Sep 12, 2026

Jewish News Today: Death Threat Against Munich Jewish Leader, Thai Chabad Cancels Rosh Hashanah, and UK Green Party to Debate 'Zionism Is Racism' Motion

As Jewish communities around the world prepare to mark Rosh Hashanah 5787, this year's High Holiday period has been overshadowed by a death threat against one of Germany's most prominent Jewish figures, the forced cancellation of celebrations in Thailand amid anti-Israel protests, and a controversial motion set to be debated at the UK Green Party conference. Leaders from the Pope to the US President have sent greetings to the Jewish diaspora, but the mood in several communities is one of unease.

Death Threat Forces Munich Jewish Leader to Cancel Appearance

Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde München und Oberbayern — one of Germany's most senior Jewish communal figures — has cancelled her attendance at a public event after receiving a death threat, according to Jüdische Allgemeine. A witness reported the threat on Thursday. The report links the threat to the recent electoral success of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party.

The threat comes as the AfD, riding the momentum of a recent state election victory, is targeting further gains in upcoming municipal elections in Lower Saxony, followed by state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, according to JTA. For Germany's Jewish communities, the combination of rising far-right electoral support and direct threats against communal leaders marks a deeply troubling convergence as the new year begins.

Thai Chabad House Cancels Rosh Hashanah Celebrations Over Security Fears

The Chabad House in Phuket, Thailand, has cancelled its Rosh Hashanah celebrations after approximately 500 protesters demonstrated outside the building on 11 September, according to JNS. Protesters carried signs reading "Save Phuket. No Israel." The cancellation means that Jewish visitors and residents in the area will be unable to mark the Jewish new year through their local communal hub. The incident is a stark illustration of how the conflict in the Middle East continues to affect Jewish community life far beyond the region.

UK Green Party Set to Debate 'Zionism Is Racism' Motion

A motion declaring "Zionism is racism" is to be debated at the upcoming UK Green Party conference, the Jewish Chronicle reports. The same motion also contains language defending Palestinian "armed struggle," and could become official party policy if passed. The report will alarm many in the British Jewish community, for whom such a motion — should it pass — would formally align one of the UK's parliamentary parties with a position widely regarded within the community as antisemitic. The Jewish Chronicle has reported the story as an exclusive.

Leeds Minster Gaza Tapestry 'Likely' to Feature Palestinian Terrorists

Also in the UK, Leeds' Jewish Representative Council has claimed that a Gaza-themed tapestry planned for Leeds Minster is "likely" to include depictions of Palestinian terrorists, according to the Jewish Chronicle. The council said the prospect had made the Jewish community "anxious and angry." The Jewish Chronicle describes the report as exclusive. No response from Leeds Minster was included in the available summary.

Israeli Consul General's Rosh Hashanah Warning Divides New York

Israel's consul general in New York, Ofir Akunis, has used his Rosh Hashanah message to compare New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to the Nazis, according to JTA. The remarks have drawn criticism from some on the left, who say the comparison is counterproductive. The intervention reflects deepening tensions within the New York Jewish community over how to respond to elected officials perceived as hostile to Israel and to Jewish concerns.

Jewish Women's Aid Warns of Holiday Vulnerability for Abuse Survivors

In the UK, the charity Jewish Women's Aid has warned that women in abusive relationships may face heightened risk during the High Holy Days, the Jewish Chronicle reports. The organisation has launched a campaign called "Home Should Feel Safe," with a focus on coercive control. The charity's message is a reminder that communal celebrations, which centre on family and home, can be particularly fraught for those experiencing domestic abuse.

Stuart Zimmer Resumes $100 Million Harvard Gift

Jewish billionaire Stuart Zimmer has resumed a $100 million donation to Harvard University after previously halting it in response to the university's handling of antisemitism following the Hamas-led attacks of October 2023, according to JNS, citing The Wall Street Journal. Zimmer had described himself as "appalled" by the university's initial response and "troubled" by subsequent antisemitism on campus. The resumption of the gift suggests he has reached a sufficient level of confidence in Harvard's direction, though JNS does not detail what specific changes, if any, prompted his decision.

J Street Escalates Campaign Against AIPAC-Backed Candidates

Following its previously reported $3 million spending pledge, J Street president Jeremy Ben-Ami has declared "It's a new era for us" as the organisation moves onto the offensive against congressional candidates it describes as AIPAC-backed, according to JTA. The escalating battle between the two major pro-Israel lobbying organisations over the shape of US policy reflects the increasingly fractured state of American Jewish political life ahead of the midterm cycle.

Holiday Greetings From World Leaders

Pope Leo sent Rosh Hashanah greetings to the chief rabbi of Rome, expressing hope that the celebrations would be "an occasion of abundant blessings from the Almighty and a source of joy," according to JNS. US President Donald Trump also issued a Rosh Hashanah message, stating "May you be inscribed in the Book of Life" and pledging to remain "steadfast" in what he described as a national faith revival and in fighting antisemitism and protecting religious liberty, per JNS.

9/11 at 25: Rabbis Reflect on a Holiday Unlike Any Other

This year's Erev Rosh Hashanah falls on the 25th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks. JTA has gathered testimony from rabbis who were serving congregations on that day, recounting memories including reciting Psalms in a morgue and abandoning prepared High Holiday sermons entirely. The confluence of dates adds a layer of collective grief and reflection to synagogue services across the United States as communities enter 5787.