Philissa Cramer (JTA) Archives

Philissa Cramer (JTA)

El Cajon, California, Mayor TK speaks at a vigil in memory of Dr. Benjamin Harouni, a Jewish dentist who was murdered at his practice on Feb. 29, 2024, in El Cajon, March 3, 2024. (Screenshot from video)

March 4, 2024, 12:02 pm

Calls mount to investigate antisemitism in killing of Jewish dentist

Jews and pro-Israel activists say the killing was likely an act of antisemitism amid the heated atmosphere surrounding the Israel-Hamas war.

By Ben Sales (JTA), Philissa Cramer (JTA) and Jacob Gurvis (JTA)

Montana Tucker arrives at the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

February 5, 2024, 9:39 am

Influencer Montana Tucker wears yellow-ribbon dress for Gaza hostages to Grammys

Grand-daughter of Holocaust survivors showed her support whilst Recording Academy CEO paid tribute to Nova victims at 66th Annual Awards ceremony

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

Jewish institutIons have faced a spate of bomb threats in recent weeks. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

December 18, 2023, 10:03 am

Hundreds of US synagogues receive bomb threats as spree continues despite arrests

The Secure Community Network, which coordinates security for Jewish institutions nationwide, said that it had tracked 199 threats over the past 24 hours.

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

Samantha Woll, president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in Detroit, welcomes attendees to the congregation's centennial celebration and groundbreaking on a major renovation project, Aug. 14, 2022. (Andrew Lapin)

October 23, 2023, 2:55 pm

No indication of hate crime in murder of Detroit synagogue president, police say

Local Jewish leader Samantha Woll was found stabbed to death outside her home early on Saturday.

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

October 5, 2023, 4:49 pm

Bruno Mars’ Tel Aviv concert includes classic Israeli children’s Sukkot song

The song was written by Naomi Shemer in 1971, and took on new significance after the Yom Kippur War because of its message of peace.

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

August 16, 2023, 3:04 pm

‘Busiest mohel in New York’ who performed 26,000 circumcisions dies at 67

Sherman was one of New York’s most in-demand mohels during his 45-year career

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

Konrad Kutt and Irena Aselmeier, founders of Germany's book box initiative, stand in front of the burned-out book box near the "Gleis 17" Holocaust memorial after an apparent arson attack. (Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images)

August 14, 2023, 10:12 am

Holocaust ‘book box’ at German deportation memorial destroyed in apparent antisemitic arson

The book box, from which any passerby could borrow reading material related to the Holocaust, had been dedicated in 2012.

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

Undated image of Jacob Daskal. (screen capture: New York Daily News - via Times of Israel)

July 18, 2023, 2:08 pm

Former head of Shomrim in Brooklyn pleads guilty to sex crime involving teenager

Jacob Daskal will be sentenced to between 14 and 17 years in prison and will register as a sex offender after pleading guilty.

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

Greta Gerwig attends the world premiere of "Barbie" at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles, July 9, 2023. (Frazer Harrison/FilmMagic via Getty Images)

July 13, 2023, 1:38 pm

‘Barbie’ director Greta Gerwig wants the movie’s viewers to ‘feel like I did at Shabbat dinner’

Gerwig hopes watching the movie will be a quasi-spiritual activity for its viewers.

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

An AI bot to generate cheesecake recipes is meant to prove that artificial intelligence can have a place in Orthodox communities. (Illustration by Mollie Suss)

May 25, 2023, 11:37 am

An app that can generate 64,000 kosher cheesecake recipes aims to prove AI’s value for Orthodox Jews

Since its launch last week, Cheesecake Wizard has been used by about 12,000 people to generate 45,000 recipes.

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

A selfie taken by pop star Noa Kirel has gone viral in Israel. (Image from WhatsApp)

May 18, 2023, 8:05 am

An airplane encounter between Noa Kirel and a top Orthodox rabbi has gone viral

The story has been shared widely in Hebrew-language WhatsApp groups as a heartwarming example of how people from different sectors of Israeli society can connect across divides.

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

A fire at Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, Texas set on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021 damaged the sanctuary, historic front doors and stained glass windows at the Reform synagogue. (Austin Fire Department)

April 10, 2023, 1:27 pm

Man pleads guilty to hate crime in 2021 arson that damaged Austin, Texas, synagogue

Investigators found antisemitic and racist material as well as bomb-making supplies in Franklin Barrett Sechriest’s car. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides speaks at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem, Feb. 19, 2023. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

February 20, 2023, 10:01 am

Israel’s Diaspora minister tells US envoy: ‘Mind your own business’

Amichai Chikli lashed out at U.S. ambassador Tom Nides, who said he was urging Israeli leaders to “pump the brakes” on their controversial effort to change the country’s judiciary.

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

Demonstrators against the judicial overhaul outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, Feb. 13, 2023 (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

February 13, 2023, 11:38 am

Biden weighs in on Israel’s proposed judiciary changes

As tens of thousands protest in Jerusalem, US president calls for 'checks and balances' for the sake of democracy

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

United Hatzalah's rescue team in Turkey just before departing, citing concerns about a threat against them. (Courtesy United Hatzalah)

February 12, 2023, 9:57 pm

Israeli rescue team evacuated from Turkey amid ‘concrete and immediate threat’

United Hatzalah told its team of roughly two dozen personnel in Turkey to end their rescue mission and leave the country.

By Philissa Cramer (JTA)

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