Here are some news articles and press releases of interest received at the offices of San Diego Jewish World:
Legislation adopted to combat terror financing
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (D-San Diego) helped pass on Monday night a series of smart, targeted proposals to combat the illicit financing of terrorist groups, arms and drug trafficking, and underground nuclear proliferation. These measures will enhance the Treasury Department’s ability crack down on illegal financial activities used to finance terrorist groups or weapons trafficking.
Last week, Rep. Peters offered a proposal that would have increased funding for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, which works with law enforcement, diplomats, and other intelligence agencies and with the private sector and foreign governments to identify and eliminate sources of financing for terrorist networks. During his remarks in support of his proposal Rep. Peters urged the House to bring up and pass HR 5594, which creates a coordinated, government-wide strategy to combat terrorist financing; it was among the bills he voted to pass last night.
“Even as our military kills their leaders, destroys their safe-havens, and takes back their territory, the threat from groups like ISIS will not be eliminated until we remove their ability to direct and finance terrorist attacks in the west,” Rep. Peters said. “These measures, including one that I urged the House to pass just last week, will make it harder for terrorists to acquire the resources to pay, train, transport, and equip foreign fighters to carry out attacks. By hitting terrorists where it hurts – their wallets – this will make Americans safer.”
The other pieces of legislation Rep. Peters helped pass were HR 5602, the No IMF Laundering Act, and the Enhancing Treasury’s Anti-Terror Tools Act. – Preceding provided by Congressman Scott Peters.
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Brothers indicted for bomb plot against Jewish institutions in South Africa
(JNS.org) Two brothers with links to the Islamic State terror group were indicted Monday for allegedly plotting to bomb Jewish institutions and the U.S. Embassy in South Africa.
Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie were indicted at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
“The accused unlawfully and intentionally conspired to commit the crime of terrorism by planning to cause explosions at a Mission of the United States of America and Jewish institutions…in order to endanger life, cause death and/or serious bodily harm and the destruction…to such structures,” the indictment stated, according to South African media.
“Such conspiracy and incitement was intended to cause and spread feelings of terror, fear or panic in the civilian population of South Africa and in particular the U.S. and Jewish sector thereof, and to intimidate the government of the United States of America,” the indictment added. –Preceding provided by JNS.org.
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Bend the Arc denounces hearing on ‘ First Amendment Defense Act’
NEW YORK (Press Release) – Bend the Arc Jewish Action denounced a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing Tuesday on H.R. 2802, the so-called ‘First Amendment Defense Act.’ The hearing, focused on legislation that would allow businesses, not-for-profits, and even government entities to discriminate against LGBTQ Americans, is scheduled for the one-month anniversary of the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, in which 49 LGBTQ people and allies were killed.
“The so-called First Amendment Defense Act is nothing more than an attack on LGBTQ Americans under the guise of religious freedom–religious freedom that is already well secured by the First Amendment and other laws,” said Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc Jewish Action. “The decision of Congressional Republicans to schedule this hearing exactly one month after the Orlando shooting is appalling, disgraceful, and deplorable. We call on all members of Congress to denounce today’s hearing and oppose this dangerous and discriminatory legislation.”
If enacted, this bill would allow for the denial of basic rights and essential services to millions of people across the country, opening the door to unprecedented taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBTQ people, along with single mothers and unmarried couples. Bend the Arc Jewish Action opposes any hearing on this legislation, and had urged that today’s hearing be called off “in the name of religious liberty and basic human decency”.
This is not the first time that House Republicans have pushed forward this anti-LGBTQ legislation. In response to a proposed hearing on the bill last summer, Bend the Arc Jewish Action in partnership with Auburn Seminary organized more than 3,000 faith leaders to oppose the legislation, successfully persuading the House Oversight Committee to call off the hearing. The faith leaders argued in a signed letter that the legislation actually undermines true religious liberty by allowing organizations and individuals to discriminate against or infringe on the rights and religious beliefs of others in the name of religious liberty. – Preceding provided by Bend the Arc.
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Florida sued to provide kosher meals to Jewish prisoners
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal government argued to protect Jewish prisoners’ right to worship from Florida bureaucrats, who currently deny kosher meals to Jewish prisoners.
The clear majority of state prisons and the federal government have provided observant Jewish prisoners with kosher meals for many years. Yet Florida’s Department of Corrections is the only large prison system in the country that refuses to provide kosher meals to observant Jewish prisoners, despite the fact that it already offers a variety of more expensive medical diets for its prisoners. The state also ignores the extensive data that shows prisoners allowed to practice their faith while in jail are much less likely to reoffend.
“When prisons refuse to provide kosher meals, many Jewish prisoners don’t eat non-kosher food; they go hungry,” said Daniel Blomberg, legal counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case. “That’s unnecessary, and it’s wrong. Prisoners surrender many of their physical rights at the jailhouse door, but they do not surrender their human dignity.”
The Department claims that providing kosher meals would be too expensive. But the cost of providing kosher meals is less than 0.02 percent of the Department’s annual budget. Further, 35 states and the federal government have all managed to balance their budgets while still protecting religious liberty. The Department has offered no reason why it cannot do the same. And studies show that ensuring prisoners can fully practice their faith reduces both violence in prison and repeat crime outside of prison.
“Allowing prisoners to practice their faith is better for them, better for prisons, and better for society. In other contexts, including within prisons, Florida has successfully defended religious liberty for all. It should do the same here and give up this misguided opposition to kosher diets,” said Blomberg.
Last year, a federal district court ordered the Department to begin providing kosher meals for all observant Jewish inmates, and Florida appealed to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. In March, the Becket Fund filed an amicus brief urging the protection of the religious rights of all prisoners. This lawsuit is the first time the U.S. government is suing a state prison system under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Throughout the litigation, a diverse array of religious groups have supported kosher meals for Jewish prisoners, including Christians and Hindus. – Preceding provided by the Becket Fund
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Jewish-American gymnast Aly Raisman will compete in Rio Olympics
(JNS.org) Jewish-American gymnast Aly Raisman will be part of the U.S. gymnastics team competing in next month’s 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after qualifying at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The 22-year-old Raisman will be joined on the team by Simone Biles, 19; Gabby Douglas, 20; Laurie Hernandez, 16; and Madison Kocian, 19.
“We were joking, I was like, ‘I really am going to live up to my grandma name because I’m going to have a heart attack before they announce the names,’” Raisman said about the excruciating wait before the final team members were announced, the Associated Press reported.
At the 2012 Olympics in London, Raisman won gold medals in the team and floor exercise competitions.–Preceding provided by JNS.org
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Shia Patz of San Diego to tour Israel with Fashionistas
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – Shia Patz of San Diego, along with 34 other Jewish fashion industry mavens from around the world, was selected to join the journey of a lifetime and see Israel beyond the headlines while connecting with Israel’s fashion leaders later this month.
Patz, who graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising where she majored in product development, has worked for Chef Works, Rais Case, and, most recently, Leatherock. She channels her passion for fashion, trends, colors and styles through her work.
The special Israel delegation, July 26-Aug. 3, will include Jewish fashionistas from the U.S., Canada, Australia, Estonia, Greece, Panama, and South Africa. For eight days, these women will travel from Safed in the north to the Dead Sea and Masada in the Judean Desert, on a one-of-a-kind trip to strengthen their Jewish identities, connect them to their Jewish homeland and inspire them to return home and change the world.
The trip, organized by the Maryland-based Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (JWRP) and Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, will also bring the women to key spots on Israel’s fashion map, from the TLVstyle fashion boutique tour and the “Fash-Tech” co-work space WMN for women entrepreneurs in Tel Aviv, to jewelry and fashion designers in Jerusalem. This special trip, which is the first of many planned industry-specific trips aimed to bring Jewish values to key influencers in society, will also feature a JWRP Fashion Week event in Tel Aviv with leading Israeli fashion names.
Since 2009, more than 8,000 Jewish mothers from 150 partner organizations in 26 countries spanning several continents including Australia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America have experienced the Momentum trips. Participants commit to getting involved in activities when they return home, including community events, Israel engagement programs, Jewish education, global learning, leadership development and Momentum Israel missions for husbands. – Preceding provided by the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project
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