Philissa Cramer
By Philissa Cramer
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Fast Forward Team Israel’s Olympic baseball run ends after 9th-inning loss to Dominican Republic
(JTA) — Israel’s improbable quest for an Olympic medal in baseball ended Tuesday after the team featuring several former Major League ballplayers fell in a close match to the Dominican Republic. Israel led 6-5 going into the ninth inning, but a home run followed by a string of singles propelled the Dominican Republic to a…
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Fast Forward Jackie Mason was a Jewish American comedy icon. These videos show why.
(JTA) — Jackie Mason, who died Saturday at 93, didn’t always set out to be a comedian. In fact, it wasn’t until he was 30 that he left behind the Orthodox rabbinate for irreverent open-mic nights. Mason, born Yacov Moshe Maza to Orthodox parents, was one of the last survivors of the Borscht Belt comedy…
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Fast Forward Tokyo Olympics creative director fired over 1990s comedy skit mocking the Holocaust
(JTA) — The creative director of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony has been fired after a Holocaust joke he made during a 1990s comedy skit drew attention this week. Kentaro Kobayashi, a popular comedian and actor, joked during a television appearance in the 1990s, “Let’s play the genocide of the Jews,” according to a video…
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Fast Forward British Jews to get apology 800 years after antisemitic laws that led to their expulsion
(JTA) — British Jewish leaders say an anticipated apology from the Church of England for antisemitic laws enacted in 1222 is “better late than never.” The church is planning a formal “act of repentance” for next year, the 800th anniversary of the Synod of Oxford, a set of laws that restricted Jews’ rights to engage…
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Fast Forward Mass fatalities feared in building collapse in heavily Orthodox area near Miami
(JTA) — Jewish emergency response services are participating in a search-and-rescue mission after a 12-story apartment building collapsed in Surfside, Florida, a heavily Orthodox town near Miami Beach. At least one person has been killed in the collapse, which took place without warning at about 2 a.m., and authorities in Surfside say they fear many…
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News A bake sale to combat antisemitism draws high-profile Jewish foodies, but few non-Jewish allies
When Daniela Weiner heard about a virtual bake sale against antisemitism, the Chicago pastry chef and food photographer didn’t think twice about joining. Weiner is not Jewish. But she has participated in benefit bake sales before, raising $1,500 last year for racial justice causes, and she also knew that some of her Jewish friends in…
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Fast Forward White House science advisor Eric Lander sworn in on Pirkei Avot published in 1492
(JTA) — When Eric Lander was sworn in today as the White House’s first-ever Cabinet-level science advisor, the geneticist also made Jewish history — by taking his oath of office on a 500-year-old copy of a Jewish text filled with ethical precepts. Lander chose a 1492 edition of Pirkei Avot from the Library of Congress’…
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Fast Forward New York City public school principal draws criticism after urging staff to support Palestinians
(JTA) — The principal of a Brooklyn middle school has apologized to her staff after sending an email last week calling on them to support Palestinian liberation — even as some of them say they did not think an apology was necessary. Amanda Bueno, who heads M.S. 136, emailed teachers and administrators at her school…
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Fast Forward Why the Antisemitism Awareness Act now has a religious liberty clause to protect ‘Jews killed Jesus’ statements
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News School Israel trip turns ‘terrifying’ for LA students attacked by Israeli teens
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Culture Cardinals are Catholic, not Jewish — so why do they all wear yarmulkes?
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Music After decades of waiting, we’re finally getting a Bob Dylan-Barbra Streisand duet
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