Monday, December 8th 2025   |

National

Alleged hit and run driver that killed hasidic couple turns himself in

(JTA) — The man identified as the driver of the car that killed a young hasidic couple in New York, whose newborn baby later died, surrendered to police.

Julio Acevedo, 44, of Brooklyn was arrested in the parking lot of...

State of Ohio purchases record $42 million in Israel bonds

(JTA) — Ohio has bought $42 million in Israel Bonds, reportedly the largest single government purchase of Israel Bonds in U.S. history. The March 1 purchase increases the total amount of Israel Bonds in the state’s treasury portfolio to more...

Senator Carl Levin won’t run again

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), a veteran Jewish lawmaker who for years was a major influence in defense policy, will not seek reelection.

Levin, 78, was quoted Thursday by The Associated Press as saying that his decision was...

Obama to Jews: Peace essential, but prospects bleak

By RON KAMPEAS

WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Obama believes prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace are “bleak,” but he still will urge both sides to avoid unilateral actions that might further damage a process he hopes will be back on track within...

Empire halts production for a day leading to fears of kosher chicken shortage

(JTA) — Empire Kosher shut down production of kosher chickens for one day, leading to fears of a shortage for Passover.

The plant in Mifflintown, Pa., was scheduled to resume production on Monday after closing down on Feb. 28, Haaretz...

Pollard clemency petition reaches 103,000 signatures

JERUSALEM (JTA) — More than 103,000 people have signed a petition calling on President Obama to free imprisoned spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard.

The petition, which appears in Hebrew and English, was placed online Feb. 11 and will be hand...

Congress introduces bill to make Israel ‘major strategic ally’

WASHINGTON (JTA) — A Republican and a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation that would make Israel a “major strategic ally,” a unique designation.

The bill, introduced Monday by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Ted Deutch (D-FL),...

Netanyahu pledges to ask Obama for Pollard clemency

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to ask President Obama to grant clemency to Jonathan Pollard while Obama was in Israel.

Netanyahu met Monday with Pollard’s wife, Esther, in advance of Obama’s visit scheduled for later this...

Oberlin College cancels classes over racial, anti-Semitic incidents

(JTA) — Oberlin College canceled classes to convene a “day of solidarity” following a series of racial and anti-Semitic incidents. Classes at the school in northern Ohio were suspended on Monday after someone wearing a Ku Klux Klan-like hood and robe...

Biden: Obama not ‘bluffing’ on Iran

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Vice President Joe Biden said President Obama is “not bluffing” when he says he will stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

The U.S. commitment “is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon period, end of...