Tuesday, May 13th 2025   |

Jews in the News

New mayor of Florence, Italy, is the first woman and first Jew to lead the historic city

By ROSELLA TERCATIN

(JTA) — In April, when a group of pro-Palestinian activists pressured Florence’s city hall to have the local honorary Israeli consul resign, they also took aim at a politician, Sara Funaro, who was running for mayor.

“We’re...

After 100-mile hike, Jewish Boy Scouts complete CPR rescue on airplane

By JACKIE HAJDENBERG

(JTA) — Earlier this month, a group of 10 Jewish Boy Scouts hiked more than 100 miles in New Mexico, but the trek wasn’t the most intense part of their trip. That came on the plane ride...

Barbra Streisand is known for her songs and movies. But this proud Jew is also a powerhouse philanthropist.

By LARRY LUXNER

(JTA) — Many people know Barbra Streisand as the awkward Jewish girl from Brooklyn who grew up to become one of the best-selling recording artists of all time — and an award-winning actor, director, producer, author, screenwriter...

Meet Jill Hausman, the real rabbi who grimaced through jokes about Jews on SNL’s ‘Weekend Update’

By JACKIE HAJDENBERG

(JTA) — For Rabbi Jill Hausman, spiritual leader of the Actors’ Temple in Manhattan’s Theater District, working with celebrities comes with the job description. 

So when she saw an email on Thursday from “Saturday Night Live,” asking...

With 1.6M followers, TikTok influencer Miriam Ezagui teaches the masses about her Orthodox lifestyle

By ELIZABETH KARPEN

(JTA) — “Hi my name is Miriam,” the video begins. “I’m an Orthodox Jew, and I share what my life is like.” 

So opens a typical TikTok post from Miriam Ezagui, a 37-year-old Brooklyn-based labor and delivery...

A Jewish expert on monuments on what Philly’s famous Rocky Balboa statue can teach us about memory

By JACOB GURVIS

(JTA) — Paul Farber was shocked when he first watched “Rocky” and saw a Star of David on the grave of Rocky Balboa’s coach, Mickey Goldmill.

As a Jew and as the founder of the Philadelphia-based Monument...

Meet Amichai Chikli, Israel’s new Diaspora minister, who opposes BDS and Reform Judaism

By ANDREW LAPIN

(JTA) – The Israeli ministry responsible for engaging with the half of the world’s Jews who don’t live in Israel has gotten a new name — and a leader who disdains the values of many American Jews.

Amichai...

Denver drops drug charges against ‘mushroom rabbi’ who promotes religious psychedelic use

By PHILISSA CRAMER

(JTA) — A Denver rabbi who promotes psychedelic use as part of spiritual practice will no longer face prosecution after Coloradans voted last month to legalize psilocybin, the chemical compound found in psychedelic mushrooms.

Denver’s district attorney’s...

A first kiss, then marriage: Two rabbis-to-be tie the knot at a fun-filled California wedding

By ALIX WALL

(JTA) — Zoe Dressner and Margeaux Wolberg had just one month free between graduating from college and when they were due in Jerusalem to begin rabbinical school. So, they figured, in addition to packing, finding an apartment...

Eating grasshoppers for Israel: On the bus with the army of pro-Israel TikTok influencers

By DEBORAH DANAN

(JTA) — A group of fired-up 20-somethings crush together in the aisle of the bus, singing at the top of their lungs, “WE’RE GOING ON A FIELD TRIP!,” while pouting for the dozen or so iPhones set...