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Here’s how New York City is celebrating Yom Haatzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day
(New York Jewish Week) — Happy birthday to the state of Israel, which celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding this week. Despite the tension surrounding the Israeli government’s proposed judicial overhaul, a host of New York Jewish institutions are feteing this major milestone.
Beginning Monday evening, Israeli and Jewish communities around the world will mourn and honor fallen IDF soldiers as part of Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s memorial day. After a transitional ceremony in the evening, where the mood shifts from somber to celebratory, communities will begin to celebrate Yom Haatzmaut, or Israeli Independence Day.
(These holidays both follow the Hebrew calendar, and are marked each year on the 4th and 5th of Iyar. This year, Yom Hazikaron begins tonight, followed by Yom Haaztmaut on Tuesday night. In 1948, the day of Israel’s founding corresponded with May 14.)
From nightclubs to comedy shows to prayer services, read on for the ways in which New Yorkers are honoring these special days.
April 24
Yom Hazikaron Memorial at the Streicker Center
The Streicker Center at Temple Emanu-El and The Consulate General of Israel are holding a Yom Hazikaron memorial service on Monday that will honor “the soldiers who gave their lives in defense of the State of Israel and the victims of terrorist attacks.” The free, public service will take place at the Streicker Center (1 East 65th St.) at 6:00 p.m. Registration required.
April 25
A Conversation with Olympian AJ Edelman at Temple Shaaray Tefila
The captain of the Israeli bobsled team and a member of the Israeli Olympic team in 2018, AJ Edelman will join Rabbi Jill Ruben for an evening of conversation at 6:30 p.m. at Shaaray Tefila (250 East 79th St.). The bobsled that’s used by the team will be on display. The in-person event is free and open to the public. RSVP here.
Panel Discussion: A Celebration of Israeli Movies & Television
Congregation Rodeph Sholom and Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan are partnering to host an evening of snacks and discussion. The panel discussion will include Israeli actors Hani Furstenberg (“Campfire,” “Asylum City” and “The Golem”) and Alon Aboutboul (“Beaufort,” “Ricochet” and “The Dark Night”). Isaac Zablocki, senior director of the Carole Zabar Center for Film at the JCC Manhattan, will host. Schmooze begins at 6:15 p.m., and the discussion begins at 7:00 p.m. at Congregation Rodeph Sholom (7 West 83rd St.). Tickets start at $18; register here.
Israel Independence Program with Manhattan Jewish Experience
To mark both Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut, the Manhattan Jewish Experience (131 West 86th St.) will begin the evening commemorating fallen Israel Defense Forces soldiers with speeches from IDF soldiers and Rabbi Mark Wildes. After a Tekes Maavar, or transition, ceremony with songs and prayers, the night will turn into an “Israeli Shuk Party” with live music, falafel, dessert and cocktails. The evening begins at 7:00 p.m., tickets from $10. Register here.
April 26
Israeli Folk Dance at 92NY
Join 92NY and Ruth Goodman, director of the Israeli Dance Institute, for an open session of Israeli folk dancing and fun at the Upper East Side community center (1395 Lexington Ave.). The dancing sessions take place every Wednesday at 8:15. p.m. Tickets are $15 per session. Find more information and buy tickets here.
Yom Haatzmaut at Nebula
On Wednesday night, join nightlife events company J-Vibe at the NYC nightclub Nebula (135 West 41st St.) for a night of Israeli DJs, house music and dancing to celebrate Yom Haatzmaut. Doors open at 10 p.m., tickets start at $18. Find more information here.
April 27
Yom Haatzmaut Comedy Night: Israel 75 Live with Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt
On Thursday, join Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (3 West 68th St.) for a night of lighthearted comedy about Israel featuring Israeli-American comedians Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt, co-authors of “Israel 201.” The two-hour comedy show begins at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $5 for college students and $18 general admission. Find more information here.
April 30
Israel at 75 Birthday Party on the Upper East Side
On Sunday, Park Avenue Synagogue, Central Synagogue and 92NY will co-host a birthday party for Israel featuring games, music and food from Israeli restaurants. The event, open to all and ideal for families with young children, will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Park Avenue Synagogue (50 E 87th St.). Tickets from $18, register here.
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The post Here’s how New York City is celebrating Yom Haatzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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Canada Boosts Security at US, Israeli Diplomatic Buildings After Consulate Shooting
A member of law enforcement personnel works at the scene outside the US Consulate after shots were fired, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 10, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. Photo: REUTERS/Kyaw Soe Oo
Canada is increasing security around US and Israeli diplomatic buildings after a shooting at the US consulate in Toronto, a Canadian police official said on Tuesday.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said the consulate shooting is being investigated as a “national security incident,” although it’s too early to determine the motive.
Leather said the US and Israeli consulates in Toronto, the country’s most populous city, and embassies in the capital Ottawa will be seeing a change in the security posture in response to the shooting.
“These consulates deserve a heightened amount of vigilance and security at this time in the hopes that we can bring the temperature down in the coming days and weeks,” Leather told reporters at a press conference.
Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said police were called to the US consulate in Toronto around 5:30 am ET on Tuesday, where they found spent shell casings and damage to the building.
Barredo said witness evidence indicated that two men exited a white SUV that was stopped outside the consulate around 4:30 am ET, shot a handgun at the front of the building and then drove away.
While there were people in the building at the time of the shooting, police say no one was injured.
SYNAGOGUE SHOOTINGS
The consulate shooting follows three separate incidents last week where gunshots were fired at synagogues in the Toronto area. No one was injured in those shootings. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the attacks “criminal antisemitic assaults.”
Barredo said it’s too early to draw a connection between the consulate shooting and those at the synagogues.
“We definitely will be looking at any possible connections. Obviously, it is far too early in this investigation, but we do not look at them in isolation,” he said.
Canada‘s public safety minister described the consulate shooting as an unacceptable incident.
“The shooting … is absolutely unacceptable. Canada will never tolerate intimidation and violence of any kind, including towards our American friends in Canada,” Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said in a post on X.
The US State Department said in a statement that it was aware of the incident and was closely monitoring the situation in coordination with local law enforcement.
Separately, on Sunday, an improvised device exploded in Norway at the US embassy in Oslo, and police were still searching for a suspect, with a possible link to the Iran war among the lines of inquiry.
In New York City, two men have been charged with terrorism after throwing a homemade bomb at anti-Islam protesters over the weekend.
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Suspected Hamas Member Detained in Cyprus Over Weapons Procurement
Palestinian Hamas terrorists stand guard at a site as Hamas says it continues to search for the bodies of deceased hostages, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Dec. 3, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Stringer
Cypriot authorities have detained a suspected member of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas wanted in Germany for procuring weapons and ammunition for attacks on Israeli or Jewish facilities, German federal prosecutors said on Tuesday.
The Lebanese-born suspect, identified only as Kamel M. in line with German privacy rules, was detained at Cyprus‘ Larnaca airport on March 6, arriving from Lebanon, they added in a statement.
The suspect is wanted in relation to the transport of 300 rounds of live ammunition, according to prosecutors. It wasn’t clear from the statement where the rounds had come from, or where they were thought to be heading.
“The operation served as preparation for deadly Hamas attacks on Israeli or Jewish institutions in Germany and Europe,” they said.
Police also searched the suspect’s apartment in Berlin.
Once Kamel M. is extradited to Germany, a judge will decide on pre-trial detention, the statement said.
Attacks against Jews and Jewish targets have risen worldwide since Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, triggered by the Islamist group’s 2023 attacks on Israel.
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Russia Told Trump It Isn’t Sharing US Military Asset Info With Iran, Says Witkoff
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attend a documents signing ceremony in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 17, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool
Russia has denied sharing intelligence with Iran on US military assets in the Middle East, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday in a CNBC interview.
Witkoff said the denial came during a phone call that US President Donald Trump had with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.
The Washington Post reported on Friday that Russia was providing Iran with targeting information that included locations of US warships and aircraft in the Middle East.
“Yesterday on the call with the president, the Russians said that they have not been sharing,” Witkoff said when asked if Washington thought Russia had shared with Tehran intelligence about the location of US military assets.
“We can take them at their word. But they did say that. And yesterday morning, independently, Jared [Kushner] and I had a call with [Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri] Ushakov who reiterated the same,” said Witkoff.
He added: “That’s a better question for the intel people, but let’s hope that they’re not sharing.”
