Philissa Cramer
By Philissa Cramer
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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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News The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has torn apart Chicago’s biggest Facebook moms group
(JTA) — The tens of thousands of Chicago mothers in a private Facebook group called MamaHive typically post about sleepless babies, strollers and playgroups. But on Sunday night, with the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza entering its second week, a post went up that broke the mold. “We, the admins of MamaHive…
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Fast Forward Israel targets Gaza with airstrikes, artillery and tank fire, ushering in a new phase of growing conflict
(JTA) — Israel’s army unleashed a wider military attack on Gaza Thursday night, inaugurating a new phase in a conflict that has claimed dozens of lives in the last several days. The war has already reached several milestones in a region accustomed to conflict. Hamas, the terrorist group that controls Gaza, has sent an unprecedented…
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Fast Forward Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish are besties who dance the hora in new film ‘Here Today’
(JTA) — Comedian Billy Crystal and actress Tiffany Haddish are so close that Crystal read a Torah portion at Haddish’s 2019 bat mitzvah ceremony in Los Angeles. Now the two Jewish celebrities are taking their friendship to the big screen in a buddy comedy called “Here Today.” The first trailer for the movie, out May…
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Fast Forward Kentucky becomes first US state to adopt IHRA anti-Semitism definition
(JTA) — For the first time, a U.S. state has officially adopted a definition of anti-Semitism that has ignited debates worldwide over the extent to which criticism of Israel should be considered anti-Semitic. Lawmakers in Kentucky voted to adopt the definition developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Association, known as IHRA, on Wednesday as part…
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Fast Forward Is Bonne Maman an anti-Nazi jam? The internet wants to think so.
(JTA) — The heartwarming story has been hard to miss: A law professor is shopping at his local grocery store when sees an elderly woman struggling to get her favorite jam from a high shelf. Why is it her favorite? “I am a Holocaust survivor,” she says. “During the war, the family that owns the…
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Fast Forward The viral cat lawyer once drew national attention for his prosecution of a Jewish smoke shop owner
(JTA) — Rod Ponton, a small-town attorney from Texas, captured America’s attention this week after he showed up to a virtual courtroom looking like a fluffy white cat, thanks to a Zoom filter he couldn’t figure out how to disable. It wasn’t the first time Ponton has made the national news. In 2014, he drew…
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Fast Forward An effort is underway to launch a Jewish high school in Chicago, where antisemitism concerns run high
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Fast Forward Beverly Hills school board narrowly votes to fly Israeli flags in effort to combat antisemitism
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Fast Forward In a first for an Israeli leader, Netanyahu says he recognizes the Armenian genocide
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