PHILISSA CRAMER

Party leader of the Green Party of Canada, Annamie Paul, speaks during a vigil for the victims of the deadly vehicle attack on five members of the Canadian Muslim community in London, Ontario, Canada, June 8, 2021 (Nicole OSBORNE / AFP)

June 17, 2021, 11:18 am

Jewish head of Canada Green party survives leadership challenge amid Israel rift

Party said to demand Annamie Paul disavow ex-adviser who accused lawmakers of antisemitism during disagreement over whether Israel should be condemned over conflict with Gaza

By PHILISSA CRAMER

An online bake sale to combat antisemitism has drawn many Jewish participants; Daniela Weiner, right, is among the few non-Jews to participate (Sale ad courtesy of Whitney Fisch; other pictures courtesy of Weiner)

June 5, 2021, 2:51 am

US bake sale against antisemitism draws Jewish foodies, few non-Jewish allies

Organizers hope to use funds to fight growing expressions of hate in America; but they also say some social justice and civil rights advocates have ‘straight-up ignored’ them

By PHILISSA CRAMER

Eric Lander, the incoming director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, participates in a swearing-in ceremony with US Vice President Kamala Harris in her ceremonial office, as his wife Lori Lander holds a 13-page fragment of a Pirkei Avot text from 1492 in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on June 2, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP)

June 3, 2021, 6:35 am

Biden science adviser takes oath on 500-year-old Jewish text

Eric Lander becomes 1st cabinet-level official to receive post using 1492 Pirkei Avot — a Mishnaic compendium of Jewish precepts — published in Naples by Jews fleeing Inquisition

By PHILISSA CRAMER

Illustrative: a public schoo in Brooklyn on Monday, Oct. 5, 2020 (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

May 26, 2021, 5:13 am

NYC public school principal criticized for urging staff to support Palestinians

Head of Brooklyn middle school later apologizes; city employees are prohibited from using their roles or education department resources to engage in political activity

By PHILISSA CRAMER

Jewish influencers and users of Instagram, the visual social networking app that is widely used for activism, say it became a challenging place during the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Screenshot via JTA)

May 22, 2021, 12:44 pm

‘Soul-destroying’: Jewish Instagrammers deal with Gaza conflict, antisemitism

Jews on social media struggle as influencers post about violence, some sharing misinformation. When Jewish account operators wade in, some get antisemitic comments in response

By PHILISSA CRAMER

Illustrative: A woman and two children pass protesters sitting on La Salle Street in front of Chicago's City Hall, Wednesday, June 17, 2020 (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

May 21, 2021, 4:02 am

Israel-Hamas conflict tears apart Chicago’s biggest Facebook moms group

Dozens of Jewish moms kicked out or quit after MamaHive admin condemns ‘terroristic acts being committed against the Palestinian people’ and urges those who support Israel to leave

By PHILISSA CRAMER

Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli security forces in the West Bank city of Hebron, May 14, 2021. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90)

May 15, 2021, 4:38 pm

Rabbinical students urge US Jews to hold Israel accountable for ‘rights abuses’

Dozens sign open letter accusing Israel of ‘violent suppression of human rights’ and enabling ‘apartheid in the Palestinian territories’

By PHILISSA CRAMER

Illustrative -- The opening day session of the Kentucky State Legislature in Frankfort, Jan. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

March 1, 2021, 10:41 am

Kentucky becomes first US state to adopt IHRA definition of anti-Semitism

Resolution crafted in response to anti-Semitic attacks on cemeteries, Jewish centers; critics say it stifles some forms of Israel criticism

By PHILISSA CRAMER

Illustrative: This June 9, 2014 photo shows a grilled cheese made with Bonne Maman fig preserves in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

February 18, 2021, 4:48 am

Is Bonne Maman the anti-Nazi jam?

A Holocaust survivor tells a fellow shopper she only eats that jam because company’s owners saved her family from the Nazis, but secretive French family isn’t commenting

By Gabe Friedman and PHILISSA CRAMER

Alena Lee gave a shoutout to 'Kitler' on her Saturday night weather broadcast, February 14, 2021. (Screen shot from YouTube)

February 16, 2021, 5:50 pm

US meteorologist sorry for showing Kitler, a Hitleresque cat, on air

Alena Lee says she ‘never intended to hurt or offend anyone’ with photo of mustachioed kitten she had said ‘kind of looks like Charlie Chaplin’

By PHILISSA CRAMER

This image from video shows a hearing from the 394th Judicial District Court of Texas. The hearing took a detour when an attorney showed up looking like a kitten. A filter that had been activated on the attorney's device obscured his appearance and made him look like a cat. Judge Roy Ferguson shared the short video clip of the mishap on YouTube. The judge says everyone involved handled the situation with professionalism and grace. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP)

February 12, 2021, 1:29 am

‘I’m not a cat’ lawyer’s dark past with Jewish woman who owned a Tx. smoke shop

Long before his fluffy feline video went viral, Rod Ponton drew national attention, accused by Ilana Lipsen of targeting her in terror-linked drug raid after she ended their affair

By PHILISSA CRAMER

Tobin Mitnick really loves trees, and wants you to, too. (Courtesy of Mitnick/ via JTA)

January 28, 2021, 2:30 am

TikTok’s comic ‘Jew Who Loves Trees’ wants you to take Tu Bishvat very seriously

Tobin Mitnick entertains his 110,000 fans with interesting facts about vegetation near his LA home, but on the Jewish Arbor Day he’s stressing good deeds and connection with nature

By PHILISSA CRAMER

January 27, 2021, 10:42 am

Facebook gets a ‘D’ from ADL on curbing Holocaust denial

Watchdog finds Twitch gaming network is the social media platform most effective at rooting out offending content; YouTube, Twitter and Tiktok get a C

By PHILISSA CRAMER

Illustrative -- A Pakistan Army helicopter flies over the site of an avalanche over Gayari camp, April 18, 2012 (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

January 22, 2021, 9:33 am

Jewish Harvard Medical School professor dies climbing in Pakistan’s mountains

Campaign launched to fund return of Alex Goldfarb’s body after he died while apparently attempting to scale Broad Peak on his own and without supplemental oxygen

By PHILISSA CRAMER

Rabbi Jordan Hersh has been deployed as part of the Maryland Army National Guard to the US Capitol since a mob of Trump supporters stormed it on January 6, 2021. (Courtesy/Hersh via JTA)

January 16, 2021, 3:26 am

‘Something holy about this space’: The rabbi on guard at the US Capitol

National Guard chaplain Jordan Hersh, stationed in Washington since the pro-Trump riot, says protecting Congress is ‘like a spiritual experience’ for himself and his unit

By PHILISSA CRAMER