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Orly Gottesman, 36, gluten-free chef and restaurateur
Orly Gottesman, 36, is owner and operator of the popular kosher and gluten-free restaurants Modern Bread and Bagel, and Thyme and Tonic, an Upper West Side “plant first” bar and restaurant — but you’ll never see the words “kosher” or “gluten-free” on their menus, Gottesman says. The Le Cordon Bleu-trained patisserie chef was inspired to create gluten-free flours and treats when her foodie husband, Josh, was diagnosed with celiac disease. “Josh and I sought out to create a restaurant with a charming atmosphere, modest prices and such high-quality, delicious food that anyone eating there would have no idea that it was a gluten-free or kosher restaurant,” she says. Gottesman began her business selling her proprietary blends of gluten-free flours; now, Modern Bread and Bagel has three brick-and-mortar locations, with two more New York shops on their way.
For the full list of this year’s 36 to Watch — which honors leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers who are making a difference in New York’s Jewish community — click here.
How does your Jewish identity or experience influence your work?
A significant chunk of our business revolves around special holiday menus — my favorite part of owning a restaurant is the creative side of coming up with new recipes and menu items, particularly for Jewish holidays. Every Purim, we create new hamantaschen flavors, and on Shavuot, we make delectable cheesecakes! For Passover, I created a grain-free flour, and we were able to supply our Jewish customers with some of the most delicious Pesach cakes and pastries. I always try to recreate traditional Jewish gluten-filled items, first for my husband, and now for our customers, because food provides such a strong emotional connection for people to their religious traditions. It’s no coincidence that our most popular bakery items all happen to be Jewish cultural foods, including challah, babka, rugelach and bagels.
Who is your New York Jewish hero?
Adam Sandler
What’s a fun/surprising fact about you?
Josh and I are both singers and we met in a Jewish a cappella group at NYU. I always dreamed of being the voice of a Disney princess.
Was there a formative Jewish experience that influenced your life path?
Joining Ani V’Ata, the Jewish a cappella group at NYU, was a formative experience for me. I grew up in a Modern Orthodox community and didn’t have many opportunities to branch out and become friends with Jews from different religious affiliations. Ani V’ata brought friends together because they identified as Jewish and shared a love of music. Josh and I met in Ani V’Ata; he was two years ahead of me, originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, and grew up in the Reform Jewish movement. Our lives would likely not have crossed paths had Ani V’Ata and the NYU Bronfman Center not brought us together. We continue to support the Bronfman Center, as it is a cause that is very close to our hearts.
Do you have a favorite inspiring quote?
The Someecards quote: “I’m having fruit salad for dinner. Well, it’s mostly grapes actually. Ok, all grapes. Fermented grapes. I’m having wine for dinner.”
How can people follow you online?
You can visit our websites, modernbreadandbagel.com, blendsbyorly.com or thymeandtonic.com.
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The post Orly Gottesman, 36, gluten-free chef and restaurateur appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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Israel Court Extends Detention of Gaza Flotilla Activists
Activist Saif Abu Keshek, a member of the Global Sumud Flotilla detained by Israel, sits at a magistrate’s court for a detention extension hearing in Ashkelon, southern Israel, May 3, 2026. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
An Israeli court has extended by two days the detention of two activists arrested aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near Greece, their lawyer said on Sunday.
Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were detained by Israeli authorities late on Wednesday and brought to Israel, while more than 100 other pro-Palestinian activists aboard the boats were taken to the Greek island of Crete.
A court spokesperson confirmed that their remand had been extended until May 5.
The governments of Spain and Brazil issued a joint statement on Friday calling their detention illegal.
The activists were part of a second Global Sumud flotilla, launched in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance. The ships had set sail from Barcelona on April 12.
Israeli authorities requested a four-day extension of their arrest on suspicion of offenses that include assisting the enemy during wartime, contact with a foreign agent, membership in and providing services to a terrorist organization, and the transfer of property for a terrorist organization, said rights group Adalah, which is assisting in the activists’ defense.
Hadeel Abu Salih, the men’s attorney, said that the two deny the allegations. Their arrest was unlawful due to a lack of jurisdiction, she told Reuters at the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court after the hearing, adding that the mission was meant to provide aid to civilians in Gaza, not to any militant group.
Abu Salih said that Abu Keshek and Avila were subjected to violence en route to Israel and kept handcuffed and blindfolded until Thursday morning.
Asked for comment, the Israeli military referred Reuters to the Israeli foreign ministry, which said that staff were compelled to act to stop what it described as violent physical obstruction by Abu Keshek and Avila. All measures taken were lawful, it said.
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Israel Initiates Project to Counter Drone Threats in Sweeping Military Upgrade Plan
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participates in the state memorial ceremony for the fallen of the Iron Swords War on Mount Herzl, Jerusalem on Oct. 16, 2025. Photo: Alex Kolomoisky/POOL/Pool via REUTERS
i24 News – Israel is moving forward with a new initiative to counter drone threats, as part of a broader strategy to expand military capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign defense suppliers, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
The drone project, ordered several weeks ago, is already in development, with officials preparing to review its initial progress. While details remain limited, the effort reflects growing concern over the increasing use of unmanned aerial systems in regional conflicts.
Netanyahu framed the initiative within a wider defense doctrine centered on “strengthening and independence,” emphasizing the need for Israel to maintain a decisive military edge. He noted that Israel is acquiring two squadrons of advanced fighter jets, including the F-35 Lightning II and the F-15IA, to reinforce its air superiority.
“These aircraft strengthen Israel’s overwhelming air superiority,” he said, referencing recent military operations as evidence of that advantage. He added that Israeli pilots are capable of operating at long range if necessary.
Alongside procurement, the government is planning a major expansion of domestic defense manufacturing. Netanyahu announced that Israel will allocate an additional 350 billion shekels ($95 billion) to the defense budget over the next decade, aiming to produce more of its own armaments and reduce dependence on foreign countries.
He also pointed to future ambitions to develop advanced aircraft domestically, describing the effort as potentially transformative for Israel’s defense industry.
The drone defense program, though still in early stages, is expected to become a key component of this strategy. Netanyahu acknowledged that the project will take time to fully develop but stressed that it is actively being pursued.
Despite the evolving nature of the threats, he reiterated Israel’s long-standing objective of maintaining military superiority across all domains.
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Iran Presents US 3-Step Plan to Move from Ceasefire to End of War
Atomic symbol and USA and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, September 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
i24 News – Iran has reportedly submitted a new draft agreement to the United States outlining a three-stage framework aimed at de-escalating regional tensions and restructuring oversight of its nuclear program, according to reporting from Al Jazeera.
The proposal was allegedly delivered via Pakistan and combines military, maritime, and nuclear commitments with a long-term regional security vision.
The first phase calls for transforming the current ceasefire into a permanent end to hostilities within 30 days, alongside a regional non-aggression pact that would include Iran’s allies and Israel. It also proposes steps such as gradually reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing maritime restrictions on Iran, and reducing military activity in surrounding waters.
The second phase focuses on Iran’s nuclear program. It reportedly includes a freeze on uranium enrichment for up to 15 years, followed by a return to limited enrichment at 3.6%, in line with earlier international agreements.
The draft explicitly rejects dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. It also outlines possible arrangements for existing uranium stockpiles, including export or reprocessing, and calls for a structured sanctions relief mechanism tied to compliance milestones.
The final phase envisions broader regional engagement, with Tehran proposing a strategic dialogue between Iran and Arab states to establish a comprehensive security framework across the Middle East.