Obituary

Remembering Rochelle Furstenberg: A groundbreaking writer, editor, and literary critic

Rochelle grew up in Chicago, and later moved to New York to continue her studies. Her husband, Prof. Hillel Furstenberg, was born in Berlin and escaped with his family to New York in 1939.

Rochelle Furstenberg at work at WholeFamily.com where she was  Grandparent Center editor, 1999-2000.
Israeli actor and musician Ili Gorlizki. October 21, 2015.

The king and the cobbler: How Illi Gorlitzky built the language of the Israeli stage

Israeli editor, television and public radio reporter Menashe Raz. September 12, 2007.

Israeli TV presenter, journalist, director Menashe Raz dies at 80

Rabbi Albert Axelrad, shown above in 1982, was chaplain and Hillel rabbi at Brandeis University for 34 years, starting in 1965.

Albert Axelrad, Brandeis Hillel rabbi who championed pluralism and social justice, dies at 87


An ode to Amnon Rubenstein: The best politician Israel ever had

MIDDLE ISRAEL: Amnon Rubinstein passed away while Israel grapples with the worst crisis in its history; and craves a new political dawn that will replace a departing era’s surplus of divisive leaders

AMNON RUBINSTEIN (right) with then-prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Shulamit Aloni, in 1994.

Soldier with no bigger love than the Israeli flag killed by Hamas

Idan, a sergeant-major in Battalion 8208, Brigade 261, was among the 21 tragically killed when Hamas forces fired an RPG on multiple adjacent structures on Monday.

 The Israeli flag.

Fallen soldier Daniel Kasau Zegeye among first to enlist after Oct. 7

"He instilled in us immense motivation to succeed in life," family members said of their fallen loved one.

Warrant Officer (res.) Daniel Kasau Zegeye.

Innovator of AI rescue tech, fatally struck in Gaza battle

Adam Bismut founded and was the CEO of the start-up company SightBit, which developed a camera that helps rescuers see activities and signs of distress in the water from a long distance.

 Warrant Officer (res.) Adam Bismut.

IDF reservist, recently released, dies shortly after being honored with distinction

Berger was raised by a single mother and came to Israel as a lone soldier.

 Sgt. First Class (res.) Nicholas Berger.

‘He brought peace’: IDF officer Itamar Tal fell in Gaza

He relished spending time with friends, traveling abroad, savoring good food, engaging in sports, and holding a special bond with his five nephews.

 Warrant Officer (res.) Itamar Tal.

Boston writer Norm Finkelstein, whose YA books championed Jewish heroes, dies at 82

Finkelstein was an acclaimed author of nonfiction books and biographies for older children, including many on Jewish subjects.

 Norm Finkelstein was the author more than 20 nonfiction books for children and teens, including a forthcoming biography of the legendary Forward editor Ab. Cahan.

Zvi Zamir, Mossad director during Yom Kippur War, dies at 98

He is remembered as having warned of an attack before the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, but was ignored by military intelligence.

 Zvi Zamir, Mossad chief from 1968-1974, who died January 2, 2024, at age 98.

Rabbi Laurie Phillips, founder of a Manhattan ‘synagogue without walls,’ dies at 55

 Rabbi Laurie Phillips founded the New York-based “synagogue without walls” Beinenu.

Remembering Avraham Avi-Hai: a man of many paths

From working in journalism at the Jerusalem Post to working in politics, Avi-Hai never tired in his love of Israel or his love for the Jewish people.

Avraham Avi-hai at his home in Jerusalem’s Yemin Moshe neighborhood.