An organization that helps build communities of newcomers from former Soviet countries has adapted the Jewish holiday's all-night study tradition

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman brings headlines from the annual Herzliya Conference; religion reporter Canaan Lidor on stymied conversions and dying European communities

Cautionary statements come as likely coalition members propose measures that would dramatically reduce immigration, delegitimize non-Orthodox conversions

Though 70% of Jewish local authorities ban cultural sites from opening on day of rest, 58% of such centers and 82% of museums operate; over a quarter of shopping malls also open

US correspondent Jacob Magid on a new Palestinian bid for UN membership, as Diaspora affairs reporter Judah Ari Gross talks of seeking to become a Jew, or a doctor, in Israel

Contentious proposal for accepting Jewish conversions meant to give more power to local authorities, but liberal critics say it doesn't go far enough

Only 30, convert Nichols is a rising star in a party losing Jewish MPs while still reckoning with years of antisemitism accusations under Jeremy Corbyn

Matan Kahana touts 'historic opportunity' to address problem of close to half a million Israeli residents of Jewish ancestry who are not considered Jewish by state

Finance minister tells Lau he must fulfill terms of his job or be ousted; plenum vote on bill pushed off two weeks due to lack of support

David Lau tells PM framework being proposed by religious affairs minister will split the Jewish people