Mark D. Zimmerman

By Mark D. Zimmerman Jews around the world are celebrating Sukkot this week. The most significant preparation is the building of a sukkah, a temporary outdoor structure, by many synagogues, schools, Jewish organizations, and individuals. The sukkah symbolizes the huts in which the Israelites lived during the Exodus, and also represents the structures that farmers […]

By Mark D. Zimmerman Challah is the bread that is typically served by Jews on Shabbat as well as on holidays. The source of the word challah is a biblical command to separate a piece of bread dough as a tithe for the kohanim, the priests. This obligation is called hafrashat challah, or “separating the challah.” Challah is

By Mark D. Zimmerman Jews around the world are listening to the blowing of the shofar during the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, and again on Yom Kippur. The shofar is typically a hollowed out ram’s horn, though other animals’ horns are also used, including goats, ibexes and kudus. While there is not a specific reference to

The United States Supreme Court recently ruled that the school must obey the decision of the New York State Supreme Court, which stated that because the school is incorporated as an educational institution, not a religious one, it cannot deny the club’s request. In response, Yeshiva University announced that for the time being, they are suspending all student club activities. A lawyer representing the student organization called the university’s action “a throwback to 50 years ago when the city of Jackson, Miss., closed all public swimming pools rather than comply with court orders to desegregate.” There are almost 100 student organizations affected by the University’s decision, including which of the following? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

By Mark D. Zimmerman   MELVILLE, New York — Britain’s Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96, having reigned for 70 years. She is being mourned around the world, including by members of the British Jewish community. According to Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, “Her affection for the Jewish people

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Last week saw the passing of Mikhail Gorbachev, the former  General Secretary of the Communist Party and head of state of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev instituted a policy of glasnost (openness), pursuing more democratic ideals, ultimately leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Also last week,

By Mark D. Zimmerman Allen Weisselberg, longtime Chief Financial Officer of the Trump Organization, pleaded guilty to 15 felony criminal charges including grand larceny, tax fraud, and falsifying business records. While he has not agreed to testify against Donald Trump, he is expected to testify against the Trump Organization in a trial scheduled to begin in a

By Mark D. Zimmerman Four-time Grammy Award winner Olivia Newton-John died last week. Newton-John first gained fame with a “girl next door” image while singing such songs as I Honestly Love You  and Have You Never Been Mellow. Her image took a turn for the wilder when she was cast as Sandy Olsson in the movie Grease, starring opposite John

By Mark D. Zimmerman   Alex Jones, host of the far-right conspiracy theory website Infowars, was sued for defamation by parents of one of the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre. Jones claimed that the parents lied about the shooting, which he said was “completely fake with actors.” A jury ordered Jones to pay $4.1 million in

By Mark D. Zimmerman   MELVILLE, New York — Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida filed a complaint against a Miami restaurant which hosted a drag brunch performance, with children in the audience. The complaint noted that “The nature of the performances…particularly when conducted in the presence of young children, corrupts the public morals and outrages

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Vince McMahon Jr. of World Wrestling Entertainment announced his retirement last week. This came a month after he resigned as the organization’s chairman and CEO, following allegations that he had paid millions of dollars in hush money to female WWE employees with whom he had sexual encounters. The Jewish

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — President Joe Biden visited Israel last week, his tenth trip to the country. Biden made efforts to strengthen U.S. relations with Israel, while furthering the process of the Abraham Accords, which he also is pursuing in Saudi Arabia where he traveled after leaving Israel. While in Israel,