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Officials removed exhibit on Black soldiers in WWII over fear of Trump’s ‘ire,’ emails show

December 10, 2025December 10, 2025Sara Wood

When visitors and local researchers in the Netherlands realized earlier last month that two panels honoring Black American soldiers who helped liberate Europe from the Nazis had disappeared from the U.S. military cemetery at Margraten, the reaction was swift. Local officials demanded explanations, historians raised concerns, and the story quickly spread through Dutch and international […]

Bari Weiss names Tony Dokoupil, who defended Israel on-air in closely scrutinized interview, to top CBS News anchor job

December 10, 2025December 10, 2025Sara Wood

Bari Weiss, the polarizing new editor-in-chief of CBS News, has named the longtime network personality Tony Dokoupil to anchor the evening news chair, in a potential sign of how Weiss’ pro-Israel views may be reshaping the network’s news priorities. The move came amid a rash of prominent vacancies at the venerable network since new Paramount […]

Ran Gvili, last remaining Israeli hostage in Gaza, featured on 2 Times Square digital billboards

December 10, 2025December 11, 2025Sara Wood

Commuters in Times Square were confronted this week with a new digital billboard demanding the release of the final remaining hostage in Gaza, Ran Gvili. “Hamas must release him now,” the billboard reads next to a photo of Gvili. “The last Israeli hostage held in Gaza.” Gvili, a 24-year-old police officer who was killed defending […]

Columbia must add Middle East faculty who are ‘not explicitly anti-Zionist,’ antisemitism task force urges

December 10, 2025December 12, 2025Sara Wood

Students at Columbia University have little access to academic expertise on the Middle East that does not come from an “explicitly anti-Zionist” perspective, the school’s antisemitism task force found. The Ivy League university “should work quickly and energetically” to add expertise on Jewish and Israeli topics that do not come from an anti-Israel stance, Columbia’s […]

Hecklers urge Israel’s president to pardon Netanyahu at American Zionist Movement conference in NYC

December 9, 2025December 9, 2025Sara Wood

At the American Zionist Movement conference in New York City on Monday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog declined to respond to hecklers urging him to accept Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon. The calls came after Herzog’s talk at the AZM Biennial National Assembly where he lamented growing antisemitism in the United States […]

NYC rabbi who spurred anti-Mamdani push turns his criticism toward Jews and Israel at Zionist gathering

December 9, 2025December 9, 2025Sara Wood

In the lead-up to New York City’s mayoral election last month, Elliot Cosgrove emerged as one of the most outspoken rabbinic critics of Zohran Mamdani, the anti-Zionist activist who is now the mayor-elect. On Monday, speaking to a convention of Zionists, Cosgrove turned his critique toward U.S. Jews, saying that supporters of Israel “shouldn’t be […]

Final assailant charged in 2021 antisemitic assault of Joey Borgen sentenced to 2 years in prison

December 8, 2025December 8, 2025Sara Wood

Four and a half years after Joey Borgen was beaten in the street in New York City while en route to a pro-Israel rally, a sixth individual involved in his assault has been sentenced. Salem Seleiman, 30, was sentenced to two years in state prison on Thursday in New York State Supreme Court. He pleaded […]

Facing antisemitism and exclusion, Jewish authors get a lifeline

December 8, 2025December 8, 2025Sara Wood

Susan Blumberg-Kason, a Jewish author whose work explores Jewish history and identity, was deep into a book about Golda Meir’s Milwaukee childhood when her literary agent abruptly dropped her early last year. The agent offered only a vague explanation, saying, “We can no longer champion your career.” Blumberg-Kason was surprised at the 180-degree turn by […]

Trump’s new White House ballroom architect is a Jewish immigrant who has advocated for refugees

December 5, 2025December 5, 2025Sara Wood

After parting ways with the first architect hired to carry out his vision for the White House’s East Wing, President Donald Trump has picked a replacement — turning to a firm run by prominent Jewish architect who once called on Trump to keep the country’s doors open to refugees and immigrants. Shalom Baranes was born […]

Sen. Van Hollen draws criticism after calling local Jewish leader an ‘apologist for the Netanyahu government’

December 4, 2025December 5, 2025Sara Wood

An unusual direct attack by Sen. Chris Van Hollen on a local Jewish leader over Israel has elicited strong criticism from Jewish voices — as well as a passionate defense from a Jewish progressive. “I am stunned, offended, and frankly angry at Senator Van Hollen’s personal attack on Ron,” said William Daroff, chair of the […]