Amid the din of Diaspora and Israeli voices shouting to be heard in July during a heated intercontinental debate over a proposed Knesset bill on Jewish conversion, it was easy to miss the silence of one major stakeholder in the legislation: the non-Jewish immigrants to Israel from the former Soviet Union, on whose behalf the…
The Anti-Defamation League’s controversial decision to come out against a proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero is the first topic of this week’s Reporters’ Roundtable. Then the podcast takes a turn for the silly, looking at the story behind the Forward’s first viral Web video. The video features a not-yet-famous Paul Rudd, emceeing a 1992…
NEWS ITEM: Elena Kagan has been confirmed by the Senate as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, joining two other Jews in that role. For the first time, three Jews will be serving on the court simultaneously. The other justices are Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. To say the least, we are surprised!…
The truce worked out by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to quell what has become known as “the conversion bill crisis” may be in jeopardy. The conversion bill, which seeks to codify laws for conversion in Israel, raised the ire of Diaspora Jewry when it passed through a Knesset committee with an added provision that would…
The so-called wedding of the century featured a ketubah, a chupah, a groom wearing a tallis and yarmulke, a crushed glass at the end of the ceremony and both sets of parents being hoisted up in chairs as guests danced the hora. But despite the wedding’s Jewish symbols, top leaders from all the major streams…
Israel is taking significant new steps to relieve its international isolation following the fatal raid on a humanitarian flotilla and the accusatory Goldstone Report. On August 2, the Israeli cabinet voted to participate in a United Nations inquiry that will look into the Israeli military’s May 31 attempt to stop a Turkish-led flotilla headed to…
You have to get used to acronyms quickly in the world of Jewish social justice (and it helps if you like the letter “j”.) There’s the venerable JCUA in Chicago, PJA on the West Coast, the surprisingly well-organized JCA in Minnesota and a very active JCRC in Boston. National organizations include JCPA, JOI, JFSJ and…
Workers who were fired by a Brooklyn kosher food producer after demanding overtime pay have been protesting outside the owner’s house and a supermarket this summer, and preparing for a return to the National Labor Relations Board this fall. Flaum Appetizing, Inc., a producer of kosher salads, pickles, and smoked fish, has been embroiled in…
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley strove hard to hit the right note August 2 in describing the Obama administration’s recent effort to push the Palestinians into direct peace talks with Israel. “There are consequences to failing to take advantage of this opportunity,” Crowley said of the Palestinians’ reluctance to enter direct talks, as reporters peppered…
UJA-Federation and JCRC-NY Host a “Come Back and Visit” Adieu to Israeli Diplomats “Mayor, schmayor! He’s coming!” joked New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn about Michael Bloomberg’s expected arrival, July 29, at the Joint Farewell Reception of UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. The event honored these…
This past weekend was packed with activities — Friday night dinner at a friend’s home, my father’s birthday celebration festivities both at synagogue and at his home on Saturday, and a barbeque with friends on Sunday. By the time Monday morning came around, my kids and I were pooped. I decided that rather than telling…
