The New York Times has hired Yair Rosenberg from The Atlantic to cover Jewish American life, according to National Editor Nestor Ramos, who announced the appointment. This marks the first time the newspaper has established a beat dedicated to Jews, creating a new religion-focused national section for the topic.

Rosenberg brings 15 years of experience chronicling Jewish life in America and abroad, having previously worked at Tablet magazine and The Atlantic. He has covered rising antisemitism and political divides among American and Israeli Jews. Ramos stated that Rosenberg has covered the biggest and thorniest stories on the beat and generates a large volume of story ideas.

The appointment occurs as the Times continues to navigate a complicated relationship with many Jewish readers, especially after October 7, and Rosenberg has previously critiqued the Times. The beat is created during a period of public debate regarding antisemitism, Israel, religious identity, and political polarization. Rosenberg believes that recent tensions do not fully define Jewish life.