JERUSALEM (JTA) — Seven Israeli police officers were injured in clashes with Orthodox protesters over COVID-19 restrictions, the latest in a series of violent conflicts with law enforcement in Israel’s Orthodox communities. Following the unrest Thursday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a crackdown on violations of the country’s COVID-19 lockdown. Netanyahu’s opponents have…
(JTA) — Hawaiian-Jewish surfing star Makua Rothman may have successfully ridden the largest recorded wave in the history of the sport, estimated to be at least 100 feet tall. The 36-year-old posted video of the achievement from last Saturday on his YouTube page on Wednesday. Footage starts here around 23:00. The final estimate of the…
(JTA) — Police in London broke up an illegal wedding party with 400 participants that was held at a Jewish haredi school. The organizer of Thursday’s wedding at Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls’ School, which violated emergency measures put in place to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, are facing a fine of $12,000 each,…
WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Joe Biden named Stephanie Pollack, the Massachusetts transportation secretary known for her ability as a Democrat to cross party lines, to help helm the Federal Highway Administration. Boston media reported on Thursday her appointment as deputy administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, which will take place next week. Pollack, a progressive…
(JTA) — President Joe Biden has named Jessica Rosenworcel, a champion of net neutrality, to serve as acting chair of the Federal Communications Commission. Rosenworcel, 49, who is Jewish, is known to be outspoken and has not hesitated to take public her disputes with her fellow commissioners. Biden will make a decision later about whether…
Two rabbis spoke at the inaugural prayer service on Jan. 20. President Biden, first lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff all participated the virtual event. Rabbi Sharon Brous, the senior rabbi of Los Angeles-based IKAR, offered the following prayer: Makor haHayim, Holy One, we stand before you in this…
(JTA) — New Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff already had one artifact from American Jewish history on display when he was sworn into the Senate: the book of scripture on which he took his oath of office. But the 33-year-old said on Twitter Wednesday night that he had been carrying another item that reflected his American…
LOS ANGELES (JTA) — UCLA has opened a center to explore the history of Jewish music in America with an eye toward breaking ground. The Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience was backed by a $6.75 million endowment by the Milken Family Foundation. The center, which opened last month, aims to “become…
On his final day in office, Trump pardoned Aviem Sella, the Israeli businessman who recruited Jonathan Pollard. Sella, a former commander in the Israeli Air Force, was indicted on three counts of espionage in 1986 for recruiting Pollard. Sella was not extradited to the U.S. from Israel. Though less high-profile than Pollard, Israeli officials had…
On his final day in office, President Donald Trump issued a wave of last-minute pardons — including one for Elliott Broidy, the disgraced former Republican National Committee finance chair. According to a statement from the White House, Broidy’s pardon was supported by five rabbis and other high-profile Jews. Rabbis Steven Leder, Steven Burg, Pini Dunner,…
(JTA) — Synagogues in Washington, D.C., are receiving a fake letter purported to be signed by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris warning them to close or they will go to prison. “Myself and President Joe Biden, will shut down your Synagogue of worship and place heavy fines upon your religious institution,” said the letter, according to…
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