The New York Jewish Week

12/30/2025

As the year concludes, the New York Jewish Week remembers 13 Jewish New Yorkers who died in 2025. Among them are people who left an indelible mark on New York City, including rabbis, musicians, writers, activists and a supercentenarian.

New York said goodbye to rabbis, musicians, writers, activists and a supercentenarian.

12/26/2025

It’s been a whirlwind of a year for New York City, with major changes hurtling toward the Big Apple and altering Life As We Know It — from congestion pricing to a new mayor whose activism around Israel has alarmed many Jews and thrilled others.

For the city’s Jews, the changes have ranged from the lofty to the ludicrous. From a tacky menorah sketch that never aired on “Saturday Night Live” to multiple kosher institutions that failed to thrive in New York’s competitive restaurant industry, here are 12 things that New York City lost — and in other ways, won — in 2025.

From shuttered eateries to vanished bagel glory to a “SNL” Hanukkah skit that never made it to the air, 2025 was a year of gains, losses and unexpected twists for New York’s Jewish community.

12/26/2025

It’s been a whirlwind of a year for New York City, with major changes hurtling toward the Big Apple and altering Life As We Know It — from congestion pricing to a new mayor whose activism around Israel has alarmed many Jews and thrilled others.

For the city’s Jews, the changes have ranged from the lofty to the ludicrous. From a tacky menorah sketch that never aired on “Saturday Night Live” to multiple kosher institutions that failed to thrive in New York’s competitive restaurant industry, here are 12 things that New York City lost — and in other ways, won — in 2025.

Click the link in our bio for more. 🌃

12/25/2025

“I want to change the way I wear my shoes,” Brooklyn-based Yiddishist and musician Ira Khonen Temple sings on the first track on their debut album, “Strange Tongue/Mistame Loshn.”

“But I don’t wanna change the way I say ‘hello,’” Temple continues. “I wanna say it in my fruity voice and hear the birds around rejoice.”

Brooklyn-based musician Ira Khonen Temple blends Yiddish, klezmer and trans experience — and is resonating with a new generation of q***r Jews.

12/25/2025

It’s not just a myth that Jews head to Chinese restaurants on Christmas. It’s science!

Sort of. A new report from the financial services company Coventry Direct claims to have quantified the trend. The report analyzed search data for “Chinese food near me” during the week of Christmas from 2020 to 2024, and found that the Northeast dominated the results.

A completely unscientific poll suggests that Jews do indeed spend Christmas chowing down on Buddha's Delight.

12/24/2025

A version of this piece first ran as part of the New York Jewish Week’s daily newsletter, rounding up the latest on politics, culture, food and what’s new with Jews in the city. Sign up to get it in your inbox.

Plus, our rundown of Jewish things to do on Christmas.

12/22/2025

Jewish Tony winner Brandon Uranowitz spoke to our friends at Hey Alma about closing the circle on being cut from the show's original production in the '90s and how it feels to tell an immigration story right now.

In 1998, "Ragtime" opened at the Lyric Theatre (then the Ford Center for the Performing Arts) on Broadway in New York, New York. And it seemed for some years thereafter, that all the show's days would be warm and fair. Unless, of course, you're Baby Brandon Uranowitz — how the now 39-year-old Ton

12/22/2025

What’s a Jew to do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?

Sure, you could take advantage of New York City’s empty streets, appreciate a day off from work if you have one, and hang out with your family. You could also partake in a time-honored Jewish Christmas tradition: Chinese food and a movie.

But if you’re looking for something fun and different to do over the holiday — which, of course, celebrates the birthday of the world’s most famous Jewish baby — we’ve put together this list Jewish events across the city that are taking place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

From klezmer concerts to family-friendly events to all-night dance parties, here are nine Jewish events taking place in New York City on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.

Silent Night? Yeah, right! Check out our list of Jewish events happening in New York on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.

12/21/2025

A federal judge in Brooklyn has denied a bid by New York City and the estate of former Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes to throw out a civil-rights lawsuit brought by Hasidic sex-abuse whistleblower Sam Kellner, clearing the way for a jury to hear claims that top prosecutors helped engineer his arrest to benefit a convicted child molester.

Sam Kellner faced charges, which were later dropped, after breaking the silence about abuse in his Brooklyn community.

12/20/2025

Amid the bitter cold on Tuesday evening, 100 or so neighbors — many of them clutching tiny cups of hot chocolate, holding dogs on leashes, or chasing after small children — gathered in Harlem’s tiny Montefiore Park to watch the neighborhood’s annual Christmas tree lighting.

But this year, the blue spruce — a landmark at the north end of the triangular park that’s been illuminated for Christmas every year since 1992 — wasn’t the only holiday decoration in the park. For the first time, the Christmas tree lighting was accompanied by the kindling of a large electric menorah, in honor of the third night of Hanukkah.

The first Harlem Festival of Lights took place in Montefiore Park, named for the 19th-century Jewish philanthropist.