By BEN SALES NEW YORK CITY (JTA)–Forty Jews were arrested at a New York City protest against Amazon’s work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Sunday, Aug. 11, protest was one of more than 50 similar Jewish demonstrations that were held across the country to mark Tisha B’Av, the traditional Jewish day of mourning, in opposition to U.S. immigration policy. […]

By MARCY OSTER NEW YORK CITY (JTA) – A New York suburb with a large haredi Orthodox population has declared a state of emergency over a serious measles outbreak. Rockland County will prohibit unvaccinated minors under the age of 18 from going to public places, including school, shopping centers, business and synagogues. The prohibition, started Tuesday night, March 26, lasts […]

By BEN SALES NEW YORK CITY (JTA) – When New York state recently liberalized its abortion law, the Catholic Church and Southern Baptist Convention unsurprisingly released statements slamming the action. They were joined by two large Orthodox Jewish religious organizations: the Rabbinical Council of America and Agudath Israel of America. The RCA is the umbrella group for centrist Orthodox rabbis. Agudah […]

(JTA) — The Chasidic community of Kiryas Joel in New York has become what is said to be the first official haredi Orthodox town in the United States. Kiryas Joel, a village of over 20,000 Yiddish-speaking Jews, became the town of Palm Tree on Jan. 1 when it officially split from the Town of Monroe located in upstate Orange County, […]

The Albany Times Union DOTHAN, Ala. – She was already going to be late to the church, where once again she would try to explain her religion, even though it seemed like most people in her town never really get it. And now the latkes are burning. Lisa Priddle wonders why she is trying so hard, why she is prepping […]

NEW YORK (JTA) – An item that belonged to Marilyn Monroe is being put up for auction and it’s not quite what you’d expect. Next month, one lucky fan of the late actress will be able to acquire a Jewish prayer book, or siddur, that she owned. The cream-colored book, which was published in 1922, is being sold at an auction by J. Greenstein […]

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that Colson Whitehead has been named New York’s 12th State author and that Alicia Ostriker has been named New York’s 11th State poet. Whitehead, novelist, journalist, memoirist, and nonfiction writer will receive the New York State Edith Wharton Citation of Merit for Fiction Writers; and Ostriker will receive the New York State Walt Whitman […]

NEW YORK CITY (JTA) – Julia Salazar, whose revised claims to Jewish identity raised questions and challenges in the media, won her race for a New York State Senate seat in Thursday, Sept. 13, Democratic primary. The democratic socialist defeated 16-year incumbent Martin Malavé Dilan by 59-41 percent in a local but closely watched contest. Salazar’s biography came under close scrutiny when […]

By JOSEFIN DOLSTEN NEW YORK CITY (JTA) — New York City subway riders are used to all sorts of delays — but not usually those caused by wandering goats. Recently, The New York Times reported that two goats wreaked havoc on the N subway line in Brooklyn. Social media users, including the subway’s official account, had fun with the bizarre event. Subway staff and police […]

(JTA) — New York Mayor Bill de Blasio pushed back against criticisms that he has been soft on yeshivas that have illegally declined to offer their students secular studies. Speaking at a recent  press conference , de Blasio said that city officials had “engaged in a dialogue with a number of schools” that was “very productive.” Likely responding to recent harsh […]