Adam Sandler, Amy Schumer and long list of celebs ask Biden to keep pushing for release of Israeli hostages

((JR)) — A strikingly long list of celebrities launched a campaign called #NoHostageLeftBehind on Monday, aimed at pressuring President Joe Biden to continue to work to secure the release of the more than 200 hostages taken captive by Hamas on Oct. 7. Some of the dozens of stars involved include Amy Schumer, Adam Sandler, Chris […]

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Milan’s Jews on high alert after death threats written in nightclub and chanted at pro-Palestinian rally

(JR) — Italian officials are reportedly investigating dozens of antisemitic incidents in Milan tied to the Israel-Hamas conflict, including one in which called for killing Jews in the bathroom of a nightclub. Messages translated in Italian media to “Jews to death, rats we are coming to get you in your sewers” and “Nazi Jews you […]

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Spain-Israel tensions flare and multiple Spanish synagogues are hit with anti-Israel graffiti

MADRID (JR) — Political tensions escalated between Israel and Spain this past week as Spanish Jews reeled from a series of incidents outside synagogues. Ione Belarra, Spain’s acting social rights minister, called to “urgently suspend diplomatic relations with the state of Israel” on Wednesday, citing Israel’s response in Gaza to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks that […]

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In a first, a Jewish organization opens an office at the Vatican

(JR) — In what’s being touted as a first for a Jewish organization, the World Jewish Congress advocacy group opened an office in Vatican City to liaise with Catholic leaders and further Catholic-Jewish relations. WJC President Ronald Lauder visited Pope Francis while inaugurating the organization’s “representative office to the Holy See” on Thursday. Lauder, a billionaire […]

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Variety’s star-studded Hollywood summit on antisemitism takes a turn amid war in Israel

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. ((JR)) — When he heard that Hamas had called for a global day of protest last week to accompany its deadly attack on Israel, Alex Edelman’s mind turned, naturally, to jokes. Riffing on the traditional Hebrew holiday greeting “chag sameach,” the Jewish comedian wondered aloud to a packed room of Hollywood industry […]

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