Andrew Lapin

US House Representative George Santos leaves a House GOP conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

January 28, 2023, 6:15 am

George Santos, US congressman who lied about Jewish heritage, once praised Hitler

House representative who fabricated most of life story before election said ‘hight hitler,’ joked about killing Jews in 2011 Facebook post

By Andrew Lapin

(from left) Producer Kristie Macosko Krieger, co-writer/producer/director Steven Spielberg, Seth Rogen, Julia Butters, co-writer/producer Tony Kushner, Keeley Karsten and Sophia Kopera on the set of 'The Fabelmans.' (Merie Weismiller Wallace/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment via JTA)

January 24, 2023, 6:51 pm

Spielberg’s ‘Fabelmans’ earns 7 Oscar nods, WWI epic with anti-Nazi past gets 9

Iconic filmmaker’s autobiographical drama about his Jewish upbringing nominated for best picture, director, and screenplay; ‘All Quiet On The Western Front’ best picture candidate

By Andrew Lapin

Illustrative: Empty desks at a junior high school in California, October 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

January 20, 2023, 11:28 pm

New dean at Michigan school resigns over antisemitic death threat

Anonymous threat sent to administrator leads school district near Detroit to go into lockdown, cancel classes for a week

By Andrew Lapin

The campus of George Washington University is seen as classes were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, in Washington, DC, May 7, 2020. (SAUL LOEB/AFP)

January 19, 2023, 6:33 am

George Washington University probing alleged antisemitic harassment by professor

US school launches investigation after federal complaint filed against teacher who graduate students felt targeted them over ‘their Jewish and Israeli identities’

By Andrew Lapin

Logan Lerman and Jerrika Hinton in the second season of Amazon's 'Hunters,' by executive producer Jordan Peele. (Courtesy of Prime Video via JTA)

January 14, 2023, 3:49 am

Hitler is alive, in hiding, in final season of ‘Hunters,’ where Jews kill Nazis

Amazon series, by executive producer Jordan Peele, tells bloody, embellished tale of Jewish-led team of multiracial Nazi hunters in 1970s trying to stop rise of ‘Fourth Reich’

By Andrew Lapin

January 13, 2023, 3:58 am

A new translation of Franz Kafka’s diaries restores much of his Jewish musings

Czech author of ‘The Metamorphosis’ had a complex, contradictory relationship with Judaism, was fascinated by Yiddish theater, new book shows

By Andrew Lapin

From Left: David Duchovny as Arnold, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Shelley, Jonah Hill (writer-producer) as Ezra, Lauren London as Amira, Eddie Murphy as Akbar, and Nia Long as Fatima in 'You People.' (Parrish Lewis/Netflix via JTA)

January 6, 2023, 9:29 am

In new film, Jonah Hill finds love with Farrakhan follower’s daughter

Netflix’s comedy ‘You People,’ with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Eddie Murphy, takes a new look at the often fraught Black-Jewish relations

By Andrew Lapin

'Armageddon Time,' 'Russian Doll,' 'The Rehearsal' and 'Tár' were some of the cultural works of 2022 to deal with Jewish themes. (Photo illustration: Mollie Suss/70 Faces Media via JTA)

December 31, 2022, 9:20 pm

2022 was a big year for US Jews in the arts. Here’s what happened on screen, stage

Amid debates over who should be telling (and cast in) Jewish stories, came distinctive Jewish releases: acclaimed movies, popular TV shows, theater, books and viral TikToks

By Andrew Lapin

Composite photo showing Chelsea Handler (L) at The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, December 7, 2022. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP); Sarah Silverman (C) at the 75th annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York, June 12, 2022. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP); Al Franken (R) poses backstage at the 92nd Street Y in New York, May 31, 2022. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

December 21, 2022, 9:23 am

As Trevor Noah exits ‘The Daily Show,’ Jewish guest hosts lined up

First episode without Noah to be hosted by SNL star Leslie Jones, with comics Sarah Silverman, Al Franken, and Chelsea Handler scheduled to follow

By Andrew Lapin

This combination of photos shows Republican Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack and /J. Scott Applewhite, File)

December 21, 2022, 6:39 am

Boebert needles fellow GOP member Marjorie Taylor Greene over ‘Jewish space lasers’

Amid disagreement over next US House speaker, Colorado representative brings up Georgia colleague’s past Facebook post implying Rothschild-owned firm started fire from space

By Andrew Lapin

Illustrative: The University of California campus in Berkeley, California, on March 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu,File)

December 15, 2022, 10:36 pm

US government opens antisemitism probe after ‘Jew-free zones’ alleged at UC Berkeley

Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights says it will investigate claims by pro-Israel advocates that the school failed to address antisemitism among students

By Andrew Lapin

Mark Aaron Griffin, a Messianic "rabbi" awaiting trial on four counts of sexual assault, leads the opening prayer at Keller Independent School District's board meeting, December 12, 2022. (Screenshot via JTA, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

December 14, 2022, 4:57 am

US school that banned Anne Frank book hosts Messianic ‘rabbi’ charged with sex crime

Keller Independent School District in Texas has Mark Aaron Griffin, a Messianic Jew charged with multiple counts of sexual assault, lead prayer at board meeting

By Andrew Lapin

Jesse Epstein (center), a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College, is the new owner of Shmaltz Brewing Company. (Courtesy of Jesse Epstein via JTA)

December 13, 2022, 10:30 am

In US, He’Brew-maker Shmaltz Brewing reboots with rabbi-to-be at helm

Jesse Epstein, 26, hopes to use popular drink as vehicle to promote Judaism, with some Talmudic inspiration for his planned range of brews

By Andrew Lapin

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks to supporters as he attends a campaign rally on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Westchester, N.Y. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)

December 9, 2022, 11:42 pm

Virginia’s Republican-led antisemitism panel blasts BDS, subtly critiques Trump

Commission to Combat Antisemitism established by state’s GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin recommends improving Holocaust education and prohibiting Israel boycotts

By Andrew Lapin

December 8, 2022, 4:30 am

Despite push, Jewish leaders can’t keep Farrakhan follower off Florida city council

Pressed on his views at a council vote in which he was ultimately approved 4-3, Brother John Muhammed refuses to condemn the Nation of Islam leader’s antisemitism

By Andrew Lapin