(JTA) — University of Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, a top NFL prospect, wore an interesting accessory to a news conference at the league’s scouting combine: a Star of David necklace. Jeudy, 20, told reporters that he was wearing the Jewish star because his last name is Jeudy and… Read more »
National
MSNBC’s Chris Matthews apologizes for comparing Bernie Sanders’ Nevada win to Nazi invasion
(JTA) — MSNBC host Chris Matthews apologized for comparing Sen. Bernie Sanders’ victory in the Nevada caucuses to Nazi Germany’s invasion of France. On Monday, Matthews addressed his remarks on his show. “I was wrong to refer to an event from the last days, or actually the first days,… Read more »
Mike Pence will address AIPAC’s annual conference for 4th straight year
(JTA) — Mike Pence will again appear as a speaker at the Israel lobby AIPAC’s annual conference, as he has every year since he became vice president in 2017. Pence’s appearance was announced on Monday, hours after the American Israel Public Affairs Committee announced the participation of multiple Democratic… Read more »
Jussie Smollett pleads not guilty to second round of charges over false reports of attack
(JTA) — The former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty to a second round of charges for lying to police about being the target of a racist and homophobic attack. Smollett was indicted by a special prosecutor on restored charges two weeks ago. He is charged with six felony… Read more »
A day after Bernie Sanders says he’s opting out, AIPAC flexes its bipartisan support
(JTA) — The American Israel Public Affairs Committee wants the world to know that American Jews and lawmakers from across the political spectrum support it, even if Bernie Sanders does not. A day after Sanders, a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, announced on Twitter that he would… Read more »
Ben Schwartz is the voice of ‘Sonic: The Hedgehog’ and is friends with Billy Crystal. He’s still worried about fitting into Hollywood.
(JTA) — Ben Schwartz fits in well in the world of neurotic Jewish comedians. He was so anxious to get the word out about his new movie, “Standing Up, Falling Down” — a delightful indie dramatic comedy co-starring Billy Crystal in which Schwartz plays a struggling stand-up comedian who… Read more »
Former Democratic candidate Marianne Williamson endorses Bernie Sanders
(JTA) — Marianne Williamson, a Jewish writer and self-help guru whose run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination failed to gain strength, has endorsed Bernie Sanders. Williamson offered her support during an appearance Sunday at a Sanders rally in Austin, Texas. “We’re being told oh, it can’t happen. He… Read more »
Harvey Weinstein convicted on rape and sexual assault charges
(JTA) — Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein was found guilty Monday on two counts of rape and sexual assault, but was acquitted on more serious charges. A New York State Supreme Court jury found Weinstein, 67, guilty of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in… Read more »
Leslie Wexner to step down from Victoria’s Secret parent company amid controversy over Jeffrey Epstein ties
(JTA) — Billionaire entrepreneur Leslie Wexner, under fire for his ties to the disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein and allowing a culture of sexual harassment and bullying of female employees at Victoria’s Secret, is stepping down from his L Brands retailing empire. L Brands announced on Thursday that it… Read more »
4 New York City infants have contracted herpes from Jewish circumcision rite in past 6 months
(JTA) — At least four infants have contracted herpes in New York City in the past six months after undergoing a circumcision rite in which the ritual circumciser, or mohel, cleans the circumcision wound by oral suction. Three cases of herpes have been reported since December and four since… Read more »
Auschwitz Museum again calls out Amazon and Jeff Bezos for selling ‘Nazi propaganda’
(JTA) — For the second time in three days, the Auschwitz Museum has condemned Amazon for selling Nazi-era anti-Semitic children’s books in English and German. “When you decide to make a profit on selling vicious antisemitic Nazi propaganda published without any critical comment or context, you need to remember… Read more »
From AI to Ultratooth: How dental innovations help your oral health
The practice of dentistry looks much different than it did at the turn of the century. Technological advancements are making trips to the dentist quicker, less painful, and more reliable, while other product developments are enabling better oral self-care. “These new technologies are having a huge impact on how… Read more »
Five tips to get the most out of a dental visit
Many people would just as soon avoid scheduling a dental appointment unless an unbearable toothache lands them reluctantly in the dentist’s chair. Fear of pain is one reason for procrastination, but it’s not the only factor. People worry a routine checkup could reveal the need for expensive, major work.… Read more »
New York City’s latest tactic to combat anti-Semitism: An ad campaign featuring diverse Jewish New Yorkers
NEW YORK (JTA) — New York City is hoping that a new ad campaign will make Jewish New Yorkers feel comfortable despite a recent spate of anti-Semitic attacks. The campaign, launched Wednesday by the city’s Commission on Human Rights, consists of four ads each featuring a photograph of a… Read more »
U of Illinois student government president vetoes divestment resolution
(JTA) — The president of the University of Illinois student government vetoed a resolution passed by the body last week that supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. At a cabinet meeting Sunday, Connor Josellis said the remarks made Wednesday evening during discussion of the resolution and… Read more »
New emoji is Israel’s way of saying ‘wait a minute,’ but others also claim it
A symbol of pinched fingers — ubiquitous among Israelis saying “wait a minute” or “have patience” — has been included in the 2020 list of approved emojis. But the nonprofit Unicode Consortium, the organization that approves new emojis, is calling the emoji showing all fingers and thumb held together… Read more »
Conservative rabbinical students sign letter opposing Trump peace plan and West Bank annexation
(JTA) — Thirty-six Conservative Jewish rabbinical students signed a letter opposing President Donald Trump’s Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, as well as Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank. “Trump’s plan would leave Palestinians with a handful of discontiguous territories surrounded by settlements, and Netanyahu’s… Read more »
2 years after the deadly school shooting, Jews in Parkland say they still don’t feel secure
PARKLAND, Fla. (JTA) — It was during Zoey Fox-Snider’s sophomore year that a gunman entered her campus at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School here. The 17-year-old remembers the fire alarm going off and rushing toward the exit with her friends, but then being told to go back in. Suddenly… Read more »
Oxford English Dictionary adds ‘yiddo’ and definition of ‘yid’ as fan of British soccer team Tottenham
(JTA) — “Yiddo,” a variation of the derogatory term “yid,” is a new entry in the Oxford English Dictionary, which also has added a definition of the latter to describe supporters and players of a British soccer team. The Tottenham Hotspurs, known as the Spurs, has many Jewish supporters… Read more »
U of Illinois student government passes resolution supporting Israel boycott
(JTA) — The student government at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign voted to adopt a resolution that supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. The 20-9 vote in favor early Thursday morning followed a five-hour meeting of the University of Illinois Student Government, the Illini Hillel… Read more »