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

LeBron James holds hands with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto at the wedding of Jeffrey Schottenstein in New York City, May 22, 2022. (Screenshot from YouTube/Jewish Insider)

May 23, 2022, 10:46 pm

LeBron James attends Jewish NYC wedding — holding hands with ex-convict rabbi

Attending alongside NBA superstar is Yoshiyahu Pinto, Moroccan-Israeli rabbi sentenced in 2014 to one year in prison for bribing an Israeli police officer

By Gabe Friedman

Actors Michael Aloni and Yuval Scharf in 'The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem,' a historical series produced in Israel by Yes Studios. (Courtesy: Nati Levi)

May 21, 2022, 7:51 am

Israeli drama ‘Beauty Queen of Jerusalem’ makes Netflix debut

10 episode series follows a family of Spanish Sephardic Jews living in Jerusalem in the early 20th century, showcasing their Judeo-Spanish traditions

By CALEB GUEDES-REED and Gabe Friedman

Amar'e Stoudemire speaks in an Instagram video about his leaving the Brooklyn Nets, May 18, 2022. (Screenshot via JTA)

May 19, 2022, 9:09 pm

Amar’e Stoudemire drops Nets coaching gig to focus on Shabbat game

Former NBA star, now Orthodox Jew, reveals he told Nets coach Steve Nash he feels he is not able give his all to position because he doesn’t work on Saturdays

By Gabe Friedman and CALEB GUEDES-REED

Sheila Katz, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, speaks at an abortion rights rally in front of the US Supreme Court in December 2021. (Courtesy of Danya Ruttenberg.)

May 4, 2022, 8:40 am

US Supreme Court leak energizes Jewish groups ahead of planned abortion rights rally

‘We will fight for abortion rights with all of our strength,’ head of Reform movement vows after publication of draft document indicating justices set to overturn Roe v. Wade

By Jackie Hajdenberg and Gabe Friedman

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk arrives on the red carpet for the Axel Springer media award even in Berlin on December 1, 2020. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool Photo via AP, File)

April 27, 2022, 4:07 am

What Elon Musk buying Twitter could mean for Jewish users and antisemitism

The billionaire’s plans for the social network are murky, but his support for unfettered free speech is causing worries that hate will run rampant on the platform

By Gabe Friedman and PHILISSA CRAMER

Destruction in Constitution Square in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, after shelling by Russian forces, March 2, 2022. (Sergey BOBOK / AFP)

March 3, 2022, 6:06 am

Hillel chapter in Kharkiv destroyed as city’s Jews scramble for safety

Hillel branch was located in iconic Constitution Square building shelled by Russian troops amid intense bombardment against Ukraine’s second-largest city

By Gabe Friedman

US President Joe Biden makes an address on the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Washington, DC, on February 24, 2022. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images/JTA)

March 1, 2022, 8:15 am

Even as crisis loomed, Biden attended Zoom shiva for childhood crush

US president took time to participate in online mourning event for Joan Olivere, mother of Hallie, his former daughter-in-law through late son Beau

By Gabe Friedman

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 24, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

February 26, 2022, 2:01 pm

In 4 years, Zelensky went from Jewish comic to Putin’s enemy #1, democracy defender

Ukrainian president finds himself at center of Europe’s most significant conflict since World War II

By Gabe Friedman