menu_open
Luke Tress

Luke Tress

The Times of Israel

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Threading needle on free speech, Jewish leaders demand Columbia rein in protests

AJC chief says ‘when the debate results in the intimidation and harassment and silencing of one party, there is not free speech for...

latest 10

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Israeli professor blocked from entering Columbia’s main campus: ‘This is 1938’

University’s COO tells Shai Davidai that he’s barred from area of anti-Israel encampment ‘to maintain safety of the...

23.04.2024 100

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

What would New York’s expanded definition of hate crimes mean for Jewish communities?

Gov. Kathy Hochul aims to add 31 offenses to list of potential hate crimes, including arson, but critics say small-scale offenders won’t be...

21.04.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Over 100 arrested in Columbia U unrest as NYPD clears ‘Gaza solidarity encampment’

Ivy League school suspends 3 students for their role in anti-Israel activities, including daughter of US Rep. Ilhan Omar, after demonstrators reject...

19.04.2024 80

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

US theater charity Broadway Cares donates to Israeli groups after Gaza aid criticism

Move comes after critics said donations to humanitarian groups were beyond scope of charity’s central mission of fighting AIDS and funding...

13.04.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Thirteen men plead not guilty for melee over illegal Brooklyn Chabad tunnel

Fight broke out when workers filled in tunnels under Chabad headquarters; All but one of the students involved are Israeli citizens

12.04.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Yonkers City Council drops ceasefire resolution opposed by pro- and anti-Israel groups

Advocates from both sides threaten to protest the vote in the large NYC suburb after the council spent months trying to land on language both sides...

10.04.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Columbia suspends students for ‘Resistance 101’ event at which speakers praised Hamas

University president says ‘absolutely unacceptable… to promote the use of terror or violence,’ in significant response to...

06.04.2024 50

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Pro-Palestinian protest vote campaign in New York claims victory against Biden

Success of ‘Leave it Blank’ push for Democratic primary hard to judge as official data not released yet, turnout low; vote analysis group...

05.04.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

New York police report 43 antisemitic incidents in March, reversing downward trend

After brief decline since November, community security chief says protesters increasingly targeting Jewish sites, warm weather bringing targets and...

05.04.2024 100

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

The Borscht Belt is burning: In the Catskills, abandoned resorts keep catching fire

Firefighters also work to extinguish rumors that blazes are ‘Jewish lightning,’ an antisemitic term used for arson committed with the...

02.04.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Jewish Democratic group endorses primary challenger to NY Rep. Jamaal Bowman

Jewish Democratic Council of America and AIPAC have both endorsed bid by George Latimer, as incumbent walks back remarks that claims of Hamas sex...

29.03.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

3 defendants in Lev Tahor cult abduction case convicted in NY of 2018 kidnapping

Brothers Yoil Weingarten, Yakov Weingarten and Shmiel Weingarten, of extremist sect, found guilty for their role in abducting two children from their...

29.03.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Columbia University probing ‘Resistance 101’ student event where speakers hailed Hamas

Gathering was originally scheduled to take place at women’s school that’s part of university but was forced to move online due to lack of...

28.03.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

At NY hostage rally, demonstrators wear batman masks to honor 4-year-old captive

500 attend march at Central Park to coincide with Purim festival; in Hasidic neighborhoods of Brooklyn, festive celebrations touched by war, with...

25.03.2024 10

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Democrat John Fetterman’s Israel support brings fans on the right, critics on the left

Many US progressives feel stunned and betrayed by the Democratic senator’s outspoken backing of the Jewish state since Oct. 7, while Republicans...

24.03.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Queens College Hillel demands administration take action after pro-Hitler graffiti

Jewish organization’s chapter at NYC school warns recent vandalism ‘threatens the safety of Jews,’ as college president says...

23.03.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Man with ‘kill rabbi’ tattoo gets 25 years to life for burning rabbi’s NY home in 2019

Jewish Pennsylvania man with long history of threats against Brooklyn’s Jonathan Max convicted of setting fire in which six people suffered...

19.03.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

To evade anti-Israel protests, US Jewish and Israeli events keep their locations secret

As pro-Palestinian activists target institutions from delis to art galleries to a cancer hospital, event organizers prioritize attendees’ safety...

19.03.2024 50

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Schumer’s speech wins some plaudits, but not all Netanyahu critics are on board

Head of Democratic group says Senate chief was speaking more to US Jews and progressives than Israelis, who professor notes broadly support war effort...

16.03.2024 40

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

After drawing protests in other cities, expo on Israeli real estate nixed in Brooklyn

Event canceled over ‘serious’ security concerns on last leg of tour, says organizer; gatherings in Teaneck, Montreal, Toronto drew...

14.03.2024 70

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Thousands rally in New York’s Central Park in support of hostages held by Hamas

Freed hostage Keren Munder tells crowd of 3,000 that NY Jewish community ‘gives us strength;’ demonstrators urge US to pressure Arab nation...

11.03.2024 60

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Israeli professor who’s slammed campus antisemitism says Columbia investigating him

Shai Davidai calls probe unwarranted unless ‘supporting terrorism is a protected class,’ says university ‘cannot just create some...

09.03.2024 70

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

ADL honors Jared Kushner at annual summit, despite pushback from some groups

Organization head Jonathan Greenblatt defends move, saying watchdog is nonpartisan; praises Donald Trump’s son-in-law for role he played in...

07.03.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

American Jewish World Service to lay off 10% of staff, pare back global operations

Citing declining donor support, charity group ‘inspired by the Jewish commitment to justice’ says it will exit 3 of the 17 countries where...

06.03.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

NY’s Hunter College investigates after protesters demand Jews on campus ‘pick a side’

Hillel decries ‘hateful slogans’ at Wednesday rally condemned by institution, part of City University of New York

02.03.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Lipstadt urges US Jews not to ‘go underground’ amid surging antisemitism

Antisemitism envoy tells New York crowd to ‘bring the joy’ of Judaism to their lives despite growing antisemitism in the wake of October 7

29.02.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Jewish philanthropist gives $1 billion to Bronx med school, waiving all future tuition

Dr. Ruth Gottesman says she hopes donation will help Albert Einstein College of Medicine students ‘find new ways to prevent diseases and provide...

27.02.2024 100

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Police detain 20 activists as anti-Zionist group protests AIPAC, pro-Israel lawmakers

Brooklyn resident charged with resisting arrest, obstruction, and disorderly conduct; 19 demonstrators given summons at protest outside...

24.02.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Professor who quit MIT over its antisemitism response takes job at Yeshiva University

School calls itself a ‘safe haven’ in announcement on hiring of Mauricio Karchmer, weeks after he left MIT due to its handling of Jew...

21.02.2024 60

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Instagram removes accounts for leading NYC pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime

After being used to express support for Hamas and its Oct. 7 atrocities, pages of the organization and its founder Nerdeen Kiswani are deactivated

14.02.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Likud minister Akunis tapped to fill New York consul general post

Position has been empty for nearly a year following former consul’s resignation in protest of judicial reform; nomination of May Golan was...

13.02.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

NY congressional candidates Suozzi, Pilip face off with Jewish vote up for grabs

One candidate is an Israeli-American Orthodox Jew born in Ethiopia. The other has highlighted his support for Israel — and accused his opponent of...

10.02.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

NYPD reports 31 antisemitic incidents in January, as post-October 7 surge continues

Number of incidents down over past two months relative to initial spike after Hamas attack, but are far higher than number reported last January

07.02.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Thousands protest outside Columbia against campus treatment of pro-Palestinian groups

Rally led by pro-Hamas group Within Our Lifetime, which endorsed and celebrated October 7; at least one person arrested

03.02.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

‘Genocide supporters’: Graffiti against Israel scrawled on two stores in NY suburb

Jewish owner of ice cream and gift shop says he believes his business was targeted because of ‘We stand with Israel’ sign in the window

26.01.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

NY state voters split on aid to Israel, in shift from November: poll

Respondents 45% against providing further military or economic support, while 43% were in favor; Nov. sampling found 51% in favor, with 37% opposed

25.01.2024 50

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Columbia University chapters of SJP, JVP remain suspended as new semester begins

Told they can be reinstated if they show ‘a commitment to compliance with university policies,’ the pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel...

20.01.2024 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

100 days after Oct. 7 attack, freed hostage leads NYC rally urging return of abductees

‘I came all the way here to ask the whole world to help us bring back all the hostages,’ 13-year-old Hila Rotem Shoshani tells...

13.01.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Israeli protesters dialogue with UN chief Guterres in encounters outside his home

Back-and-forth slowly grows between weekly demonstrators demanding release of Hamas-held hostages and secretary-general, who is seen as not doing...

12.01.2024 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Fracas over tunnel at Chabad HQ the result of push to expand Brooklyn compound

Leading officials in Hasidic movement condemn unrest at 770 as work of fringe group, as incident draws attention to group’s internal disputes...

11.01.2024 60

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

US citizen inspired by Oct. 7 charged with trying to join Somalia’s al-Shabaab

Karrem Nasr, a US citizen from New Jersey, traveled from Egypt to Kenya in attempt to join and train with jihadist group, US Southern District of New...

30.12.2023 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

US Rep. Ocasio-Cortez slammed over Christmas message comparing Jesus to Gazans

Fellow New York Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres writes that ‘associating Jews with the murder of Jesus is antisemitism,’ without...

27.12.2023 70

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Brooklyn man sentenced to prison for robbing matzah factory weeks before Passover

Muntaquim Durant, 44, sentenced to two and a half to five years after he stole cash and checks worth over $94,000 from the Satmar Matzah Bakery in...

20.12.2023 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

As war splits US progressives, Jewish and Black groups unite on voters’ rights

In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas atrocities, many American Jews say they feel abandoned by peers on the left, but the Workers Circle is putting...

12.12.2023 30

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Man arrested after firing shots at Albany, New York, synagogue with preschool

Assailant yelled ‘Free Palestine,’ highlighting the steep rise in antisemitic hate crimes outside Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre and...

08.12.2023 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Bowman faces US Congress challenge after drawing fire over stance on Israel-Hamas war

George Latimer announces candidacy after visiting Israel, says progressive lawmaker ‘making news for all the wrong reasons’

07.12.2023 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

Suspect charged with hate crimes for allegedly assaulting Israeli near Times Square

Indictment filed by Manhattan DA says Yehia Amin harassed group of Jewish men, telling them ‘Hamas should kill more of you’ before eventually...

06.12.2023 20

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

15 synagogues across New York hit with false bomb threats

Jewish security agency says the threats targeted 7 houses of worship in NYC, 3 in the suburbs and 5 in upstate New York

01.12.2023 7

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

NYC education officials defend school where student protest targeted pro-Israel teacher

A November 20 demonstration at a Queens high school descended into mayhem with an educator sequestered for her own safety, raising concerns of...

01.12.2023 40

The Times of Israel

Luke Tress

55f74beb521321515e9409bc7d431caa