Sara Wood - Page 2 of 191

Unredacted Epstein files and planned deposition thrust Jewish philanthropist Leslie Wexner back into spotlight

February 11, 2026February 13, 2026Sara Wood

Newly released federal investigative documents and a looming congressional deposition have renewed scrutiny of Leslie Wexner, the Ohio billionaire philanthropist long known in the Jewish world for his leadership and largesse — and more recently for his decades-long association with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Wexner, the founder of retail giant […]

It’s not just the kids: A third of US Jews 75+ don’t call themselves ‘Zionists’

February 11, 2026February 11, 2026Sara Wood

The newest Jewish Federations of North America survey has already generated its share of anxious headlines: Only 37% of American Jews say they identify as Zionists. Seven percent call themselves anti-Zionist, 8% non-Zionist and 18% aren’t sure. Another 30% say none of the labels offered describe them. And yet 88% say Israel has the right […]

Carrie Prejean Boller ousted from White House Religious Liberty Commission following antisemitism row

February 11, 2026February 13, 2026Sara Wood

Catholic right-wing activist Carrie Prejean Boller has been removed from the White House Religious Liberty Commission over what the chair called her “political agenda” during a public hearing on antisemitism this week. The announcement of Prejean Boller’s removal by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, an evangelical Christian, on Wednesday came after Prejean Boller spurned calls […]

Carrie Prejean Boller spurns calls to step down after anti-Zionist clash at White House antisemitism hearing

February 11, 2026February 14, 2026Sara Wood

A member of the White House Religious Liberty Commission who derailed its meeting on Monday by pressing the case that anti-Zionism is not antisemitic is fending calls to step down. “I would rather die than bend the knee to Israel,” Carrie Prejean Boller, a model and Catholic right-wing activist named to the panel in June, […]

Florida’s anti-Israel GOP candidate James Fishback is railing against ‘goyslop.’ What is he talking about?

February 10, 2026February 11, 2026Sara Wood

At a campus campaign stop last week, Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate James Fishback dropped some unusual verbiage while inveighing against junk food in school cafeterias. “I’m not saying that the test scores are the result of the Pop-Tarts,” Fishback told a crowd at the University of Central Florida, in remarks boosting locally grown produce over […]

Oklahoma board denies proposal for Jewish charter school — and lawyers up ahead of expected legal battle

February 10, 2026February 10, 2026Sara Wood

A Jewish group is preparing to sue to overturn a ban on publicly funded religious charter schools in Oklahoma, after a state board unanimously rejected its proposal on Monday. The Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board’s decision blocked an application from the National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation to open a statewide virtual Jewish school […]

1 in 3 American Jews were targeted by an antisemitic incident last year, AJC survey finds

February 9, 2026February 10, 2026Sara Wood

One-third of American Jews reported being the target of an antisemitic incident in 2025, according to a new survey published by the American Jewish Committee. The finding marked no change over the previous year, suggesting that American Jews could be settling into a distressing new normal in the aftermath of Oct. 7. “Things aren’t getting […]

Anne Frank and ‘Night’ may soon be required reading in Texas public schools. Is that good for the Jews?

February 9, 2026February 9, 2026Sara Wood

In the years since school libraries became a culture-war flashpoint, Texas has been one of the most active states to pull books from shelves in response to parental complaints — sometimes including versions of Anne Frank’s diary and other Jewish books. Now, Texas is pursuing a new approach: requiring that Frank’s diary, and several other […]

Dana Bash and Matan Sivek to headline 4th annual Jewish Digital Summit

February 9, 2026February 14, 2026Sara Wood

Three action-packed days. Fifty expert speakers. Thirty-three compelling online sessions that will inform and educate more than 750 participants representing at least 300 different Jewish organizations. It all adds up to the 2026 installment of 70 Faces Media’s Jewish Digital Summit, an online conference for Jewish professionals, lay leaders and anyone with a personal or […]

From far corners of the Jewish world, the women of Chabad gather in freezing Brooklyn

February 6, 2026February 6, 2026Sara Wood

It was close to 90 degrees back home in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Friday, but Chani Aziza said she was thrilled to be freezing on a sidewalk in Brooklyn. Aziza was one of thousands of women affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement who gathered in Crown Heights this week for the movement’s annual gathering of […]