Jewish Religion

Belgian court rules shechita bans unconstitutional

A constitutional court in Belgium ruled on Wednesday that traditional Jewish shechita is permitted under Belgian law and will be allowed to continue unimpeded. “Restrictions on kosher shechita”, the judge ruled, “contradict basic human rights laws and religious rights in Belgium.” In recent months some members of the Flemish parliament have proposed bans on kosher

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International, Jewish Religion

Biography of Nehemiah prompts mixed emotions

Nehemiah: Statesman and Sage by Dov S. Zakheim; Maggid Books © 2016; ISBN 9781592-643691; 246 pages including appendices; $27.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – From the standpoint of one in whose family there have been several intermarriages in which the children have been raised as Reform Jews, I read this biography of the

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion

Jews receive official minority status in Maharashtra

MUMBAI, India (JNS.org) — The Indian state of Maharashtra has become the second Indian state to grant official minority status to its Jewish community, which contains about 3,000 of the approximately 4,500 Jews who live in all of India. Among other new state benefits for Maharashtra’s Jews, the ruling means that those Jews will join

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International, Jewish Religion

Illustrated prayer book follows Ashkenazic tradition

Nehalel beChol: Weekday Siddur devised by Michael Haruni; Introduction by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, Nevarech Press, Jerusalem, © 2015, ISBN 978-965-92180-1-1, p. 665 plus Photo and Credits Appendix, $29.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – At first blush, one cannot help but be moved by the attractiveness of the color photographs permeating the Nehalel beChol

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

I-8 Jewish Travel: Kwaaymii, Arden and oral history

-61st in a Series- Exit 47, Sunrise Highway, Mount Laguna, California By Donald H. Harrison MOUNT LAGUNA, California – Jackie Lucas dropped in on the Serra Museum in Presidio Park, San Diego, in 1975, to look around the museum that focuses on early San Diego history.  She saw on display a photo of a Kumeyaay woman.  She

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Hannaton students not deterred by Haredi protests

HANNATON, Israel (SDJW) — Students from the Hannaton Educational Center, a pluralistic school at Kibbutz Hannaton, participated in an egalitarian service at the Kotel last Thursday which was disrupted by Haredi men opposed to the genders praying together.  Pushing and shoving and numerous insults such as “You are not Jews” marred the occasion. The prayer session

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Jewish Religion, Middle East

Leading rabbi challenges Sweden: End bans on milah, shechita

The President of the Conference of European Rabbis has challenged the Swedish government to lift all restrictions on Jewish practices in Sweden, after its Ambassador to Israel claimed his prime minister wants to lead the fight against worldwide anti-Semitism. In a letter to Prime Minister Stefan L&oumlfven, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt – who also serves as

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International, Jewish Religion

No buses on Jewish Sabbath, ministerial committee rules

The ministerial legislation committee today rejected a bill proposed by MK Yael German (Yesh Atid) that would allow the local authorities to decide whether to operate public transportation on the Sabbath. German told “Globes” today, “We won’t give up. We’ll submit the bill again in six months, and again in a year, and again and

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Jewish Religion, Middle East