Sep 12, 2026

Jewish News Today: Vienna's Stadttempel Reopens, UK Israel Sanctions Dominate Rosh Hashanah Eve, and Antisemitism Incidents Mount Across the Diaspora

As Jewish communities around the world prepare to usher in the year 5787, today's Jewish news is defined by a remarkable synagogue reopening in Vienna, deepening political tensions over Britain's Israel sanctions policy, a wave of antisemitic incidents in the United States, and solemn reflections as 9/11's 25th anniversary coincides with Rosh Hashanah eve. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has addressed Jewish diaspora communities in eight languages, calling for unity and pride at a moment of unusual weight and complexity.

Vienna's Stadttempel Reopens After Restoration

The Wiener Stadttempel — Vienna's central synagogue and the only one to survive Kristallnacht — has reopened to the Jewish community following more than ten months of restoration and renovation works, according to the Jüdische Allgemeine. The reopening came on Wednesday, two days before the start of Rosh Hashanah, allowing the community to mark the New Year in their restored home. For Vienna's Jewish community, the timing carries particular resonance: the building's survival is itself a symbol of Jewish continuity, and its return to use on the eve of the High Holidays will be felt deeply by worshippers.

Separately, the Jüdische Allgemeine reports that the Neue Synagoge Dresden is set to reopen next Monday following three and a half years of renovation work. The building's return marks a significant moment for the Jewish community in Saxony.

Herzog's Rosh Hashanah Message to the Jewish Diaspora

Israeli President Isaac Herzog released his New Year's greeting to Jewish communities around the world in eight languages, according to JNS. Herzog called for Jewish unity and pride, and separately issued a statement marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, saying Israel stands with America as its "greatest ally and friend." "We salute the families of those who lost loved ones, and we continue to bear witness to their sacrifice," Herzog was quoted as saying by JNS.

The coincidence of 9/11's 25th anniversary with the eve of Rosh Hashanah drew wide reflection across Jewish media today. A Jerusalem memorial ceremony was attended by families, first responders, and officials, reaffirming the US-Israel bond, JNS reports. In New York's Lower Manhattan, the overlapping commemorations created logistical challenges for local Jewish residents: Rabbi Nissi Eber, co-director of the Chabad in Manhattan's financial district, told JNS that street closures for the 9/11 memorial could complicate last-minute holiday preparations — "It may be a little harder to get our brisket order from the butcher with the street closures," he said. The Forward also reported on a little-known piece of history: after the 2001 attacks, Jewish volunteers performed shmira — the traditional practice of keeping watch over the dead — in the aftermath of the disaster, a story whose grief, the publication notes, endures 25 years on.

UK Israel Sanctions: Community Fear, Political Fracture, Hamas Praise

The political storm over Britain's sanctions policy toward Israel continued to dominate diaspora conversation today, with several significant developments.

British Jews rallied outside Downing Street, with protesters telling the Jewish Chronicle they fear the government's sanctions will "embolden the mob" and that they are afraid for their children. The demonstration followed Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's announcement of trade restrictions on goods from Israeli settlements. In a striking development reported by both the Jüdische Allgemeine and the Jewish Chronicle, Hamas official Basem Naim publicly praised the UK's position, welcoming the sanctions — a fact that critics have seized upon as evidence of the policy's moral implications. The Jewish Chronicle's editorial argues that Hamas's congratulations expose "the moral bankruptcy of the government's Israel policy."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has hinted at reversing Labour's Israel sanctions if he comes to power, according to the Jewish Chronicle. He spoke to Israel's foreign minister, though the Chronicle does not report the details of that conversation. The UK Communities Secretary, meanwhile, used a Rosh Hashanah message published in the Jewish Chronicle to pledge the government would "tackle antisemitism wherever it is found" and ensure Jewish people could "live proudly, safely and free from fear."

On a specific legal question raised by Miliband's announcement, the Jewish Chronicle reports exclusively that the government has clarified to the paper that Israeli Jews praying at the Western Wall is not unlawful under the new policy — a clarification sought after the foreign secretary's language raised concerns in the community.

JNS published an analysis suggesting the UK boycott may have limited economic impact overall, noting that Israeli exports of goods and services total approximately $159 billion, of which around $250 million originates from the areas affected by the restrictions.

Jerusalem's Chargé d'Affaires to the UK, writing in the Jewish Chronicle, expressed hope that Britain would "alter its path with Israel in the New Year," calling for a renewed partnership based on historic ties.

Antisemitism Incidents Across the United States

A cluster of antisemitism stories from across the US underscores the persistent threat facing Jewish communities as they enter the High Holiday period.

In Chicago, police are seeking a suspect in an antisemitic assault on the city's Red Line train. According to JNS, a 32-year-old man was allegedly pepper-sprayed and punched in the face while the suspect made antisemitic statements.

In Ventura, Southern California, JNS reports three separate incidents of antisemitic vandalism over Labor Day weekend. Mayor Jeannette Sánchez-Palacios was quoted calling the acts "intended to make members of our Jewish community feel unsafe," describing them as "an attack on the values we share as a community."

In New York, the Manhattan District Attorney has announced hate crime charges against the alleged attacker of Central Synagogue. A witness told JNS of the defendant at a court appearance: "He didn't say a word. I was on the row behind him, and he looked like he might fall asleep."

In Virginia, JNS reports that a congressional candidate, Shelly Arnoldi, reposted content on social media featuring Adolf Hitler, defending Nazi book burnings, and promoting material from a Holocaust denier — the latest in a pattern of antisemitic rhetoric the publication says has previously drawn criticism.

In the education sphere, the California Department of Education has ruled that the Los Angeles school district erred when it found that a teacher's lack of intent meant she had not discriminated against Jewish students, JNS reports. Emet Legal Services told JNS the ruling "sends an unmistakable message to school boards across California" that intent cannot be used as a shield against bias claims. Separately, a Colorado school district has settled with the ADL and agreed to policy reforms to address antisemitic harassment. "The pain of the last several years of targeted antisemitic harassment will now give way to meaningful, district-wide changes," said James Pasch of the ADL, according to JNS.

Jewish groups are also planning to protest against antisemitism outside the United Nations, JTA reports, as the UN General Assembly season gets underway in New York.

Maryland Synagogue Wins Legal Protection for High Holidays

A Maryland judge has shielded a synagogue from local gun restrictions in time for the High Holidays, JNS reports. Rabbi J. Menashe Shapiro told JNS: "We now have the ability to ensure the protection of our institution as we go into this critical time."

Toronto Mayor Skips Debate on Antisemitism

In Canada, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow did not attend a mayoral debate focused on antisemitism and public safety, JNS reports. "Hundreds of Torontonians came together for an important conversation about antisemitism, public safety and the future of our city. Mayor Chow chose not to be there," a mayoral candidate was quoted as saying by JNS. The decision drew criticism from those who organised and attended the event.

Germany: AfD Victory Prompts Outreach to Jewish Communities

Following the AfD's electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt, Baden-Württemberg Minister-President Cem Özdemir personally called Jewish communities, according to the Jüdische Allgemeine, which cited a Der Spiegel interview. Özdemir's outreach reflects the anxiety the far-right party's continued electoral gains are producing in Germany's Jewish institutions.

Adidas Under Pressure Over Hate Campaign Against Israeli Veteran

The Jüdische Allgemeine reports that Adidas is facing scrutiny after an Israeli former soldier, Shalev Biton — one of eleven athletes with amputations featured in a campaign the brand intended to celebrate inclusion — became the target of a hate wave. The incident has put the company in a difficult position, the publication reports, without specifying the precise nature of the public pressure Adidas is facing.