Intro

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

New York correspondent Luke Tress joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Last Wednesday, roughly 200 rowdy protesters disrupted an Israel-immigration event outside the Park East Synagogue. Tress was there and paints a picture of the events and the evolving responses from Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

Days after US pro-Palestinian protesters shouted chants including “Globalize the Intifada” and “Death to the IDF” outside the Upper East Side synagogue, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who is Jewish, apologized to the congregation during Shabbat services. Is this allaying the community's fears?

We then dive into the question several lawfare groups are now asking: Can a US law protecting abortion clinics push back against protests at synagogues?

This week, anti-Zionist activist groups in New York City  backed a Muslim leader who led a walkout from a college interfaith event last week after decrying a fellow panelist as “Zionist.” We learn how the mass exodus was basically shrugged off by those in attendance -- but why it is important to illuminate this and other similar events.

Jewish groups at the University of Pennsylvania have expressed concern after federal authorities pressed the university in recent days to provide personal information about Jewish staffers in an investigation meant to combat antisemitism on campus. Tress untangles this saga.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Anti-Zionist protesters chant ‘Death to the IDF’ at New York City synagogue

‘We need to make them scared’: NYC synagogue protest crosses new red lines

NYPD chief apologizes for allowing ‘turmoil’ outside synagogue

Can a US law protecting abortion clinics push back against protests at synagogues?

Imam at NYC college interfaith event blames Jewish speaker for Gaza, leads walkout

NYC anti-Zionist groups back walkout from interfaith campus event to protest Hillel leader

Penn Jewish groups ‘concerned’ as feds seek info on Jews for antisemitism probe

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves.

IMAGE: The entrance to Park East Synagogue, with dueling protesters on each side, separated by police, in New York City, November 19, 2025. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

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