julia GERGELY

Students from Battery Park City School watch as a silver maple is planted in Battery Park outside the Museum of Jewish Heritage. The dedication ceremony will be held on Dec. 2. (Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust via JTA)

December 4, 2021, 4:57 am

Tree that survived the Holocaust gains new life in New York City

City will nurture descendant of plant smuggled into Theresienstadt concentration camp to celebrate Tu Bishvat in 1943

NYPD photo of suspects sought in relation to three attacks on Jewish New Yorkers in November 2021. (NYPDHateCrimes/Twitter)

December 1, 2021, 8:37 am

NYPD hunts 3 women for assault of Jewish kids, teen in alleged antisemitic attacks

In separate attacks, children aged 3, 9 slapped and a teenager pulled to the ground in Brooklyn; victims all ‘visibly Jewish’

By julia GERGELY

Hundreds gather in Times Square for the Shine a Light on Antisemitism event marking the second night of Hanukkah, Nov. 29, 2021. (Michael Priest Photography via JTA)

December 1, 2021, 12:37 am

Entertainers, politicians rally against antisemitism at Times Square Hanukkah event

Hundreds attend NYC gathering held as part of ‘Shine a Light on Antisemitism’ campaign, organized in response Jew-hatred in North America

By julia GERGELY

Students and parents from Beit Rabban Day School in Manhattan march to express their gratitude to neighborhood workers on the Upper West Side on the eve of Thanksgiving, on November 24, 2021. (Laura Kaler via JTA)

November 30, 2021, 10:00 pm

NYC Jewish day school’s Thanksgiving parade goes viral on TikTok

Onlooker mistakes students at Manhattan’s Beit Rabban Day School chanting ‘Thank you’ to city workers for a protest, in video garnering more than 480,000 views, 105K likes

By julia GERGELY

Actors Ron Orlovsky and Maia Karo play former husband and wife in 'Divorced,' whose staging in private homes creates an intimate and intense viewing experience. (Zach Schaffer/ via JTA)

November 22, 2021, 4:27 am

An Israeli play is being performed across NYC — but only in people’s living rooms

‘Divorced,’ the American version of the Hebrew drama ‘Grushim,’ was born during COVID-19 theater closings – but its producers say its intimate appeal gives it staying power

By julia GERGELY

The NYC Marathon minyan, run by a group of 10 volunteer staff, attracted hundreds of participants in 2019. (Peter Berkowsky)

November 7, 2021, 8:45 am

The man who helps Jewish NYC marathoners run through their morning prayers

Organizers of the morning minyan at the start of the 26-mile race believe it’s the longest established religious service of any kind at a major sporting event anywhere in the world

By julia GERGELY

Lakshmi lights a menorah on her visit to New York Central Synagogue during the "Happy Challah Days" episode of her Hulu show, "Taste the Nation." (Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu via JTA)

November 6, 2021, 12:08 pm

‘Taste the Nation’ hits NYC’s Lower East Side for Hanukkah

Padma Lakshmi’s food docuseries highlights Jewish cuisine as part of special holiday edition: ‘I’ve never needed an excuse to eat anything fried’

By julia GERGELY

Artist Guy Yanai, left, painted 15 out of 20 of the paintings for 'The Things of Life' from his studio in Marseilles, but he splits his time between there and Tel Aviv. (Courtesy of the artist and Miles McEnery Gallery/ via JTA)

November 4, 2021, 9:40 pm

Born in Israel, trained in NY, living in France, artist Guy Yanai defies labels

It’s ‘like putting a certain spice on a food and then it becomes the only thing you taste,’ explained Yanai, whose newest exhibition runs through Nov. 27 in NYC

By julia GERGELY

New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams speaks to supporters, November 2, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

November 3, 2021, 5:24 pm

From Borough Park to Upper West Side: How Jews voted, and fared, in NY elections

Eric Adams elected mayor despite weak Hasidic support; Jewish Republican Inna Vernikov defeats Steven Saperstein in City Council race; Brad Lander to be next comptroller

By julia GERGELY

An undated photograph shows a Confederate battle flag on display at the Levittown Fire Department Station 3 in Bethpage, New York. (Office of State Senator Anna M. Kaplan via JTA)

November 3, 2021, 6:33 am

New York State bans swastikas, other hate symbols on public property

Bill introduced after Confederate flag displayed in several firehouses; use permitted in museums and for educational purposes

By julia GERGELY

Republican candidate for New York City mayor, Curtis Sliwa, right, speaks during a debate with Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. (Eduardo Munoz/Pool Photo via AP, File)

November 2, 2021, 5:30 am

Here’s what Jewish voters need to know as New York City goes to the polls

While many races, including for mayor, appear to be a foregone conclusion, some are still wide open

By julia GERGELY

Pro-Israel demonstrators protest in New York City against Ben & Jerry's, over its settlement boycott on August 12, 2021. (Luke Tress/Flash90)

October 30, 2021, 12:35 am

NY’s pension fund halts investments in Unilever over Ben & Jerry’s Israel stance

Fund currently holds $111 million in shares in the icecream maker’s parent company; New York becomes 4th state to sanction Unilever over West Bank boycott

By julia GERGELY

A demonstrator kneels in front of the headquarters of BlackRock in Manhattan, demanding the investment firm's CEO Larry Fink defund the fossil fuel industry, October 18, 2021. (courtesy, Erik McGregor via JTA)

October 20, 2021, 8:48 pm

3 rabbis arrested at climate change protest outside Wall Street giant BlackRock

Demonstration organized by Jewish Youth Climate Movement demands the firm cut ties with companies that fund fossil fuel industry; 6 teens also detained

By julia GERGELY

Amar'e Stoudemire, assistant coach of the Brooklyn Nets, samples one of his own signature Stoudemire Farms burgers at his booth at the Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan, October 15, 2021. (Julia Gergely via JTA)

October 19, 2021, 8:36 am

Stoudemire adds ‘farmer’ to list of post-NBA careers

Former player turned coach and kosher winemaker helps out at a booth in Manhattan farmers’ market to show off products from his family-run ranch

By julia GERGELY

Supported by UJA-Federation of New York, volunteers with Met Council package food for the elderly, including hundreds of Holocaust survivors, in May 2020. (Met Council)

October 15, 2021, 11:10 am

Study: Jewish New Yorkers suffered financial, mental health strain during COVID

22% of adults in Jewish households faced reduced hours or income over the last year, according to a poll conducted by the UJA-Federation of New York

By julia GERGELY