Judaism

Poverty Increase Among New York Jews

January 2, 2004

Source: Jewish Week

http://www.indypressny.org/article.php3?ArticleID=1229

On January 2, 2004 Jewish Week reported, "Poverty among New York City’s Jews is at historic highs and rising, even as it is diminishing among other groups in the five boroughs, according to as-yet-unreleased data from a recent survey of New York’s Jewish community. For the first time in recent history there is a higher percentage of poor households within the Jewish community, 13...

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Americans Can Learn from the French Ban

December 30, 2003

Source: Slate

http://slate.msn.com/id/2093315/

On December 30, 2003 Slate published an article on lessons Americans can learn from the proposed French ban on religious garb. The article notes that many Americans of faith are victims of employment discrimination because of their religious practices. The article outlines several cases of religious discrimination involving religious head coverings and the inability of employees to take time off for religious observances. It concludes, "...

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Hannukah Menorah Destroyed by Vandals in Pearl River, NY

December 30, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=1578023

On December 30, 2003 The Associated Press reported, "A menorah on display for Hanukkah in a town park was damaged by vandals, authorities said. The menorah in Braunsdorf Park was bent and its bulbs and candelabra arms were broken, according to State Assemblyman Ryan Karben, who represents the area. It was found damaged on Wednesday. 'This is a clear bias-motivated crime,' Karben said in a statement...

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Jewish Couple Expelled from Military for Observing Yom Kippur

December 25, 2003

Source: Haaretz

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/374395.html

On December 25, 2003 Haaretz reported on the case of Margaret and Rafael Chaikin, two Orthodox Jews recently discharged from the military for their failure to attend class on Yom Kippur. According to Haaretz, the two "received a 'general discharge' from the army, a definition that indicates that the soldier did not commit any crime during the course of his service, but was discharged because of not...

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Christians, Jews, and Christmas

December 24, 2003

Source: San Antonio Express-News

On December 24, 2003 San Antonio Express-News reported that "for a third consecutive year, [members of Wellspring Presbyterian Church in Texas] will use Congregation Agudus Achim, a synagogue, for their Christmas Eve service... Father David Garcia, rector of San Fernando Cathedral, believes... Jews, Muslims and Christians have a common bond in their belief in Abraham, and he sees many opportunities for those of different faiths to interact."

Lieberman Calls for Greater Role of Religion in Public Life

December 24, 2003

Source: The Portsmouth Herald

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/12242003/news/67089.htm

On December 24, 2003 The Portsmouth Herald reported that U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman visited the Seacoast Community Church to help serve meals to homeless people and others in need. He made Tuesday’s visit to the church to meet with voters and "to reflect on the role faith plays in the lives of ordinary citizens and the U.S. government. During a brief speech before...

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Pres. Bush Attends Menorah Lighting Ceremony

December 23, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20031222-1540-bush-hanukkah.html

On December 23, 2003 The Associated Press reported, "At a menorah lighting ceremony Monday at the White House, President Bush prayed for Americans serving in the U.S. armed forces and expressed his hope that all people who live under oppression will one day be free. 'We hope and pray that all who live under tyranny, will see their day of...

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Lieberman Calls for Greater Role of Religion in Public Life

December 23, 2003

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/24/politics/campaigns/24TRAI.html

On December 23, 2003 The New York Times reported, "Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut called on Tuesday for strengthening the role of religion in public life and took a veiled swipe at Howard Dean, who has run a steadfastly secular campaign. 'I know that some people believe that faith has no place in the so-called public square,' said Mr. Lieberman, an...

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Catholic and Jewish Leaders Call for an End to Middle East Conflict

December 22, 2003

Source: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

http://www.nccbuscc.org/comm/archives/2003/03-242.htm

On December 22, 2003 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reported that delegates of The National Council of Synagogues and The U.S. Catholic Bishops Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs met on December 11, 2003, at St. Marys Seminary and University in Baltimore, MD to discuss their concern for a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-...

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Magazine Editor Publishes "Guide to Jewish Italy," Covers Little-Known Rural Sites

December 21, 2003

Source: JTA

http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=13592&intcategoryid=2#

On December 21, 2003 JTA reported, "Twenty years ago, an Italian television channel hired Annie Sacerdoti, a Jewish writer and editor in Milan, to produce a documentary about Jewish history in Italy’s northern Lombardy region... In small provincial towns around the region, she found Jewish cemeteries abandoned to the elements and deserted synagogues...

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