The NYPD held its annual pre-Passover briefing, which, according to the NYPD's press release, is "an annual conference at which religious and community leaders are provided information on the current threat environment and implications for New York City during the upcoming religious holiday." The release does not have any details about any specific threats, but NYPD Director of Intelligence Analysis Mitchell Silber said they're all over that mysterious Internet post showing a composite image of New York City's skyline, landmarks and One Police Plaza with the message, "Al Qaeda Coming Soon Again in New York." more ›

Yes, we know that it was just Purim, but that simply means Passover is only a few weeks away (and even if you forgot, we know your mother already called you this past weekend to remind you). Even if you haven't locked in your plans for the weekend of April 6, New York is full of options for keeping it kosher l'pesach (kosher for Passover), from preparing a meal to consuming it. Here area few: more ›

The fuming over the NYPD's Wednesday ticketing blitz in Williamsburg, despite it being the second day of Passover, continues. The ticketing was especially galling to the community, as just the week before Jewish leaders, the police and local pols had sat down to break bread and pat each other on the back. One community leader, Isaac Abraham, complained to the Post, "We have a lot of respect for the Police Department, but we're looking for just a little sensitivity." more ›

Passover started at sundown Monday night and continues until next Tuesday, but somebody forgot to explain the whole holiday-starting-at-sundown concept to the NYPD. Though the community had arranged for the suspension of parking rules for the first two days of the Jewish holiday, the NYPD got confused and thought that meant Monday and Tuesday. You can see where this is going. more ›

If you need to take the LIRR to your Passover seder, like this woman ("Waiting for the jewtrain to Sederville. Aka the LIRR to Long Island."), hopefully you're already on the train. Because otherwise you're not getting there before sundown. The MTA announced, "Due to a track condition in one of the East River tunnels, LIRR is anticipating significant delays during the PM Rush. Customers who can are advised to take one of the extra Passover trains, the last scheduled to run at 3:48 PM." more ›

In case you couldn't tell, Passover is starting, meaning Chosen People across the city are attempting to keep a kosher home and lifestyle. And according to news sources around the city, they're doing that in many different ways. First off: Passover apps! more ›

Happy almost-Passover! Over the past few years many Jews have been trying to spice up the typical kugel-and-matzoh seders, and one ingredient that's grown in popularity is quinoa, a South American grain that's high in protein. But even though some boxes of the stuff are labeled "kosher for Passover" the jewry (sorry) is out on whether or not that's possible. And according to the Times, "A definitive answer is not likely to be reached until a rabbi can be dispatched to a remote mountain region of Bolivia to inspect certain quinoa operations." more ›

Forget being cast out of Egypt; this year Jews all over Brooklyn can sympathize with the families being evicted from the Atlantic Yards and have a topical Seder with this Atlantic Yards themed haggadah! more ›

The Fire Department is reportedly responding to numerous calls about rubbish fires in Williamsburg and Borough Park, because it's time for the pre-Passover tradition of burning all leavened bread products. A few years ago, the FDNY reminded those burning chametz to be careful, because "In 2004, five people were seriously burned when a man poured paint thinner on a ceremonial fire in Borough Park, Brooklyn." more ›

Passover ended last night at sundown, so it's party time for observant Jews; that means plenty of pizza, pasta, and bagels, among other yeasty items they've denied themselves for the past eight days, in remembrance of the exodus from Egypt. According to the Times, today's the biggest day of the year for many local bagel makers, some of whom simply close shop during Passover, when leavened products are eschewed by Jews. But the article oddly spotlights Terrace Bagels, which the paper of record misidentifies as a "Park Slope" eatery. Terrace Bagels is in Windsor Terrace, a neighborhood not exactly known as a big Jewish community. So it's no wonder the manager there only observed a "slight drop" in sales during Passover, which he attributes "more to people going away for vacation because school is out." On the Upper West Side, of course, it's a different story; the 72nd Street Bagel shop owner says he usually does "one and a half times" the usual business today. His staff has been up since 4:30 a.m., and by the time you read this, they're probably already out of everything bagels. more ›

As you know, Passover, one of the holiest days in Judaism, starts tonight at sundown. For non-Jews out there, BeliefNet explains it commemorates "The miraculous Exodus of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt." (As for why it's called Passover, it refers to when Jews marked their doors with lambs' blood so God would know to spare their babies as he slaughtered the offspring of their Egyptian oppressors.) Police Commissioner Ray Kelly recently reassured Jewish leaders earlier this month that the NYPD knows of "no plan to target Jewish sites" in the city, but the police are continuing their tradition of dedicating "additional resources to precincts with large Jewish communities." more ›

Restaurateurs Marc Meyer and Vicki Freeman took some time out of their hectic brunch schedule at Five Points to cook up some matzoh brei, a traditional Passover dish. They generally don't limit their matzoh brei eating to the Passover season. "We eat it all the time," says Vicki. more ›

Passover, which begins tomorrow night, never passes by without a surge in emergency room traffic, according to one area physician. Dr. Tucker Woods, chairman at Long Island College Hospital’s emergency department, tells the Post he sees “an uptick in total patient volume during Passover.” more ›

Far Rockaway, Queens--REPRESENT! Resident Joy Devor won the Simply Manishchewitz Cook-Off last night with her recipe for "Fantastic Flounder Rolls" beating out close to 3,000 other entrants in this nationwide competition. more ›

Yesterday morning a painted swastika was found at 800 Bedford Avenue (between Park and Flushing) in Williamsburg, it was one of five that were discovered on that block, and one of many discovered in recent weeks. more ›

The December installation didn't leave enough time for the boost in production needed for Passover tables across the region, which usually takes about five months. Manichewitz made the tough decision about which products to produce in their shortened time frame and Tam Tams didn't make the cut. Spokesman David Rossi explained, "We realized there are only so many hours in the day that we can make matzos, and something had to give." more ›