Viral video shows two women denigrating hostage sign at CSU

A video of two women commenting on a sign for Israeli hostages on a sidewalk on Cleveland State University’s campus went viral on Feb. 5. The 18-second video taken on a sidewalk near campus depicts the women giving the videographer the middle finger while one yells insults at the camera and the other pours her drink on the snow next to the sign, which draws attention to the hostages taken from Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

Bikur Cholim gala ‘Younited We Care’ Feb. 19



Bikur Cholim of Cleveland, an organization helping Jews of all ages when facing a medical crisis, will host its annual gala on Feb. 19 under the theme “Younited We Care.” Honorees include Joseph Shamie, guest of honor; Dr. Frederic Levine, Physician of the Year; Yankel and Rivka Berkovic and Moishe and Idy Berkovic, Community Service Award recipients; and Abie and Sara Chava Greenblatt, Young Leadership Award recipients, as well as a special tribute to Dr. Joel and Sharon Peerless.

Grammy winner Loeb to play Grog Shop March 8

Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 8 at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights, her first time in Cleveland since 2018. “I love playing songs from my entire catalog and telling stories. Every show is different than the last: the audience, the venue, the pre-show snacks – you never know what’s going to happen,” Loeb said in a news release.

Netanyahu: Israel won’t accept ‘insane demands,’ victory ‘within reach’

Israel will not agree to the “insane demands” Hamas is making to release the 136 remaining hostages held in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address on Wednesday night. Bowing to Hamas’s demands will lead to another massacre that no Israeli citizen will accept, he emphasized, speaking from his office in Jerusalem.

Blinken stresses civilian safety as Israel readies Rafah offensive

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday emphasized the importance of protecting civilians during the Israel Defense Forces’ upcoming Rafah operation, but stopped short of suggesting any American intervention.

US kills senior Kata’ib Hezbollah commanders in Baghdad drone strike



U.S. forces executed a drone strike on a car in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing a senior commander of the Iran-backed, Iraq-based Kata’ib Hezbollah terrorist group. Washington stated that the strike, at about 1:30 p.m. East Standard Time, was the latest part of its response to Iran-backed militia attacks on U.S. forces in the region, including a drone strike that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan on Jan. 28.

Local Lawyers / Super Attorneys: Kim Stein, UB Greensfelder

Kim Stein’s secret for a successful attorney-client partnership is simple. “I never sign an engagement letter with a client until I have coffee with them first,” she said. One cup of coffee speaks volumes about how Stein has become a renowned trust and estate attorney, she said.

Performances underway at Playhouse Square

A variety of shows are on stage at Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland beginning this weekend, including "Murder on the Orient Express," "The Play hHat Goes Wrong" and a performance by award-winning rhythm and blues artists Tamia and Joe.