International

Group teaches clergy how to counsel on mental health

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (Press Release) — Synagogues nationwide are turning to an innovative training program to equip their congregations with the skills to recognize mental illness and respond to mental health emergencies. The program, Mental Health First Aid, helps people assess a mental health crisis, select interventions and provide initial help. “The faith community has […]

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Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

State Controller asked to probe professor’s expenses

SANTA CRUZ, California (Press Release)– Outraged at online reports that San Francisco State University (SFSU) President Wong is defending a professor’s use of thousands in taxpayer dollars to meet with terrorists and promote political advocacy, eight groups on Tuesday, June 24,, demanded that California State Controller John Chiang conduct a state audit of SFSU. “Professors

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Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Hatred of Jews is basis of Middle East conflict

By Richard L. Cravatts, PhD BOSTON–The disheartening, though not entirely surprising, breakdown of talks between Israel and the Palestinians marked yet another failure by the two sides to come closer to an agreement that would usher the way for a Palestinian state. Yet, no sooner had the talks collapsed than blame was being assigned by

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Jewish History, Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts

JNS news briefs: June 24, 2014

Rachel Frenkel, mother of kidnapped teen, tells UNHRC that she is living a ‘nightmare’ (JNS.org) Rachel Frenkel, the mother of one of the kidnapped Israeli teens, told the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that she is living “every mother’s nightmare” as she urged the international body to do more to help rescue her son

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Middle East, USA

Bill requiring anti-theft smartphones advances

SACRAMENTO, California (Press Release) – State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) issued the following statement on Monday, June 23,  regarding Senate Bill 962, which requires all smartphones sold in California to come pre-equipped with theft-deterring technological solutions to render the device useless if stolen. The bill, authored by Sen. Leno and sponsored by San Francisco

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USA

Engel: Chem weapons removal only first step

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Representative Eliot L. Engel, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Monday, June 23, made the following statement on the removal of chemical weapons from Syria: “The removal today of chemical weapons material from Syria is an important achievement.  More than 1,000 tons of deadly chemicals have been

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Middle East, USA

Blumenthal seeks probe of VA retaliation

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) released the following statement  Monday, June 23, in response to a news report alleging that there has been widespread wrongdoing and whistleblower retaliation by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Medical Inspector: “Punitive, retaliatory treatment of whistleblowers is another powerful reason for an

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Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Hagel, Ya’alon confer by telephone

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke via telephone on Monday, June 23,  with Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe “Boogie” Ya’alon, according to Hagel’s spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby. “Minister Ya’alon provided the secretary with an update on recent developments, including the kidnapping of Israeli teenagers in the West Bank and Sunday’s

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Middle East, USA

Presbyterian decision a warning to Israel — APN

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Following the decision by the Presbyterian Church (USA) to divest from three U.S. companies whose products, they argue, are used to support Israeli occupation, Americans for Peace Now on Monday, June 23,  issued the following statement: “Last Friday’s decision of the Presbyterian Church of the United States to divest from

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Middle East, USA

OpEd: U.S. unhelpful as Israel battles Hamas

By Moshe Phillips and Benyamin Korn PHILADELPHIA — The State Department’s demand that Israel “exercise restraint” in its search for the Hamas kidnappers makes a mockery of President Obama’s pledge two years ago that he “will always have Israel’s back.” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki declared on June 20 that the Obama administration is “urging

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Middle East, USA

El Al Airlines boosting lacrosse in Israel

NEW YORK (Press Release)– EL AL Israel Airlines is the official airline of the Israel Lacrosse Association, which is expanding efforts to introduce the sport to Israeli communities throughout the country. In coordination with Taglit-Birthright, more than 40 lacrosse players from all over the USA took the initiative and collected more than 2,000 pounds of lightly

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Middle East, Sports & Competitions, USA