Report: Israeli fighter jets, refueling planes hold massive drill aimed at Tehran

By Times of Israel— Israeli fighter jets carried out a large drill over the Mediterranean that included practicing mid-air refueling, according to a report in a Saudi-run news outlet Thursday. The unverified report in London-based Elaph described air maneuvers on Thursday by “an unusually large” contingent of F-15, F-16 and F-35 fighter craft, as well…

Lapid talks with Turkish FM, in first acknowledged call in 13 years

By Times of Israel— Foreign Minister Yair Lapid spoke Thursday by phone with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, amid an apparent thaw in relations between Jerusalem and Ankara. According to Lapid’s office, Cavusoglu called to inquire about the foreign minister’s health following his COVID-19 diagnosis. The phone call was the first between Israeli and Turkish…

How Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker’s training helped fellow hostages survive the Texas synagogue attack

By Holly Yan, CNN— Behind Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker’s warm, disarming smile is a leader who’s willing to attack an armed man holding his congregants hostage. On Saturday, a stranger knocked on the door of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. The rabbi, assuming the stranger needed shelter from the cold, invited him in and made…

Prince Charles commissions Holocaust survivor portraits for Buckingham Palace

By Cnaan Lipshiz, JTA— The United Kingdom’s Prince Charles has commissioned portraits of seven Holocaust survivors to be displayed at Buckingham Palace for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Charles, whose title is the Prince of Wales, commissioned the portraits as part of his service as the royal patron of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, a position…