Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli who was held hostage by Hamas since October 7, 2023, was released in May 2025 and returned home to Tenafly, New Jersey this past weekend. He was greeted by hundreds of supporters lining the streets to welcome him back with signs and chants. His homecoming was celebrated by New Jersey leaders from across the political spectrum, including U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
Over 50% of Jewish students at Columbia University reported facing religious discrimination and feeling personal danger for their support of Jews or Israel during the 2023-2024 academic year, according to a summer 2024 survey that was just released.Columbia Interim President Claire Shipman said that she found the results “disturbing”, but was confident that the situation on campus for Jewish students would be improved moving forward.
Israel and Iran have reached a ceasefire after 12 days of war, according to the U.S. and later confirmed by officials from both Israel and Iran. The ceasefire will take effect in stages, and the war will be considered officially over after 24 hours without fighting. Just hours before the ceasefire began, Iran launched several missiles toward Israel, one of which hit an apartment building in Beersheba, killing four people.
The IDF has recovered the bodies of three slain hostages, Ofra Keidar, Jonathan Samerano, and Staff Sgt. Shay Levinson, in a joint operation with Shin Bet. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged the government to take advantage of the current situation and reach a hostage deal to bring the remaining 50 hostages home.
The Jewish Food Society, a nonprofit founded by New York-based chef Naama Shefi, hosted the Great Nosh Picnic on Governors Island in New York. The large-scale celebration of Jewish cuisines featured collaborations from two chefs with whom Shefi partnered, combining a number of different cultural favorites.
A 36-year-old Ohio man, Feras S. Hamdan, was arrested after allegedly attempting to run Jewish U.S. Representative Max Miller off the road while shouting antisemitic slurs and threats to Miller and his family. Hamdan turned himself in and was charged with aggravated menacing.
The IDF recovered the bodies of two murdered Israeli hostages who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. Yair Yaakov, murdered by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists on October 7, was one of the deceased hostages. The name of the second hostage has not yet been released.
Hundreds gathered in Boulder, Colorado on June 8 for the weekly “Run for Their Lives” walk to show solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas, just one week after a firebombing attack injured 12 participants of the same program. This event spotlighted the 55 hostages still held in Gaza, with personal testimonies from their families. In an event that usually only draws about a dozen people, this record turnout included Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper among the hundreds of attendees.
The IDF has recovered the body of Nattapong Pinta, a Thai hostage abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. The joint operation between the IDF and Shin Bet took place in Rafah, where intelligence indicated that Pinta was murdered in captivity by the Mujahideen Brigades during the early months of the war. The same group is also responsible for the abduction and murders of Shiri Bibas and her two sons Ariel and Kfir, and married couple Gadi Haggai and Judith Weinstein Haggai.
Trinity College named Rabbi Bonnie Margulis as the new Director of Hillel and Jewish Life on campus. With decades of experience as a teacher, mentor, and rabbi, she brings a deep passion for working with young people to the role. Rabbi Margulis says she hopes to “bring back the joy of Judaism” while ensuring Jewish students feel safe and happy on campus.
The IDF has recovered the bodies of Gadi Haggai and Judith Weinstein Haggai, married U.S.-Israeli citizens killed and abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023 in Kibbutz Nir Oz. The operation took place in Khan Younis, acting on intelligence from a captured Hamas operative. The couple’s remains were held by the Mujahideen Brigades, a Hamas-allied group also responsible for the murders of Kfir, Ariel, and Shiri Bibas. Gadi and Judith’s deaths were confirmed in December of 2023.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S., are focused on bridging significant gaps in a proposed hostage release-ceasefire agreement. Hamas wants guarantees that the ceasefire will lead to a longer-term agreement, while Israel insists on a plan that includes the steady release of hostages—starting with 10 in the first week. Despite Hamas submitting alternative proposals, both were rejected, and pressure is mounting for a resolution by the end of the week.