The New York Jewish Week

12/20/2024

From traditional jelly-filled to inventive flavors like Dubai chocolate and lemon cardamom, here are 16 spots to get Hanukkah donuts in 2024.

12/19/2024

Salvador Dalí may be best known for his surrealist masterpieces like “The Persistence of Memory” and “The Elephants.” But the Spanish artist also created a suite of paintings to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel.

‘Aliyah, the Rebirth of Israel,’ a rare, complete collection of 25 lithographs by the famed artist, is now on view at the Holocaust Memorial Tolerance Center in Glen Cove.

‘Aliyah, the Rebirth of Israel,’ a rare, complete collection of 25 lithographs by the famed artist, is now on view.

12/18/2024

Hundreds of Jewish New Yorkers gathered amid beautifully decorated Christmas trees at Gracie Mansion, Mayor Eric Adams’ residence, for a pre-Hanukkah celebration feting several local Jews and charities.

In prepared remarks, the new Jewish commissioner of the NYPD, Jessica Tisch — whose introduction was met with applause by the packed room — referenced the Hanukkah story, calling Adams — who earlier that day lost a bid to reduce the number of charges he faces as part of a federal corruption indictment — “a light in our community.”

During his remarks, Mayor Eric Adams said, "We will stand tall together. I want to be extremely clear on this Hanukkah: Eric Leroy Adams is a modern-day Maccabee.”

Earlier in the day, Adams had lost a bid to dismiss the bribery charges against him. Nonetheless, the crowd Tuesday night was all smiles and good cheer.

12/17/2024

Park Avenue Synagogue’s senior cantor, Azi Schwartz, may already be leader at one of Manhattan’s most venerable Conservative congregations, but following a recent Shabbat service, it appears that the synagogue’s musical output may become even more… popular.

On Dec. 7, Schwartz, along with his colleague, Assistant Cantor Mira Davis, premiered a new version of “Adon Olam” — a prayer that traditionally concludes Shabbat morning services — set to the tune “Popular” from the hit Broadway musical-turned-movie “Wicked.”

A video of the cantors’ version of the song, “A Wicked Adon Olam,” filmed live in the synagogue’s sanctuary, was posted to social media on Friday and has since been viewed well over 100,000 times across platforms.

A new version of the traditional Shabbat service closing prayer, performed by Park Avenue Synagogue cantors Azi Schwartz and Mira Davis, is going viral online.

12/17/2024

Last year, New York City’s Jewish Museum imported a new director from the Israel Museum. Now, it’s bringing the oldest archaeological evidence of the existence of King David from the Jerusalem museum, too.

The Tel Dan Stele, a stone fragment long held exclusively by the Israel Museum, is on view at the Jewish Museum on the Upper East Side until Jan. 5.

The ancient artifact, which dates to the 9th century BCE, is on view through Jan. 5.

12/16/2024

On an April Saturday in 1945, a Jewish teen living in East New York named Charlotte Buchsbaum washed her hair with lemon. “It looked nice,” she wrote in her diary.

The following day, the 15-year-old Brooklynite went to a bar mitzvah at The Rainbow Room, where there was an “effective ceremony” followed by dinner and dancing. Two weeks later, she was at school when a loudspeaker announced that “hostilities have ceased in Germany and all Europe.”

These musings by a Jewish high schooler, which reflect happenings both highly personal and historically significant, have recently found a contemporary audience of millions. This unlikely turn of events is thanks to a viral TikTok video posted by Helaina Ferraioli, the social media manager for her family’s vintage store in Carroll Gardens.

Charlotte Buchsbaum, who grew up in East New York, Brooklyn, wrote about going to bar mitzvahs, celebrating Passover, and heading to Times Square to celebrate the U.S. victory over Japan.

12/15/2024

The family of a Bronx baker donated a ritual heirloom to a Warsaw museum as a gesture of remembrance and healing.

"Like Dave and Benji, the oddly matched cousins in Jesse Eisenberg’s new feature film, A Real Pain,' I recently embarked with five of my American Jewish cousins on an unusual family heritage journey to Poland," writes Stuart Schear.

"We had never traveled together, but we were inspired by a powerful idea: bringing back to Poland a beautiful family heirloom — a Jewish prayer shawl, or tallis, that one of our ancestors brought to the United States nearly a century ago."

The family of a Bronx baker donates a ritual heirloom to a Warsaw museum as a gesture of remembrance and healing.

12/14/2024

A man was sentenced to prison on Tuesday for an antisemitic attack in Central Park in 2022.

Perin Jacobchuk, 34, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for assaulting a 64-year-old Jewish man after making antisemitic comments, including “kill the Jews” and “Kanye 2024.”

Perin Jacobchuk was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for attacking Jewish man in Central Park.

12/13/2024

In about six months, New York City will almost certainly choose its next mayor in the Democratic primary — and Jewish issues could take center stage in the campaign.

Street protests, masking laws, yeshiva education and Israel could come to the fore in the run-up to the June 2025 primary.

Street protests, masking laws, yeshiva education and Israel could come to the fore in the run-up to the June 2025 primary.

12/12/2024

Welcome to The Jewish Dating Game, a monthly live show that’s inspired by the long-running 1960s game show “The Dating Game.” This live, Jewish version of the game was launched in July by actor and writer Linnea Sage. Sage’s goal is to help contestants — and audience members — find their beshert, or soul mate.

What sets The Jewish Dating Game apart from a non-Jewish one? “I don’t think it would be as funny,” Sage told the New York Jewish Week. “At the end of the day, Jews have something special. We’ve got some pizzazz, you know, that I think is just endearing and entertaining to watch regardless.”

Created by actor and writer Linnea Sage, The Jewish Dating Game is "a night of Jewish joy."

12/11/2024

Jewish pitcher Max Fried has reportedly signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the New York Yankees, the largest contract ever for a Jewish player as well as for a left-handed pitcher.

Fried’s eight-year, $218 million deal is the largest contract in baseball history both for a Jewish player and for a left-handed pitcher.

12/10/2024

“Kidnapped by Hamas” posters spread throughout New York in the weeks after Oct. 7 and, just as quickly, pro-Palestinian activists tore them down. The documentary “Torn” explores why.

"Kidnapped by Hamas” posters spread throughout New York in the weeks after Oct. 7 and, just as quickly, pro-Palestinian activists tore them down. The documentary "Torn” explores why.

12/09/2024

All charges have been dismissed against a Manhattan rabbi and real estate developer who had been accused of ramming his vehicle into pro-Palestinian protesters in May.

Charges were also dropped against two protesters who were arrested at the scene.

Reuven Kahane had been arrested and accused of assault after the altercation with the demonstrators, who were protesting outside the Upper East Side home of a Columbia University trustee.

Prosecutors drop charges in incident that drew widespread attention as university protests rocked Columbia campus.

12/08/2024

Hanukkah is “late” this year, but it is on its way: The first night is Wednesday, Dec. 25 — a federal holiday because it’s also Christmas — and we’ll kindle the eighth candle of the hanukkiah on the evening of Weds., Jan. 1, 2025 (also a federal holiday).

Whether your family goes all-in on Hanukkah presents — are you an eight-nights-of presents type? — or you like to keep things simple, we’ve compiled this list of unique, New York City-centric products that are sure to enchant loved ones living both near and far.

From handmade-in-NYC chocolates to menorahs with personality, click the link for our picks. Happy Hanukkah!

From a bagel-and-lox hair clip to a Statue of Liberty menorah, these 12 items are sure to bring NYC-style holiday happiness to everyone on your list.

12/08/2024

As a drought warning puts the kibosh on fire permits in the city, rabbis who kindle public menorahs are hoping for a Hanukkah miracle.

12/07/2024

Omer Neutra was killed more than one year ago, more than 5,000 miles away. But at his memorial service Tuesday morning on Long Island, the sanctuary overflowed with relatives, friends, Jewish leaders and at least one other hostage family.

Coursing through the crowd was the pain of learning — after nearly 14 months of unending hope and activism — that Neutra had been killed in battle alongside his fellow Israeli soldiers on Oct. 7, 2023, the day Hamas terrorists abducted his body to Gaza. It is still being held there.

The memorial service for Neutra, who was previously believed to be a living hostage in Gaza, drew crowds to the Midway Jewish Center in Syosset, Long Island, as well as online.

12/06/2024

Mesiba, an Israeli hotspot in Williamsburg, collaborates with a different chef or influencer each week to welcome the Sabbath in unique and delicious ways.

Mesiba’s new Friday night dinner series aims to bring a “Tel Aviv-style” Shabbat experience to its customers, according to Elad Zvi, the co-founder of Bar Lab, a hospitality company that operates Mesiba.

Mesiba, an Israeli hotspot in Williamsburg, collaborates with a different chef or influencer each week to welcome the Sabbath in unique and delicious ways.

12/05/2024

New York City’s Other Israel Film Festival, which spotlights marginalized voices in Israel, opens this week with a slate of movies by Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers.

It’s a notable return for the festival, which was indefinitely postponed in 2023 in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. This year, it aims to “highlight the stories of those who stand together for coexistence and an end to violence,” according to its website.

Last year’s festival, which was scheduled for early November, was indefinitely postponed following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.