The Anti-Defamation League said disgraced designer John Galliano has changed his beliefs and now understands the evils of anti-Semitism. Galliano, who lost his job as the top designer at Christian Dior after he was arrested for making anti-Semitic statements at a Paris bar, had dedicated “significant” time to understanding anti-Semitism, the ADL’s National Director Abraham…
The National Jewish Democratic Council named former congressional aide Aaron Keyak its interim director. Keyak, who was the communications director for former Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.), will run the group while it searches for a replacement for David Harris, its CEO and president who last month announced his plans to resign, the NJDC said Thursday….
President Obama’s gun controls drew broad Jewish community support. The uniformity of the Jewish response since Obama unveiled his proposals on Wednesday stood in contrast to Republican opposition to many of his proposals, including a ban on assault weapons and tighter background checks on gun purchasers. Supportive statements came from the Jewish Council for Public…
Israel’s general election on Jan. 22 could see a left-wing coalition matching the rightist bloc’s projected 46 seats, according to the last poll before voting. The poll by the Dahaf polling company was based on the replies of 1,000 adults. It predicts 32 seats for Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman’s Halikud Beiteinu; 14 seats for…
France’s military involvement in Mali “significantly increases” the threat facing French Jews, according to the security service of the country’s Jewish communities. “The situation requires we raise the level of protection around our community and double the level of vigilance around synagogues, Jewish schools, community centers and gathering places,” said a communiqué by SPCJ, which…
Finland’s new chief rabbi is Simon Livson, the 30 year-old Israeli born son of Finns. Livson was officially installed as chief rabbi on Jan. 13, taking over from Rabbi Moshe Edelman. Livson, who describes himself as modern-Orthodox, immigrated to Finland in 1989 when his parents returned to their country of origin and its Jewish community,…
Russia has criticised a U.S. judge’s ruling in a longstanding dispute over a collection of Jewish writings, warning of potential retaliation in an irate statement that reflected strained ties with the United States. A judge in Washington on Wednesday ordered Russia to pay $50,000 a day in fines for failure to adhere to a 2010…
Four days before Israel’s parliamentary election, opinion polls published on Friday showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still set to win, although his support had slipped to its lowest point in the campaign so far. Two polls showed Israel’s right-wing and religious bloc winning a slim parliamentary majority of 63 out of 120 seats, with Netanyahu’s…
London siblings Jonni and Caroline Berger have taken to social media with an odd but potentially lifesaving hashtag:“#Spit4Mum.” The Bergers are looking for a bone marrow donor for their mother Sharon, who needs a transplant urgently to treat a blood disorder. Simple saliva testing determines if would-be donors are a match, hence the campaign’s unique…
The prosecutor who pursued criminal charges against Aaron Swartz, the 26-year-old Internet activist and computer prodigy who killed himself last week, has defended her actions after facing several days of harsh criticism. “There is little I can say to abate the anger felt by those who believe that this office’s prosecution of Mr. Swartz was…
Pauline Friedman Phillips, the “”Dear Abby” newspaper columnist who dished out advice to millions of confused, troubled and lovesick readers in America and around the world, has died at the age of 94. Phillips, the daughter of Jewish immigrants whose twin sister Esther wrote the rival “Ask Ann Landers” column, died in Minneapolis on Wednesday…
