Somerville, Massachusetts, United States

From WhatsApp chats to City Hall, a new Jewish activism is born

Gabby Deutch in Jewish Insider · 24 Mar

Gabby Deutch's article explores the rise of a new form of Jewish activism that emerged from grassroots efforts following significant events such as the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and the Gaza war.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Mamdani calls for release of Leqaa Kordia, the last Palestinian Columbia protester still detained by ICE

Grace Gilson in JTA · 11 Feb

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly demanded the release of Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian activist linked to anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, who remains detained by ICE.

0 Politics Communities

NYC voters elected a BDS mayor. Voters in my city went much farther.

Brian Sokol in JTA · 12 Nov 2025

Brian Sokol reflects on the shift in perception and action towards Zionism and anti-Zionist measures in Somerville, Massachusetts.

0 Politics Communities

In a first, a ballot initiative to divest from Israel has won at the ballot box in Boston suburb

Andrew Lapin in Forward · 5 Nov 2025

In a historic vote, the Boston suburb of Somerville passed a non-binding resolution, Question 3, urging the municipality to divest from companies doing business with Israel, marking the first time such a proposal passed by popular vote in the U.S.

0 Politics Communities

In a first, a ballot initiative to divest from Israel has won at the ballot box, in Somerville, Mass.

Andrew Lapin in JTA · 5 Nov 2025

The city of Somerville, Massachusetts, marked a significant moment in U.S. municipal politics by becoming the first to pass a ballot initiative calling for divestment from Israel.

0 Politics Leadership

As 1000+ rabbis sign anti-Mamdani letter, others decry mounting ‘red lines’ in Jewish communities

Joseph Strauss in Forward · 24 Oct 2025

Amid the New York City mayoral race, thousands of rabbis and cantors have signed a letter against Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, highlighting tensions over anti-Zionism in the Jewish community.

0 Politics Leadership

These rabbis didn’t sign their colleagues’ anti-Mamdani letter. Here’s why.

Joseph Strauss in JTA · 24 Oct 2025

Tensions arose among American rabbinic leaders over a letter condemning anti-Zionist political figures, which was signed by 1,000 rabbis and cantors nationwide.

0 Politics History

Marketing Authoritarianism - Mimicking his Salvadoran ally Nayib Bukele, Trump is using spectacles of disappearance to project a total power he does not yet possess.

Dennis M. Hogan and Matthew Ellis in Jewish Currents · 4 Jun 2025

In a disturbing display of power, former U.S. President Donald Trump is emulating Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele by using dramatic depictions of deportation and detention as a political tool.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Rumeysa Ozturk ordered free on bail, after judge says op-ed criticizing Israel is insufficient to justify detention

Grace Gilson in JTA · 9 May 2025

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student detained by ICE in March, has been ordered released on bail by a federal judge who deemed her arrest unjustified.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Trump and Jews: The first 100 days

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward · 29 Apr 2025

The article discusses the first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency, inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, and its impact on Jewish communities and antisemitism.

0 Politics Communities

Jewish Federations CEO privately opposed a Jewish open letter criticizing Trump’s campus arrests

Andrew Lapin in JTA · 21 Apr 2025

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) CEO, Eric Fingerhut, opposed a joint statement by major Jewish groups criticizing the Trump administration's approach to antisemitism and its deportation of foreign student activists.

0 Politics Communities

Jews at Tufts are furious over ICE seizing a pro-Palestinian grad student. But they’re wary of joining protests for her.

Andrew Lapin in JTA · 4 Apr 2025

The detainment of pro-Palestinian student Rmeysa Öztürk by ICE has stirred controversy at Tufts University, sparking reactions from Jewish students and community leaders.

0 Politics Antisemitism

The ADL reversed its support for Trump’s student deportations. You should too

Rob Eshman in Forward · 4 Apr 2025

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), under the leadership of Jonathan Greenblatt, reversed its earlier endorsement of Trump-era measures detaining and deporting pro-Palestinian activists.

0 Politics Communities

Tufts international grad student detained by ICE in latest action targeting pro-Palestinian activist

Grace Gilson in JTA · 26 Mar 2025

Rumeysa Ozturk, an international graduate student from Tufts University and a pro-Palestinian activist, has been detained by ICE, sparking criticism tied to a broader pattern of targeting similar activists.

JL;DR

Places › United States › Massachusetts ›

Somerville