Jewish News Today: Holocaust Survivor Dies from Bondi Beach Attack as Midterm Fallout Reshapes Jewish Political Landscape

Eva Geller, a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor, has died from injuries sustained in the Bondi Beach terror attack, raising the death toll from that incident to 16, according to JNS. Her death comes as American Jewish communities absorb the results of this week's midterm elections, which have triggered significant debate about antisemitism, Israel policy, and the political choices of Jewish voters across the diaspora.

Bondi Beach Attack: Death Toll Rises to 16

Eva Geller, aged 90, had been repeatedly hospitalised since she was shot at a Chanukah celebration in Sydney nearly a year ago, JNS reports. Her death raises the confirmed toll from the Bondi Beach terror attack to 16. That a Holocaust survivor — a person who had already lived through the worst organised violence of the twentieth century — should die as a result of an attack on a Jewish communal celebration marks a moment of profound grief for Jewish communities worldwide.

Montreal Kosher Bakery Destroyed in Suspected Arson

A Montreal kosher bakery was devastated by a suspected arson attack on Wednesday morning, according to the Forward and JTA. The incident was described as the second of two alleged arson attempts directed at the same Jewish-owned bakery. No further details about the bakery's name or any suspects were provided in the available reports. The attack is the latest in a pattern of physical targeting of Jewish-owned businesses in the diaspora.

US Midterms: What the Results Mean for Jewish Communities

The fallout from Tuesday's US midterm elections continued to generate significant coverage and commentary across the Jewish press on Friday, with several new developments and data points emerging.

A poll commissioned by J Street, the liberal Zionist lobby group, found that democracy was the top concern among Jewish voters in the midterms — ranking above Israel and antisemitism — according to JTA. The same survey found that 31 percent of respondents support eliminating aid to Israel. A separate exit poll reported by the Forward found that Jewish voters overwhelmingly backed Democrats, even as concerns about Israel and antisemitism played a growing role in their political decisions.

Experts quoted by JNS raised pointed concerns about the results. Mark Goldfeder of the National Jewish Advocacy Center told JNS that the United States is close to a "danger point" with a new class of politicians who, in his words, hold hostility toward Israel and Jews — adding that "in these races, antisemitism wasn't disqualifying."

Jewish congressman Josh Gottheimer told JNS the midterm results were "a victory for team common sense," characterising the Democratic gains as a win for the mainstream party rather than its socialist wing. Jewish congressman Greg Landsman was separately reported by JNS to have been re-elected in Ohio despite Republican redistricting efforts. In Michigan, Jewish state senator Jeremy Moss won election to Congress, according to JNS. The election of Abdul El-Sayed to the US Senate has divided Michigan's Jewish community, the Forward reports, with some Jewish Democrats celebrating the result while others remain deeply uneasy.

Following his comments reported in yesterday's article, JD Vance's post-election remarks about needing to "change our relationship" with Israel drew a sharp response from JNS opinion writers, who argued the Republican Party should reject his advice.

Herzog: Israeli Political Discourse Damages Diaspora Jews

Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned that Israel's internal political discourse has a "dramatic impact" on diaspora Jews, according to JNS. Herzog urged political leaders to project a less hostile and more embracing message, saying the country's actions affect Jews around the world. The statement carries particular weight given the ongoing political uncertainty in Israel, where former military chief Gadi Eisenkot has secured the backing of 67 of 120 Knesset members — a majority — but has not yet been permitted to form a government, according to JTA, JNS, and the Forward. The Jüdische Allgemeine notes that the path to office remains far from clear despite the parliamentary milestone.

US–Israel Aid: 'From Aid to Partnership'

Israel's Prime Minister's Office publicly backed an agreement between Netanyahu and Trump to end nearly $4 billion in annual US military aid by the end of 2026, framing the shift as a move "from aid to partnership," according to JNS. The Jüdische Allgemeine separately reported that Trump has stated he will soon announce a decision on whether to resume the war against Iran, with the declared goal of that conflict — begun in February alongside Israel — being the elimination of Iran's nuclear programme. The same outlet examined what the end of American military assistance would mean for Israel's defence capacity.

Berlin: Left Party Moves to Expel Anti-Israel MLA

In Germany, veteran Left Party politician Gregor Gysi has publicly called for the expulsion of Berliner parliamentarian Vanessa Emde from the Left Party's parliamentary group, telling reporters: "I hope that we expel her," according to the Jüdische Allgemeine. The paper also reported that Emde brought a "radical anti-Israel activist" into a parliamentary group meeting at the Berlin state legislature, contrary to house rules, according to multiple German media reports. The episode has intensified scrutiny of the Left Party's internal culture around Israel-related politics.

UK: Aide to Home Secretary Backed Anti-Israel Divestment Motion

The Jewish Chronicle has revealed that Marcus Bernasconi, an aide employed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in her Birmingham constituency office, supported an anti-Israel divestment motion alongside other Labour councillors — a motion the Chronicle describes as "sectarian." The revelation follows wider reporting on Birmingham Council's divestment vote. Jewish communal leaders in the UK will note that the story now reaches directly into the Home Secretary's own office.

Antisemitism in US Schools and Streets

California's state education department found that the Orange County School of the Arts improperly handled a complaint involving a teacher who allegedly discussed the Holocaust inappropriately and wore an anti-Israel shirt to class, JNS reports. Separately, the NYPD released images of a suspect and appealed for public assistance in identifying a man who spat on a person and made anti-Jewish comments in September — an incident now being investigated as a hate crime, according to JNS.

Kristallnacht Commemoration in Berlin

March of the Living brought international police leaders to Berlin for a Kristallnacht commemoration, JNS reports. Holocaust survivor George Shefi, 94, addressed the gathering, which focused on the practical challenge of protecting Jewish communities. The event underlines the ongoing concern, shared across UK, German, and American Jewish communities, that physical security for Jews cannot be taken for granted.

UK Jewish Film Festival Opens in London

The 2026 UK Jewish Film Festival opened in London this week, with jury awards going to Tell Me Everything, Father Father, and Shalom, according to the Jewish Chronicle. The ten-day festival also introduced a new prize this year, the Judy Ironside Award.

Sources

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