Orthodox Jews
In battleground states, American Jews prefer Biden over Trump by a wide margin
By Yonat Shimron — October 21, 2020
(RNS) — A pair of surveys of likely Jewish voters in Florida and Pennsylvania shows that former Vice President Joe Biden has a massive lead over Donald Trump.
400 rabbis back Cuomo and de Blasio in shutdown of New York Hasidic neighborhoods
By Yonat Shimron — October 8, 2020
(RNS) — Some 400 rabbis and other Jewish religious leaders have signed a statement in support of New York officials’ efforts to curb COVID-19 in hard-hit Jewish neighborhoods of New York City.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo shuts down New York City yeshivas in virus hot spots
By Yonat Shimron — October 6, 2020
(RNS) — Both the mayor and governor are frustrated at ongoing displays of Hasidic Jews flouting mandates to socially distance and wear masks.
Orthodox Jews face collateral damage from unbalanced COVID-19 measures
By Brett Harvey and Howard Slugh — July 10, 2020
(RNS) — Many people of faith have faced limits on meeting for services. But when Jewish Americans have gathered publicly, they have faced a slew of anti-Semitic attacks — some from prominent government officials.
NYC mayor takes heat after lashing out at Jewish funeral
By Karen Matthews — April 29, 2020
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio defended his tweets criticizing a large Jewish funeral.
The coronavirus is upending thousands of years of Jewish tradition
By Yonat Shimron — March 20, 2020
(RNS) — It presents particular challenges to Orthodox Jews, especially on Shabbat, a time when many refrain from using any electronic devices.
Amid rising anti-Semitism, Orthodox Jews weigh safety with being conspicuously Jewish
By Menachem Wecker — January 27, 2020
(RNS) — For Orthodox Jews, the current wave of anti-Semitic attacks raises questions about how to keep safe while remaining identifiably Jewish.
In response to rising anti-Semitism, Jews plan march and declare #JewishandProud
By Yonat Shimron — January 3, 2020
(RNS) — American Jews have increasingly been scared to identify their faith publicly. An October survey by the AJC found that 31% of Jews avoided wearing symbols or objects identifying them as Jews.
Video stokes fears of anti-Semitic backlash in N.J. suburb
By Menachem Wecker — February 1, 2019
(RNS) — A video from a group called Rise Up Ocean County that paints Orthodox Jews as invaders has raised concerns in suburban New Jersey communities where the Jewish population is increasing.
Why religion won’t help the Republicans in the midterms
By Mark Silk — August 6, 2018
A shrinking God Gap and a decline in worship attendance are the keys.
A Holocaust museum in Brooklyn focuses on faith, survival
By Yonat Shimron — January 16, 2018
NEW YORK (AP) — The Amud Aish Memorial Museum, located far from the tourist crowds, near the very edge of the Brooklyn, focuses on the experiences of Orthodox Jews during and after the Holocaust.
N.J. town rescinds parks ban alleged to target Orthodox Jews
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — December 29, 2017
(AP) The New Jersey town council was pressured by the state to drop its ban on New Yorkers visiting its public park. The council had also tried — and failed — to ban boundary markers Jews use to observe Sabbath rules.
‘Interfaith’ term rings hollow for some Jews
By Holly Lebowitz Rossi — December 18, 2017
BOSTON (RNS) — If you really want to welcome interfaith families into Jewish life, better rethink your language, many Jewish leaders say.
Lawsuit: New Jersey town illegally targeted Orthodox Jews
By Yonat Shimron — October 24, 2017
MAHWAH, N.J. (AP) —The state contends Mahwah township violated New Jersey's Green Acres Act by banning out-of-state residents from its parks after residents complained about their use by Orthodox Jewish families from New York.
Israeli court stands up for woman in airline gender seat swap case
By Reuters — June 22, 2017
JERUSALEM (Reuters) The case against El Al was brought by 83-year-old Renee Rabinowitz, who was asked by a flight attendant, after boarding a flight from Newark, N.J., to Tel Aviv in 2015, if she would agree to move.
