Linda Gradstein

From plants to jewelry, immigrant entrepreneurs showcase their dreams as they build new lives in Israel.

Special events highlight the shared history and enduring ties between the United States and Israel.

Prev Previous Previous 'Then they heard Hebrew' On the 50th anniversary of 'Operation Entebbe,' former Sayeret Matkal commando G… Next Next Up Next Up On its 250th birthday, Jews mustn't abandon the fight for America If the United States is lost to the woke left or the woke right, the consequence… Linda Gradstein Jul 3, 2026 Posted 1 hr ago at 1: 00 AM Just 11 minutes after the State of Israel was declared on May 14, 1948, U.S. President Harry Truman became the first foreign leader to recognize the Jewish state. Visitors to the National Library of Israel can now see the pen he used to sign that declaration, along with a document attesting to its authenticity, as part of a special exhibition marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. The events opened with a gala concert at the library titled “The Sounds of Freedom,” featuring works by two of America's greatest Jewish composers, George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. The Student Choir of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance performed alongside the academy's Big Band Orchestra in a celebration of American Jewish music. “America is often referred to as the land of endless possibilities, a place defined by its commitment to liberty, democracy and innovation,” David Brownstein, chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, said at the event. “Tonight, through the music of George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein—two Jewish-American giants—we are reminded of the profound contributions that the Jewish community has made to the American tapestry and the enduring bond between our two nations.” He also emphasized the values shared by the United States and Israel. “Think about the values we share: the belief in human dignity, the pursuit of justice and the constant striving for a more perfect union,” Brownstein said. “These are not just American or Israeli values; they are universal aspirations that unite us. As we celebrate this milestone, let us also celebrate the vibrant, multifaceted friendship that continues to grow and flourish between the United States and Israel.” Because Independence Day falls on Shabbat this year, the National Library has extended the celebrations into next week. On Sunday evening, the library will host three Hebrew-language lectures on American history and society. Dr. Ronny Regev of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem will speak on “Not Every Vote Counts: Voting Rights and American Democracy”; Nettanel Slyomovics of Tel Aviv University will discuss “American Assassins: When Violence, Politics and Culture Collide”; and Prof. Gad Yair of the Hebrew University will present “Loneliness in America: A Contemporary Epidemic or a Deep-Seated Cultural Trait?” Before and after the lectures, visitors will be able to join guided tours of a special display featuring maps, books and historical American artifacts. The library will also host an English-language panel on the American Jewish experience, examining the history of Jewish life in the United States, the issues shaping the community today and the challenges it may face in the future. Panelists include Rabbi Abi Dauber Sterne, educator and author; Michael Oren, Israel's former ambassador to the United States; and Felicia Sol, rosh kehillah (community leader) of B'nai Jeshurun in New York. “For example, there is Haym Salomon, whose signature we have on a ketubah [Jewish marriage contract], who helped finance George Washington's war against the British,” he said. “The big wave of Jewish immigration came much later, but Jews had an impact far beyond their numbers.” At the time of American independence, Neria said, only a few thousand Jews lived in the United States, out of a population of about 2.5 million. The National Library also houses a ledger documenting emissaries from the Land of Israel who traveled to the United States in the mid-19th century to raise funds for Jewish communities in Ottoman Palestine. How do you feel about this article? Choose from the options below. (0 Ratings)

Two women soldiers from the Nahal Oz base open a Jerusalem café in memory of friends slain on Oct. 7, 2023.

The project includes a modern, accessible visitors' center overlooking the surrounding green landscape.

The project includes a modern, accessible visitors’ center overlooking the surrounding green landscape.

Comparing Azia 19 to the chain sushi restaurants that have sprung up all over Israel is like comparing a Porsche to a Honda.

Collaborative works by residents of Kfar Shimon offer a window into the inner worlds of young adults on the spectrum.

Previous Previous Haifa man, 82, dies three months after Iranian missile strike Michael Katz "was injured in his home in a criminal attack deliberately targetin… Next Up Next Up Israeli lightly wounded in Palestinian rock-throwing assault in Samaria Two vehicles were damaged in the stone-throwing. Linda Gradstein Jul 15, 2026 Posted 1 hr ago at 2: 21 AM The hundreds of people who visit the Jerusalem Theater each day for plays, concerts or a coffee now have the chance to view an exhibition of colorful, distinctive paintings created collaboratively by young adults with autism from the Kfar Shimon residential facility near Beit Shemesh. The exhibition, titled "Feelings in Between," offers visitors a glimpse into the inner worlds of the artists, some of whom are nonverbal. “They have a lot going on in their minds that they can't always express verbally,” Hannah Brown, film critic for The Jerusalem Post whose son Danny is one of the artists, told JNS. “Some of these people rarely speak—maybe a word or two. They can't tell you why they painted what they painted, but the pictures really speak for themselves. They have these incredible inner worlds, and they can show people what they have inside through their art.” Danny Yovell, 30, has long been fascinated by colorful ceiling fans, which appear in several of the paintings. His mother said the fact that between two and five people worked on each piece is especially significant because it challenges common stereotypes about autism. She credited Israeli artist Nvo Sevori, who teaches at Kfar Shimon, with developing the collaborative concept. “I love these pictures because they worked on them together,” she said. “People on the spectrum supposedly don't care about other people and aren't interested in other people, and they really do collaborate and work together.” At the exhibition's opening reception, the artists and their families mingled as they sipped wine, enjoyed slices of watermelon and admired the paintings displayed on two floors of the theater. Kfar Shimon director Oded Korati could hardly contain his pride. “It's beautiful art, and it's wonderful that it is hung in this great place where hundreds of people pass by every day,” he told JNS. “If they were to meet the artists on the street, they might think they are totally disconnected—that you can't speak to them, you can't understand what they want, you wonder, do they even feel anything? "This is a way to say they feel a lot, they think a lot, they have a rich world that can be expressed to others, and their worlds can interact. They may not interact by hugging or having long, deep talks, but they have their ways, and this exhibition captures that.” Korati said Kfar Shimon is home to 28 residents and is completing a new building that will accommodate 12 additional residents, beginning in September. The exhibition also offers Israelis an opportunity to better understand adults with autism. “Any art that is in public spaces affects the public and puts the subject on the radar of anyone who sees it,” artist Yair Medina, who knows several of the Kfar Shimon residents, told JNS. “It stays in the collective subconscious, and especially in these times, when people do not always have the emotional resources to treat others with the patience and empathy they deserve, it's a great thing. Besides that, it's great art. It's naïve, unconscious art—created by untrained and untouched artists in many ways. It's a pure expression of the soul.” How do you feel about this article? Choose from the options below. (0 Ratings)

ANU Museum festival pairs restaurants with emerging Jewish communities from India, China, Uganda, Peru and beyond.