(JTA) — Rabbi David Nesenoff, whose impromptu interview with journalist Helen Thomas led to her resignation, has been named the publisher and editor of The Jewish Star.
The weekly newspaper, based on Long Island in suburban New York, made the announcement late last week on behalf of its owners, Clifford and Stuart Richner.
Nesenoff is an independent filmmaker and runs a blog called RabbiLive.com.
On May 27, on the sidelines of the first Jewish American Heritage Month event at the White House, Nesenoff asked Thomas if she had "any comments on Israel."
"Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine," she said.
Nesenoff then asked Thomas where the Jews should go.
"Go home," Thomas said. Asked to elaborate, she said, "Poland, Germany and America, and everywhere else."
The following month Nesenoff posted the exchange on his blog. The public outcry let to Thomas’ resignation from her job as a columnist for the Hearst Corp.
Nesenoff has spoken and written about the incident and present-day anti-Semitism, according to the paper.
“When it comes to Jewish news, local is global,” Nesenoff said in an article in The Jewish Star announcing his appointment. “And when it comes to Israel news, global affects us locally.”
