A new study by Prof. Shalva Weil from the Seymour Fox School of Education at the Hebrew University reveals that the unique Purim traditions of the Cochin Jewish community, particularly the use of effigies as symbols of resistance and social inversion, have disappeared following their migration to Israel. Once deeply embedded in their communal identity in India, these traditions faded as the community integrated into the broader global Jewish experience. While Cochin Jewry no longer exists as a significant presence in India beyond positive memories, their cultural legacy persists in Israel, albeit in a transformed and assimilated manner.

University of Texas at Arlington physicist Ben Jones has received an international honor for his contributions to developing advanced instruments used in particle physics research. Dr. Jones, an associate professor of physics, was awarded the 2025 International Committee for Future Accelerators (ICFA) Early Career Researcher Instrumentation Award. Presented by the ICFA Instrumentation Innovation and Development Panel, the award recognizes significant advancements in the innovation and development of new instrumentation for future accelerator experiments.