Outspoken critic of Israel and prolific children’s novelist and poet Michael Rosen has been appointed the fifth children’s laureate.

Rosen, who has written over 140 books succeeds Jacqueline Wilson and will hold the title for two years.

“I hope that I’ll be able to boost all children’s reading for pleasure but also to give a special lift to the wonderful diverse world of poetry for children,” he says. “I see my job as Children’s Laureate being an ambassador for fun with books.”

Looks like showbiz mogul Simon Cowell can trace his roots back as a member of the tribe.

The American Idol to Britain’s Got Talent judge has paternal grandparents who were married at an East London synagogue. His father Eric, was born to Joseph Cowell and Esther Malinsky.  Joseph and Esther got married in 1915 at West Ham Synagogue.

Simon Sebag-Montefiore, the Jewish brother-in-law of celebrity socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson has revealed that Prince Charles wears a yarmulke with his Royal feathers on it.

Having wed Palmer-Tomkinson’s sister Santa at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John’s Wood following her conversion to the faith, the wedding saw a star-studded attendance including Prince Charles.