Young Jews planting trees in Israel in honor of Tu b’Shvat, the festival marking the new year for trees. (Omer Miron/Flash90)HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (JTA) — “Hey, Rabbi,” the bat mitzvah candidate said, “can I tell you about my mitzvah project? I’m...

Producer Ariel Rechtshaid’s resume includes mainstream pop artists and lesser-known indie acts. (Michael Reich)(JTA) — What do Madonna, Vampire Weekend, Usher, the Plain White T’s and Justin Bieber have in common?In addition to getting extensive...

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A group of Jewish girls allegedly attacked an Arab man working in Jerusalem with pepper spray.Three suspects were detained for questioning after the incident downtown on Sunday, the Jerusalem Police reported.Also Sunday, five Israeli...

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Air Force bombed what it identified as two “Hamas weapon manufacturing facilities” in the northern Gaza Strip in response to a two rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel.A pregnant Palestinian woman and her 2-year-old daughter...

Palestinian men burning tires during a clash with Israeli forces near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Oct. 9, 2015. (Flash90)The violence in Israel continued on Friday with multiple stabbings and shootings. Hamas’ chief, and some Palestinians, declared...

(JTA) — Israeli security officials said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is working to calm tensions in the West Bank, even as violence has surged.An unnamed security official said Friday that “lone wolf terrorism,” attacks by individuals...

U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, May 7, 2014. (Getty Images)Dennis Ross’ book about the United States-Israel relationship is about to come out, and it includes a bombshell...

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio at city hall in New York, Sept. 21, 2015. (Seth Wenig/AP Images)(JTA) — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will visit Israel to speak about ways to combat anti-Semitism.De Blasio is to leave Thursday for Jerusalem,...

WASHINGTON (JTA) — National Security Adviser Susan Rice’s failure to cultivate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu contributed to a breakdown in U.S.-Israel communication, a former top U.S. official said.Dennis Ross, who was President Barack...

Medics arriving at the scene of a stabbing attack in Jerusalem, October 9, 2015 (Magen David Adom)(JTA) — Two Israelis were lightly injured and one Palestinian killed in stabbing attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba.The attack...

Pope Francis laughing as he meets the journalists aboard the papal airplane on the occasion of his visit to Quito, Ecuador, July 5, 2015. (Gregorio Borgia/AP Images)A rabbi has been named Pope Francis’ official “comedic advisor.”Bob Alper, 70, a...

A yahrzeit candle, which Jews light during the mourning period after a loved one’s death. (Wikimedia Commons)(JTA) — Someone I know died today. Although I didn’t know him well, and haven’t seen him in over 20 years, I remember him. In our years...