Sep 13, 2026

Jewish News Today: Over 50 Jewish Organisations Declare 'Zionism Is Part of Jewish Identity' as New Year Messages Focus on Iran

As the Jewish world moves into the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, diaspora leaders gathered in Jerusalem to reaffirm a foundational principle: that Zionism is inseparable from Jewish identity. The declaration came alongside New Year messages from world leaders focused sharply on the threat from Iran, and news of a significant artistic response to the collective trauma of October 7.

Diaspora Leaders in Jerusalem: 'Zionism Is Part of Jewish Identity'

In one of the most significant statements from the Jewish diaspora in recent memory, presidents, chief executive officers, chief rabbis and other senior leaders from over 50 Jewish organisations gathered in Jerusalem to formally declare that Zionism is part of Jewish identity. According to JNS, the gathering was a reaffirmation of commitment to Jewish self-determination.

The declaration carries particular weight for Jewish communities in the UK, Germany and the United States, where the equation of Zionism with racism has gained traction in parts of mainstream political discourse — most recently illustrated by the proposal to debate "Zionism is racism" at a Green party conference, covered in yesterday's article. The Jerusalem gathering represents a co-ordinated, institutional pushback from diaspora leadership: not a fringe view, but the stated position of more than fifty major communal organisations.

For diaspora Jews who have faced social and professional pressure over their support for Israel, the statement from such a broad coalition of communal figures offers both validation and a collective framework for responding to that pressure.

Iran: Trump's Warning and Netanyahu's New Year Message

The Iranian nuclear threat dominated New Year messaging from both the Israeli government and the White House. According to JNS, US President Donald Trump stated that if Iran had obtained nuclear weapons, it would have "blown up" Israel, the Middle East and parts of Europe. Trump further claimed, according to JNS, that the Islamic Republic had been just two weeks away from obtaining the bomb.

In his own Rosh Hashanah greeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump for what he called "historic progress" in curbing Iran, according to JNS. "In the year ahead, we will continue to make the world safer for all," Netanyahu said. The convergence of these two statements — one from the US president, one from the Israeli prime minister — signals that the Iran nuclear file remains the dominant strategic concern heading into 5787.

For diaspora communities, particularly in Europe, Trump's explicit reference to parts of Europe being at risk in a nuclear scenario is a reminder that the Iranian threat is not geographically distant. Jewish community security bodies in the UK and Germany have consistently flagged Iranian state-linked activity as a threat to local communities, and that backdrop gives Trump's words a pointed resonance beyond the Middle East.

Israeli-Lebanese Talks Set to Resume in the United States

JNS reports that Israeli-Lebanese talks are slated to resume in the United States. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with local communities in the country's southeast, in an area not far from where IDF troops destroyed a major Hezbollah base, according to JNS. The resumption of talks represents a continuing diplomatic process following the military campaign against Hezbollah.

Jerusalem Biennale to Address October 7 Trauma Through Art

This year's Jerusalem Biennale will bring together internationally acclaimed artists to explore collective trauma and healing in the wake of October 7, according to JNS. The event will feature artists Yehudit Sasportas, Belu-Simion Fainaru and Hanita Ilan, and will take place in Israel's capital.

The Biennale offers diaspora visitors and art communities a cultural entry point into questions that many Jewish communities are still processing: how do you represent catastrophe, grief and resilience through contemporary Jewish art? For diaspora artists and institutions grappling with the same themes from afar, the Jerusalem gathering may serve as both inspiration and reference point.

One in Three IDF Reservists Facing Financial Crisis

An Israeli nonprofit called Daf Hadash, which helps IDF reservists manage debt incurred during the war, has received a resilience award, JNS reports. According to Daf Hadash CEO Tomer Rabinowitz, one third of IDF reservists are grappling with debt and financial crisis as a result of the war.

While this story is centred in Israel, it has direct relevance to diaspora communities with family members serving as reservists, and to the many diaspora fundraising networks that have channelled support to Israeli families since October 7. The scale of financial hardship — one in three reservists affected, according to Rabinowitz — underlines that the economic consequences of the war are far from resolved nearly two years on.

Israeli Research: A Sense of Purpose Linked to Healthier Cognitive Ageing

An Israeli study has found a strong link between a sense of personal worth and cognitive performance in older adults, pointing to purpose as a path to healthier ageing, according to JNS. The analysis adds to a growing body of research from Israeli institutions on wellbeing and resilience — themes that have taken on heightened significance across the Jewish world since October 7.

From the MoT Shop

If today's news has you thinking about Jewish identity and community pride, the MoT best sellers collection is a good place to start — browse our most popular items, or explore funny Jewish shirts that wear that identity with a smile.