WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJC) — A letter by 39 Democratic Congressmen adressed to President Barack Obama is urging clemency for Jonathan Pollard, a former US intelligence analyst who was convicted of spying for Israel and sentenced to life in jail in 1987. In comments at a press conference late Thursday, Rep. Barney Frank said he had
Barney Frank initiates petition seeking clemency for Pollard Read More »
USANEW YORK (WJC)–Mohammad Javad Larijani, the secretary-general of Iran’s Human Rights Council, has defended the practice of stoning people. Larijani said in New York that the sentence had not been carried out applied for years because of a moratorium, but added that it served as an important deterrent. “More than 50 percent [of people] may
Iran’s Human Rights Council secretary-general says stoning an important deterrent Read More »
Travel and FoodSAN FRANCISCO (WJC)–Jewish organizations have condemned a proposal to outlaw ritual circumcision of minors in San Francisco. The Anti-Defamation League, the SFJewish Community Relations Council, the Board of Rabbis of Northern California and the American Jewish Committee together issued a statement expressing “great concern” about the proposed initiative by a San Francisco resident, which would
Jewish groups denounce initiative in San Francisco to ban circumcision Read More »
USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — During the Bush administration, an envoy was sent to ask what it would take for Israel to feel secure if a Palestinian state was established without a peace treaty with Israel. He had incentives in his pocket. The Israelis turned him down because without a treaty that addressed Israel’s
Obama pushing peace treaty, whatever the consequences to Israel Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — When I lived in Orange County, California, I was the director of a small Jewish Day School. I was responsible for the administrative, as well as educational aspects of the school. Shortly after I arrived, a vendor contacted me and in making his sales pitch, tried to impress
Should we expect more of our fellow Jews? Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Let’s start with the bad news. For the good news, you’ll have to look elsewhere. A week ago things were looking pretty good. The prime minister reported that the Americans were offering, as an inducement for a 90-day construction freeze in the West Bank, 20 F-35 advanced military planes, free of charge,
Is 90-day construction freeze agreement unraveling? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO — Ira Levin’s 1978 play Deathtrap was the longest running comedy-thriller on Broadway. It ran four years with over 1800 performances. Not bad for a non-musical. But everyone loves a good mystery, and Levin gives us that. If you are like the rest of us who sneak a peek at
‘Deathtrap’: Audiences will laugh themselves to …. Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)— In response to President Obama’s Executive Order concerning federally funded partnerships between the government and faith-based and neighborhood organizations, Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and member of the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, released the following statement: “We welcome today’s executive
Obama’s order on faith-based initiatives stirs support, opposition Read More »
USANEW YORK (Press Release) — The Interfaith Coalition on Mosques (ICOM) on Thursday welcomed the decision of a Murfreesboro, Tenn., judge that turned back a meritless attempt to block the construction of a mosque. Chancellor Robert Corlew III rejected claims that the city planning commission had acted inappropriately in granting the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro permission to
ADL applauds court decision permitting mosque in Murfreesboro, Tennessee Read More »
USAKAMPALA, Uganda (Press Release)–Rabbi Gershom Sizomu is running for National Parliament in Uganda. If elected to parliament Rabbi Sizomu would not only be the first Jew elected to national office in Uganda, but also the first rabbi to be seated in nationally elected government outside of Israel. Candidate Sizomu sees his political mission as
Rabbi running for National Parliament in Uganda Read More »
Travel and Food
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California– This Sunday afternoon, Nov. 21 at 2:00 p.m., two talented young musicians from our community will be presenting the first program of “Musicians In the Making” at the Lawrence Family JCC in the Astor Judaica Library. It is sponsored by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture’s Music Series Committee
Two ‘Musicians in the Making’ to perform at LFJCC Nov. 21 Read More »
San Diego Calendar, San Diego CountyVIENNA (WJC)–The parliament of Austria has passed a bill to provide US$ 27 million in federal funds for restoring Jewish cemeteries over the next 20 years. The move ends years of disagreement over who should pay for much-needed preservation efforts for the burial places of a once vibrant Jewish community which was decimated during the
Austria to help pay for restoration of Jewish cemeteries Read More »
Travel and Food
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Is Iran’s government sponsoring an Internet site that extols the German Nazis, their history and achievements, including the antisemitism that the current Iranian regime also supports? Or is it merely permitting one to operate in a highly censored communications’ system? Here are the facts. There is a discussion group site entitled IranNazi that
Nazi website based in Iran runs through server in Arizona Read More »
International, USAJERUSALEM (WJC)–As part of a planned 90-day settlement freeze, the United States is reportedly demanding that Israel refrain from construction not only in the West Bank but also in the eastern part of Jerusalem. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to win their support, ministers of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party have said they would
U.S. reportedly insists Israel include East Jerusalem in construction freeze Read More »
Middle East