President Donald Trump has tapped Shalom Baranes, a prominent Jewish architect, to redesign the White House’s East Wing ballroom. Baranes came to the U.S. as a child when his parents fled antisemitism in Libya with help from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). His projects have included work on the Pentagon and the historic Sixth & I synagogue, among other undertakings.

The original architect for Trump’s White House ballroom project was James McCrery II of McCrery Architects. However, he was replaced by Shalom Baranes, following disagreements with Trump over the ballroom’s massive size and aggressive deadlines for the project.

Billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman has been confirmed by the Senate as the new head of NASA. Isaacman, 42, is founder and CEO of the payment processing company Shiftd4, but has never worked at NASA or in the federal government. He will take control of the space agency from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has served as NASA’s interim administrator since July. During his hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Isaacman said he is focused on returning to the moon and winning the new space race with China.

Ben Cohen, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder accused parent company Unilever of blocking a proposed ice

conviction became a defining cream flavor promoting solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, calling it a “corporate attack on free speech” and part of what he described as widespread “butt kissing” of President Donald Trump.

Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy and son of Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, is running to succeed Rep. Jerry Nadler, currently serving New York’s 12th district on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Schlossberg, 32, is making Jewish security a central pillar of his campaign, pledging to introduce legislation to double federal funding for security upgrades at synagogues and other Jewish institutions. Schlossberg, raised Catholic, also identifies as Jewish and “occasionally” goes to services at Temple Shaaray Tefila as well as church services on Sundays.

Melanie Shiraz represented Israel at the 2025 Miss Universe Competition held on Nov. 21 in Bangkok, Thailand.

It was revealed later that her costume had been stolen shortly before the competition, and she had to quickly make a new one.

France posthumously promoted Alfred Dreyfus — the Jewish army captain whose 1894 treason scandal of French antisemitism — to brigadier general, 130 years after he was falsely accused.