The Times of Israel

A French court Thursday ordered a painting by French impressionist Camille Pissarro to be returned to the descendants of its rightful owner after Nazis stole it during World War II. The Paris court found “all successive sales of the disputed painting since its spoliation” to be null and void, and “ordered the restitution of the work, wherever and in whoever’s possession it may be found,” to Jewish art collector Salomon Flavian's descendants, according to a ruling seen by AFP. It ordered Sotheby’s to disclose to Flavian’s family the identity of the buyer from the 2024 sale within two months, subject to a penalty of 1,000 euros ($1,120) for each day beyond that deadline. Read more on The Times of Israel. timesofisrael.com/french-cou…

More than 1,000 synagogues and Jewish institutions worldwide are expected to leave their lights burning overnight Monday to mark the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, as part of an ongoing Israeli initiative. The annual “Spread the Light” campaign aims to commemorate the Nazi pogrom of November 9-10, 1938, when Jewish homes, businesses and institutions across Germany and Austria were attacked, hundreds of Jews were killed and thousands were sent to concentration camps. Historians view the pogrom as a precursor to the Holocaust. Participants are encouraged to photograph their illuminated buildings and share the images on social media with the hashtag #SpreadtheLight. “The night of Kristallnacht was a clear turning point for the Nazis in their quest to destroy the Jews,” Dalia Yohanan, who coordinates the project through her organization, Or Dolek. “After that, they saw that they could do anything they wanted and the world would be silent.” Read more on The Times of Israel. timesofisrael.com/synagogues…

Trump presses Netanyahu to advance Gaza plan after election — report timesofisrael.com/liveblog_e…

In 2016, a mysterious letter listing artworks looted during WWII sent the grandchildren of two German Jewish industrialists on a quest to reclaim their heritage. Presented through a special collaboration between @docu.nation and The Times of Israel Community, director Mooly Landsman follows this poignant journey through a maze of bureaucracy, concealment, and denial. Standing by their side is an unexpected ally: Fritz Enderlein, an 88-year-old German lawyer who once fought in the Wehrmacht and now dedicates his life to returning stolen art to its rightful Jewish owners. Streaming now until November 12, 2026. Join the ToI Community at the link in our bio, or go to timesofisrael.com/join to watch the film and access exclusive Q&As presented with DocuNation.

Yair Golan lashes Liberman: ‘He’s welcome to form a government with Netanyahu’ timesofisrael.com/liveblog_e…

President Isaac Herzog formally tasks Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel’s next government at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, after 67 lawmakers recommended him for the role, compared to 46 who backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Eisenkot has received the “clear and unequivocal support” of a majority of Knesset members on the question of who has the best chance of forming a government, Herzog says, acknowledging that Likud remains the largest party. He urges Eisenkot to establish a government that serves all Israelis, whether they voted for the outgoing government or for the bloc of parties that opposed it. “With the mandate entrusted to me here today, I will lead the establishment of a national emergency government,” Eisenkot declares, stressing that “this will require creative and unconventional political moves.” Read more on The Times of Israel.

Prosecutors say 17 babies and toddlers were subjected to choking, restraint and force-feeding at daycare in Ariel; one of the mothers: ‘My son wakes up screaming 15 times a night’ Read more: timesofisrael.com/daycare-ma…

Liberman says flexibility on Haredi draft doesn’t mean ‘red lines are erased,’ denies sabotaging Eisenkot timesofisrael.com/liveblog_e…

Nearly 20 years later, Daniella Kahane, by now a filmmaker, returned to Columbia in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 2023 terror invasion of Israel. She decided to produce a follow-up film about how the situation had deteriorated since she left the campus. The upcoming documentary, “Inside the Gates,” takes a wider view than the 2004 film by examining foreign funding, social trends and university structures at Columbia and other elite US universities. Read more: timesofisrael.com/20-years-a…

In first, Israeli official elected to UN oversight committee with support of 134 countries timesofisrael.com/liveblog_e…

Report: Ra’am willing to vote for new Eisenkot-led government even without coalition deal timesofisrael.com/liveblog_e…

Leah Stern: “One bad moment with her became, in our house, her whole character.” Leah is passionate about helping startups tell their stories and reach their target audiences. As a PR expert, Leah has successfully delivered thousands of media placements in top broadcast and print media in over 150 countries, working closely with the CEO and the portfolio companies. Previously, Leah served as an investor relations consultant, a PR and social media officer at the Israeli Embassy in Rome, and a journalist for various media outlets, including CNN and The Jerusalem Post. Read the full post on The Blogs. *The posts on The Blogs are contributed by third parties, and don't necessarily reflect the views of The Times of Israel.

Saudi Arabia says it shot down Houthi missile fired at eastern part of kingdom timesofisrael.com/liveblog-n…

Late in his blitz to salvage Republicans’ midterm fortunes, Vice President JD Vance shifted strategy. He talked less about President Donald Trump and more about the issues that define his own political identity. The change was deliberate, according to two people familiar with the strategy. Vance and his advisers saw the issues he championed — economic nationalism, foreign policy restraint, and public safety — as politically potent subjects he could address with authority. While Trump embraced them as part of his MAGA movement, Vance had emerged as their lead crusader, the people said. Read more on The Times of Israel.

Right now, Leonard Cohen is on many of his fans’ minds. The Canadian poet, novelist and singer-songwriter died Nov. 7, 2016, just one day before US President Donald Trump was first elected. Ten years later, as the Democrat “blue wave” hopes to close the bracket on a president who once memed himself as Jesus personified, Cohen’s legacy has become effortlessly epic — even biblical — in quite a different way. Read more on The Times of Israel. timesofisrael.com/10-years-a…

President Isaac Herzog will task Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot with forming Israel’s next government tomorrow at 5 p.m., the President’s Residence announces. Eisenkot will formally receive the mandate at a ceremony at the President’s Residence tomorrow. He will then have 28 days to form a government, with Herzog authorized to grant him an extension of up to 14 days if necessary. Read more: timesofisrael.com/liveblog_e…

In this week's episode of "A Mandatory Listen," host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaks with Palestinian activist and writer Samah Salaime to hear why this past election was so significant for the Arab Israeli voter. Salaime is a longtime contributor to the +972 Magazine, where she focuses on feminism and Arab-Jewish relations. A social worker by education and training, Salaime was a fellow at the prestigious Mandel School for Educational Leadership and, among other accolades, was awarded the Rappaport Prize for Longstanding Achievement in 2020. Stream the newest episode anywhere you get your podcasts.

Netanyahu demands ‘national unity’ government as he claims Arab parties ‘want to eliminate Israel’ timesofisrael.com/liveblog_e…

Yair Golan says open to government with Haredim but demands they enlist and ‘respect our way of life’ timesofisrael.com/liveblog_e…