Philadelphia -

The Philadelphia teacher who pretended to be Palestinian raised alarms for Jewish groups before she became infamous

October 6, 2026October 6, 2026Sara Wood

The first time most of the world heard Hannah Gann’s name was in late September, when the 34-year-old Philadelphia high school teacher and activist confessed to having fabricated a Palestinian and Black identity — with media reports revealing she was Jewish in real life. But Jason Holtzman, director of Philadelphia’s Jewish Community Relations Council, first […]

A Jewish teacher in Philadelphia pretended to be Palestinian for years

September 23, 2026September 23, 2026Sara Wood

A Jewish public school teacher and pro-Palestinian advocate in Philadelphia has admitted to fabricating Palestinian, Tunisian and Black heritage to her colleagues for years, in a case that some online commenters are dubbing “the Palestinian Rachel Dolezal.” Hannah Gann posted confessions and apologies to social media this week, following confrontations from local pro-Palestinian groups she […]

Northeast Philadelphia says goodbye to its last Jewish deli

September 1, 2026September 1, 2026Sara Wood

PHILADELPHIA — After running the family deli for several decades, Steve Stein says his 83-year-old legs were telling him it was time to call it quits. But it wasn’t only that. The neighborhood has totally changed since his dad, Mike, first took over the business more than 60 years ago. Back then Northeast Philadelphia was […]

Inside America’s first prison synagogue, a new exhibit tells the story of Jewish inmates who built it

July 16, 2026July 16, 2026Jesse Orine

Behind the imposing stone walls of Eastern State Penitentiary — the Philadelphia prison that once held Al Capone — sits a small, unlikely sanctuary: a synagogue built by inmates, for inmates, nearly a century ago. Now, a new exhibition is telling its story. Eastern State Penitentiary, in Philadelphia’s Fairmount neighborhood, was an active prison from […]

Celebrate Early and Often

January 11, 2026David Rutman

I love to say celebrate early and often—and I live it. Birthdays, milestones, Tuesdays that feel like Saturdays. I don’t wait for a single date on the calendar to give myself permission to feel joy. I spread it out. I stack it up. I let it travel. This year, celebrating my birthday became a journey—across […]

In Philadelphia’s suburbs, an army of canvassers targets Jewish voters

October 21, 2024October 21, 2024Sara Wood

BALA CYNWYD, Pennsylvania — The second time this month Benny Stanislawski made the three-hour trip from the Jewish precincts of suburban Washington to the Jewish precincts of suburban Philadelphia, he ditched his car and borrowed his mother’s minivan. He needed the space provided by the 2019 Honda Odyssey, plastered with stickers from the alma maters […]