Gabe Friedman

Clockwise from top right: Svika Pick, Peter Bogdanovich, Miriam Naor, Gerda Weissman Klein, James Caan, Bob Saget, Estelle Harris, A.B. Yehoshua. (Getty Images/Design by Grace Yage, via JTA)

December 31, 2022, 5:08 pm

From Albright to Yehoshua: 18 notable Jews who died in 2022

These Jewish icons leave outsized legacies in politics, the arts, sports, and everything in between

Novelist Saul Bellow laughs as his wife, Alexandra adjusts his tie during a ball at Stockholm's City Hall, in honor of Nobel Prize winners on Friday evening, Dec. 10, 1976. Bellow won the Nobel prize for literature. (AP)

December 16, 2022, 5:31 am

As landmark Saul Bellow documentary premieres, a look back at his life

PBS debuts ‘The Adventures of Saul Bellow,’ first wide-release documentary on the Jewish Nobelist, filmed by Israeli director Asaf Galay and featuring Philip Roth’s final interview

By Gabe Friedman

Doja Cat performs at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 24, 2022. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)

November 16, 2022, 4:10 am

From Doja Cat to Mel Brooks: This year’s Jewish Grammy nominees

Newly announced candidates for 2023 awards include Jews from every genre, including pop, rap, rock, classical music and comedy

By Gabe Friedman

Pennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, the state's attorney general, attends an election night event, November 8, 2022, in Oaks, Pennsylvania (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

November 9, 2022, 9:57 pm

Five Jewish takeaways from the 2022 US midterm elections

A Jewish governor, abortion rights, AIPAC’s deep pockets and the 2024 Republican presidential candidate: What do Tuesday’s election results mean for American Jews?

By Ron Kampeas and Gabe Friedman

The BBC Headquarters in London, October 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

November 8, 2022, 3:15 am

BBC report on antisemitic Hanukkah attack had ‘significant’ failings, regulator says

Broadcaster last year reported that Jews slurred Muslims during attack on bus, then disregarded evidence disputing its translation of the comments, watchdog says

By Gabe Friedman

Charles Barkley poses for photographs with a sculpture honoring him at the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball training facility in Camden, New Jersey, September 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

November 3, 2022, 5:31 pm

Charles Barkley slams NBA’s Jewish commissioner for not suspending Kyrie Irving

Popular basketball commentator says Adam Silver should have penalized Brooklyn Nets star for promoting heavily antisemitic film

By Gabe Friedman

Former US President Donald Trump speaks at a rally, October 22, 2022, in Robstown, Texas. (AP Photo/Nick Wagner)

October 25, 2022, 8:28 am

AIPAC, GOP silent on Trump warning US Jews to ‘get their act together’ on Israel

Critics see ex-US president’s comment as a veiled antisemitic threat, but Republican leaders, including Jewish ones, are apparently indifferent

By Gabe Friedman and Ron Kampeas

'Leopoldstadt,' which focuses on multiple generations of a Viennese Jewish family, explores how Jews assimilated into Austrian culture. (Joan Marcus via JTA)

October 1, 2022, 2:08 pm

Stoppard’s ‘Leopoldstadt’ tackles Holocaust, intermarriage, Zionism for NY audience

Semi-autobiographical work by acclaimed British playwright begins Broadway run on Sunday; follows generations of a Jewish family to tell story of assimilation and Nazi genocide

By Gabe Friedman

Adam Sandler gave us the Zohan, an IDF soldier with superhuman strength, in 2008's "You Don't Mess with the Zohan." (Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images/Getty Images via JTA)

September 23, 2022, 6:06 am

The Zohan’s never been to Israel? Sandler says it’s top of his bucket list

In interview with AARP upon entering group’s membership demographic, Hollywood star says he’d also like to learn to speak Hebrew fluently and improve his guitar skills

By Gabe Friedman

Steve Carell plays a Jewish therapist named Alan Strauss in FX's new series 'The Patient.' (Screenshot from YouTube)

August 6, 2022, 3:11 am

‘The Patient’ creators defend casting Steve Carell as Jewish therapist

In latest ‘Jewface’ flare-up, Jewish writers of Hulu thriller say non-Jewish actor plays part ‘brilliantly’ in business where ‘people are pretending to be other people’

By CALEB GUEDES-REED and Gabe Friedman

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid plays during an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP/Matt Slocum)

July 20, 2022, 2:16 am

Sixers’ Embiid spotted dancing the hora at Jewish wedding

Philly NBA player attends nuptials of filmmaker who documented his journey from Cameroon to US basketball stardom, gets treated to traditional chair lift

By Gabe Friedman

Brooke and Matt Strauss, who were married a day earlier, pause after leaving their wedding bouquets in downtown Highland Park, Ill., near the scene of a mass shooting, on July 5, 2022, in Highland Park, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

July 6, 2022, 8:30 am

Highland Park, shaken by July 4 shooting, has long and notable Jewish presence

According to a 2020 study, the town is 50% Jewish; it has only seen a handful of major antisemitic incidents over the years

By Gabe Friedman

Pastor Chris Harris, who leads two Church of God in Christ congregations in Chicago, and Rabbi Ari Hart of the Orthodox Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob Synagogue teamed up for a shmita debt relief fundraiser. (Screenshot from Facebook via JTA)

June 2, 2022, 2:19 am

Inspired by biblical tenet, interfaith group cuts medical debt for 2,000 Chicagoans

Taking a page from sabbatical year loan forgiveness outlined in the Good Book, two churches and an Orthodox congregation team up to buy $1.9M worth of debts – and let them go

By Jackie Hajdenberg and Gabe Friedman

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein on the set of 'Maestro' (Netflix via JTA)

June 1, 2022, 1:13 am

Bradley Cooper’s prosthetic nose in Leonard Bernstein biopic sparks ‘Jewface’ debate

Netflix releases images of Cooper looking unrecognizable as iconic conductor, with many on social media saying makeover is antisemitic, especially since actor is not Jewish

By Gabe Friedman

Israel Ogalbo and Mali Levi in 'The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem from Yes Studios (Courtesy Nati Levi)

May 26, 2022, 7:49 am

‘Beauty Queen of Jerusalem’ joins short list of TV and movie shows featuring Ladino

The language was spoken by Jewish communities in the Ottoman Empire and North Africa who had fled the Spanish Inquisition; today, their descendants are seeking to reclaim it

By Gabe Friedman