Luke Tress

Luke Tress is an editor and a reporter in New York for The Times of Israel.

Then-US House representative Max Rose speaks to constituents during a town hall meeting, October 2, 2019, at the Joan and Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center in the Staten Island borough of New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

September 24, 2022, 6:03 am

Swastika scrawled on campaign sign for Jewish Congressional candidate in New York

Democrat Max Rose says ‘I will not meet hate with more hate’ after antisemitic vandalism in Staten Island, amid a surge in attacks on city’s Jews

By Luke Tress

A poster advertises an LGBTQ event at Yeshiva University, December 15, 2020. (Courtesy of Yeshiva University student organizers)

September 22, 2022, 9:45 pm

Yeshiva University Pride group pauses battle for campus recognition

YU Pride Alliance makes ‘painful decision’ to shelve back-and-forth fight for legitimacy after university suspends all student clubs to avoid recognizing the LGBTQ group

By Luke Tress

Iranian anti-regime activists protest outside the United Nations as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi delivers a speech to the General Assembly, September 21, 2022. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

September 21, 2022, 11:40 pm

‘Don’t shake hands with killers’: Iranian dissidents gather to protest Raisi at UN

Thousands of anti-regime activists, fueled by mass protests spreading inside Iran, decry president’s first appearance in front of world forum

By Luke Tress

President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi holds up a photo of assassinated Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani as he addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at UN headquarters, Sept. 21, 2022.. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

September 21, 2022, 7:54 pm

Iran’s president castigates Israel, hails Soleimani, at UN; Israeli envoy walks out

Raisi claims Tehran’s nuclear program is peaceful, calls killed Quds Force leader Soleimani a freedom-seeker; exiting hall, Erdan leaves photo of Holocaust survivor grandmothers

By Luke Tress and AP

Illustrative: A Yeshiva University building in New York City, January 13, 2022. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

September 21, 2022, 6:46 am

LGBTQ group offers to fund all Yeshiva University clubs after Pride freeze

Jewish Queer Youth will provide funding to any student club at NY Modern Orthodox university, after school suspended all student groups to avoid recognizing Pride Alliance

By Luke Tress

Jordan's King Abdullah II addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, September 20, 2022 at the UN headquarters in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

September 20, 2022, 8:55 pm

Before UN meet with Lapid, Jordan’s king says Christianity ‘under fire’ in Jerusalem

Abdullah warns at UNGA against ‘undermining’ status quo; Erdogan issues mild criticism of ‘illegal settlements’; after severe row, Chilean president nods to Israeli security

By Luke Tress

Talia Avrahami, a transgender woman who left her position at a Brooklyn yeshiva, after a controversy over her identity. (Courtesy)

September 19, 2022, 10:59 pm

New York yeshiva asks transgender teacher to leave amid uproar over her identity

Instructor agrees to resign after community controversy, widespread harassment; school says parting was in an ‘amicable and professional manner’

By Luke Tress

Ben & Jerry's ice cream on sale at a shop in Jerusalem, on July 19, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 19, 2022, 5:38 pm

Ben & Jerry’s founders say Unilever ‘usurped’ its authority with Israel spin off

Speaking to MSNBC, ice cream makers, who no longer run company, vow to keep independent board’s control over their social mission

By Luke Tress and TOI staff

A woman strikes a Jewish man in Brooklyn in a video released on September 18, 2022. (Screenshot)

September 19, 2022, 1:23 am

New York mayor condemns ‘outrageous attacks’ on Jews as near-daily assaults continue

Mayor Eric Adams says antisemitism ‘won’t be tolerated’ after woman strikes Haredi man on sidewalk, as community members call for stiffer punishments against assailants

By Luke Tress

Attendees of a Morningstar investment conference walk beneath banners at the McCormick Center in Chicago, on June 24, 2010. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

September 18, 2022, 11:01 pm

South Carolina warns financial firm Morningstar over ostensible anti-Israel bias

US state threatens to cut ties with leading investment research company out of ‘solidarity with Israel’; company denies any prejudice

By Luke Tress

Illustrative: The campus of the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont, March 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

September 18, 2022, 11:18 am

‘Victim blaming’: University of Vermont assailed for denying antisemitism charges

Over 20 Jewish groups, including the ADL, Hillel and Jewish Federations, decry college for calling allegations of discrimination ‘patently false’

By Luke Tress

US House Representative Ritchie Torres, a New York Democrat, speaks during a House committee hearing on Homeland Security at the Capitol in Washington, July 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)

September 17, 2022, 12:33 am

US congressman calls on FBI to probe handling of antisemitic crimes in New York

NY Representative Richie Torres also urges attorney general to investigate failure to ‘prosecute hate crimes,’ as few are punished in surge of anti-Jewish attacks

By Luke Tress

US Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks during a press conference, in the United Nations Security Council, September 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

September 16, 2022, 11:47 pm

US envoy to UN vows to ‘continue pressure’ on Iran ahead of General Assembly

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield says no plans for meetings on nuclear deal during gathering of world leaders next week; dissidents demand Iranian president be barred from speaking

By Luke Tress

September 16, 2022, 10:06 pm

Yeshiva University suspends all student clubs as it seeks to block LGBTQ group

Modern Orthodox university in New York says it will follow ‘roadmap’ from conservative Supreme Court justices to protect its ‘religious freedom’ to bar campus Pride club

By Luke Tress

September 16, 2022, 6:31 pm

Yeshiva University: With dismissal, Supreme Court gave roadmap to block LGBTQ club

After dissenting conservative justices tell school it can continue appeals against its Pride club and will ‘likley win,’ YU president says ‘we will follow their instructions’

By Luke Tress