Jesus Christ. A Fox staff member created the Facebook poll on a page promoting the National Geographic Channel's Christmas special. The poll asked users whether Pontius Pilate, the Jewish people or the High Priests were responsible for the death of Christ. The Simon Weisenthal Center in Buenos Aires was outraged at the defamatory reference to outdated propaganda that "resulted in the persecution and murder of Jews for two …More

Rapper Drake was shocked to learn that a Drake fan had tattooed his name across her forehead and he has criticized the tattoo artist, rather than the fan. Drake says that the tattoo artist was in the wrong for agreeing to the unusual request. Pictures of the woman, who has the “Take Care” singer’s name inked on her face, hit the internet earlier this month and the star was asked about it during an interview with Power 106 radio host Mando Fresko. Drake admitted he was …More

Want a hangover cure straight from Gwyneth Paltrow? Just go to Goop.com and read her last online newsletter for 2011. In the letter, the Oscar winner shares a variety of classic and modern techniques to overcome a night of heavy drinking, stating, “Here is our best to help you prepare for the day after.” The newsletter features Dr. Frank Lipman’s explanation of what exactly causes a hangover and remedies from around the world. From her home in London, Paltrow writes, “We went to …More

The Chief IDF rabbi pledged that he would not allow religious extremism to affect the women serving in the Israeli army, according to an Army Radio report Friday. Referring to the recent turmoil in Beit Shemesh, Rabbi Rafi Peretz wrote to IDF commanders to address the issue. "The same oversight that occurred in Beit Shemesh will not occur in the IDF," Peretz promised. Those "events were immoral, they go against the way of the IDF and its values, and are utterly opposed to the spirit of Judaism." The rabbi said …More

Failed Oscars host James Franco has some advice for the Academy, not that they’re likely to listen. Perhaps understanding that his own performance isn’t going to garner another nomination, Franco is pushing Andy Serkis as an entry into the best actor category for his turn as Caesar in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” This isn’t a new battle. Serkis has been trying to get his due since starring as Gollum in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Though he’s also played …More

The June 1981 Israeli air strike against the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq completely surprised the US Department of Defense. Files released Thursday by Britain’s National Archives showed that both the US and Britain had now foreknowledge when Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin ordered the attack to prevent Saddam Hussein from building a nuclear weapon. Britain's ambassador to Washington, Sir Nicholas Henderson, was with US Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger when news of the attack arrived. He cabled …More