Asaf Elia-Shalev

Jubal Most, 3, inspects his mother Stefani Most’s new Star of David necklace while his family is prayed over at Congregation Beth Israel on August 17, 2023 in Paradise Valley, Ariz. The formerly Messianic congregation led by Richard Cortes converted to Judaism at Beth Israel where there is a Mikveh. (Caitlin O’Hara via JTA)

November 6, 2023, 12:54 am

How an Arizona pastor parted with Jesus and led his congregation to Judaism

From Messianic leader to Jewish convert, Richard Cortes marks decades-long spiritual journey with ‘Torah-based homestead community’ in remote corner of the Grand Canyon State

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

FILE - Attendees visit the Meta booth at the Game Developers Conference 2023 in San Francisco, March 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

September 14, 2023, 5:12 pm

Oversight board urges Meta to learn how not to flag anti-hate posts as hate speech

Independent body warns that social media giant’s current moderation policies don’t sufficiently distinguish between Holocaust denial, for example, and criticism of it

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

September 2, 2023, 8:16 am

Meta’s handling of ‘SpongeBob’ Holocaust denial post taken up by Oversight Board

Body to issue non-binding ruling after tech giant says meme did not violate community standards on hate speech

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

Christie's international head of jewelry Rahul Kadakia presents an item from the collection of Heidi Horten ahead of auction in Geneva, Switzerland, May 8, 2023. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images via JTA)

September 1, 2023, 2:45 am

Christie’s cancels second auction of jewelry linked to Nazi plunder

Announcement follows campaign by Jewish groups in response to auction house’s sale of jewelry belonging to the late heiress to the fortune of a former Nazi Party member

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

James Snyder at the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum in Jerusalem, Israel, July 10, 2016. (Dan Porges/Getty Images via JTA)

August 15, 2023, 7:49 am

Former director of Israel Museum to lead Jewish Museum in New York

James Snyder not expected to make major curatorial changes, though institution may begin exploring exhibitions on antisemitism

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

Illustrative: Miriam Adelson at the opening of an ancient road at the City of David archaeological site in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, June 30, 2019. (Flash90)

August 1, 2023, 4:08 am

Miriam Adelson cut philanthropy as casinos hit COVID slump. Now they’re rebounding

After the pandemic caused the casino industry to flatline, the megadonor’s political and charitable donations lessened and foundation assets dropped – but that has happened before

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art will join nationwide protests against the judicial overhaul, by darkening its galleries on March 23, 2023 (Courtesy Amit Garon)

June 29, 2023, 7:33 am

Tel Aviv Museum of art facing pressure over links to auction of Nazi-looted works

Christie’s executive also on museum fundraising board under fire for conference that critics say will give war profiteers a platform; Claims Conference refuses donation offer

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

James Crown attends The Aspen Institute's 33rd Annual Awards Dinner at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, Nov. 3, 2016. (Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images/JTA)

June 28, 2023, 9:08 am

Leading Chicago Jewish philanthropist James Crown dies in racetrack crash

Billionaire’s car slams into wall as he celebrates 70th birthday; Biden eulogizes him as ‘America at its best’ and ‘a good man, a dear friend’

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

An aerial view of American Jewish University's Sunny & Isadore Familian Campus in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Courtesy of Communications Department, AJU via JTA)

June 10, 2023, 6:50 pm

$65 million deal to sell American Jewish University’s LA campus collapses

University’s finances put into question after planned sale to Swiss education company falls apart, 9 months after it was announced

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

Polish-Canadian historian Jan Grabowski stands at the podium for a planned lecture as far-right lawmaker Grzegorz Braun of Poland’s Confederation party grabs the microphone and smashes it, at the German Historical Institute in Warsaw, Poland, May 30, 2023. (Courtesy of Jan Grabowski via JTA)

June 2, 2023, 1:19 am

Lecture on Holocaust in Poland canceled after far-right lawmaker storms podium

Politician, protesters disrupt speech in Warsaw by historian Jan Grabowski, a vocal critic of Poland’s efforts to constrain Holocaust discussion

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

The Wikipedia page about the Holocaust in Poland. (JTA illustration)

May 23, 2023, 3:10 am

Wikipedia bans editors but sidesteps broader action in Holocaust distortion row

Online encyclopedia bars 3 editors from working on articles related to Holocaust in Poland, but avoids stance on underlying dispute over Polish antisemitism and complicity

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

Edwin A. Walker under the custody of marshals on campus of Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi, October 1, 1962. (AP Photo)

May 21, 2023, 1:53 am

How an ADL spy operation helped bring down the far-right John Birch Society

Researching his new book ‘Birchers,’ Matthew Dallek discovers paperwork documenting a successful espionage effort to thwart an anti-Civil Rights group deemed a threat by some Jews

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

Screen capture from video of the Pico-Robertson neighborhood of Los Angeles. (YouTube. Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

May 16, 2023, 4:08 am

US Conservative rabbinical school to relocate to Beverly Hills

Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies will move to new premises near Pico-Robertson neighborhood, the ‘heart of Jewish life’ in Los Angeles

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

Rabbi Laura Bellows, now Dayenu's director of spiritual activism and education, waves matzah as she encourages major financial organizations to divest from fossil fuels at a rally in Washington, DC, April 20, 2022. (Bora Chung | Survival Media Agency / Courtesy of Dayenu via JTA)

May 14, 2023, 4:42 am

US Jewish institutions awaken to climate crisis, with hundreds pledging action

Long a top priority for American Jews, climate change hasn’t been high on the agenda for the organizations serving them – but that’s beginning to change

By Asaf Elia-Shalev

Children light candles as part of their lessons at Yachad Religious School in Oak Park, Michigan. (Courtesy of Yachad via JTA)

April 26, 2023, 4:44 am

Hebrew school enrollment across US down by nearly half since 2006, report says

While the number of Jewish children rose by 17%, enrollment at afterschool programs dropped by 45%, indicating that parents may be seeking alternatives – or opting out completely

By Asaf Elia-Shalev