ADL cautions against RFRA bills that discriminate

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Wednesday, April 1, called upon state legislatures to halt consideration of “religious freedom” laws that have been perverted to empower businesses to discriminate against the LGBT community and others. ADL urged Congress and the 17 states with existing Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (“RFRA”) to revise these laws to

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Travel and Food

Stephen Greenberg urged for Conference presidency

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The 2015 Nominating Committee of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations has recommended Stephen Greenberg, Chairman of NCSEJ – National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry– to serve as Chairman beginning June 1, 2015. Mr. Greenberg has a long history of Jewish communal involvement. Early on, he served as National

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Jewish Religion, USA

Spain toughens laws against anti- Semitism

NEW YORK – The American Jewish Committee (AJC) welcomes Spanish parliamentary action to strengthen punishment for anti-Semitic acts and rhetoric. “Spain has taken a significant step in the fight against anti-Semitism, signaling with this reformed law that there will be zero tolerance for acts of hatred against Jews,” said Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC’s Belfer

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International, USA

Rep. Lowey applauds U.S. military aid to Egypt

  WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-New York), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, on Wedneday, April 1, issued the following statement on the Administration providing appropriated military assistance to Egypt: “At a time of rising instability across the Middle East, it is critical that allies

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Middle East, USA

Americans want Congress to review any Iran deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The American people overwhelmingly expect congressional review of any nuclear agreement with Iran, according to three new polls. The Pew Research Center and Rasmussen Reports each found that more than 60 percent of respondents believe Congress should have final authority for approving a deal.  A Quinnipiac University poll released on

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Middle East, USA

Star Trek-type ‘Tricorder’ may soon enter production

TEL AVIV (Press Release)— For the crew of the Starship Enterprise, Star Trek‘s “Tricorder” was an essential tool, a multifunctional hand-held device used to sense, compute, and record data in a threatening and unpredictable universe. It simplified a number of Starfleet tasks, scientific or combat-related, by beaming sensors at objects to obtain instant results. The

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Bach to coffee basics; concert is rich, flavorful

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel  — A Saturday morning all-Bach concert in the neighbouring village of Abu Ghosh was an occasion not to be missed, especially as it coincided with a special birthday. And what an occasion it was! It marked the conclusion of the Barrocade ensemble’s concert season, featured Finnish violinist and conductor

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Travel and Food

Jewish news briefs: April 1, 2015

After Iranian threat to destroy Israel, Netanyahu urges ‘better deal’ on nukes (JNS.org) Following an Iranian military official’s reported threat to destroy Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday urged world powers to seek a “better deal” in their nuclear negotiations with Iran. Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, the commander of Iran’s Basij militia, said

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International, Middle East, USA

Was Bibi’s election rhetoric any different than others’?

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Barack Obama had some nasty comments about Netanyahu’s election day call that Arabs were going to the polls “in droves,” which the President saw as Bibi’s eroding the meaning of democracy. In a post-election meeting with Arabs, Netanyahu said “I know that the things I said a few days ago

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA