Menachem Wecker https://www.jns.org/author/menachem-wecker Menachem Wecker is the U.S. bureau news editor of JNS. en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:30:27 GMT Mamdani nixes school 'buffer zone' bill, veto-proof houses of worship bill is law https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/mamdani-vetoes-school-buffer-zone-bill 0000019d-bfd5-d945-a9bd-bff748fd0000 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:30:27 GMT https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/mamdani-vetoes-school-buffer-zone-bill Mamdani decision to sign documents on old, wooden desk on street corners a ‘head scratcher,’ experts say https://www.jns.org/feature/mamdani-decision-to-sign-documents-on-old-wooden-desk-on-street-corners-a-head-scratcher-experts-say 0000019d-7843-d1d2-a7fd-7c538a680000 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:23:35 GMT https://www.jns.org/feature/mamdani-decision-to-sign-documents-on-old-wooden-desk-on-street-corners-a-head-scratcher-experts-say Amid war, Passover ‘food becomes more than food,’ Manischewitz says https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/amid-war-passover-food-becomes-more-than-food-manischewitz-says 0000019d-4016-da70-afbd-647faaa30000 Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:21:44 GMT https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/amid-war-passover-food-becomes-more-than-food-manischewitz-says Reconstructionist Judaism founder Mordecai Kaplan a ‘restless soul’ who speaks to the moment, per new book https://www.jns.org/feature/reconstructionist-judaism-founder-mordecai-kaplan-a-restless-soul-who-speaks-to-the-moment-per-new-book 0000019d-2698-d177-a3fd-a6de85c70000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:53:12 GMT https://www.jns.org/feature/reconstructionist-judaism-founder-mordecai-kaplan-a-restless-soul-who-speaks-to-the-moment-per-new-book Prague Haggadah, which turns 500 this year, ‘created mold from which Haggadot would be illustrated for years to come’ https://www.jns.org/feature/prague-haggadah-which-turns-500-this-year-created-mold-from-which-haggadot-would-be-illustrated-for-years-to-come 0000019d-0970-d0b7-a3df-9bf4cdd70000 Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMT https://www.jns.org/feature/prague-haggadah-which-turns-500-this-year-created-mold-from-which-haggadot-would-be-illustrated-for-years-to-come Toronto police probing shots fired at synagogue as possible hate crime https://www.jns.org/world/toronto-police-probing-shots-fired-at-synagogue-as-possible-hate-crime 0000019c-d3ca-d83f-adfd-d3ef35ff0018 Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:18:38 GMT https://www.jns.org/world/toronto-police-probing-shots-fired-at-synagogue-as-possible-hate-crime Would the real Haman please stand up? https://www.jns.org/feature/would-the-real-haman-please-stand-up 0000019c-d3c8-d83f-adfd-d3ed7237000f Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:30:00 GMT https://www.jns.org/feature/would-the-real-haman-please-stand-up Despite unseasonal cold, snow in NY, Baltimore, too soon to say if crime rise is significant, expert says https://www.jns.org/u.s.-news/despite-unseasonal-cold-snow-in-ny-baltimore-too-soon-to-say-if-crime-rise-is-significant-expert-says 0000019c-d3ca-d83f-adfd-d3ef35fd0026 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:08:52 GMT https://www.jns.org/u.s.-news/despite-unseasonal-cold-snow-in-ny-baltimore-too-soon-to-say-if-crime-rise-is-significant-expert-says Religious liberty panel hearing on Jew-hatred at times digresses to discuss opposing Israel https://www.jns.org/u.s.-news/religious-liberty-panel-hearing-on-jew-hatred-at-times-digresses-to-discuss-opposing-israel 0000019c-c0a2-d325-af9e-d7f651800014 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:33:43 GMT https://www.jns.org/u.s.-news/religious-liberty-panel-hearing-on-jew-hatred-at-times-digresses-to-discuss-opposing-israel Mark Goldfeder draws on rabbinic study, 14th century responsa to defend Jews https://www.jns.org/feature/mark-goldfeder-draws-on-rabbinic-study-14th-century-responsa-to-defend-jews 0000019c-c094-d325-af9e-d7f42ef5003a Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:00:00 GMT https://www.jns.org/feature/mark-goldfeder-draws-on-rabbinic-study-14th-century-responsa-to-defend-jews