Judaism

Immigration Minister Says Pluralism Must Prevail in Multicultural Quebec

November 6, 2003

Source: The Canadian Jewish News

http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=1752

On November 6, 2003 The Canadian Jewish News reported, "Ethnic communities have nothing to prove to anyone about belonging in Quebec, the provincial minister of immigration and relations with citizens has told Canadian Jewish Congress. David Birnbaum, executive director of Congress’ Quebec region (CJC-Q), said he welcomed Michelle Courchesne’s comments, which she made during recent...

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Jewish Scholars Want Religion Question on U.S. Census

October 31, 2003

Source: Forward

http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.10.31/news12.njps.html

On October 31, 2003 Forward reported that "Jewish researchers frustrated with the trouble-plagued National Jewish Population Survey 2000-01 are calling for a question on religion to be added to the decennial United States Census. Bucking the Jewish community's historic opposition to government inquiries on religion, three leading scholars now say it may be the only way to count Jews...

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Halloween 2003: Celebrations and Spirituality

October 31, 2003

Source: Forward

http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.10.31/living1.html

On October 31, 2003 Forward published an article on Jewish "witches," or individuals who "have a strong sense of Jewish identity but also practice magic, cast spells and tend to identify with 'goddess-directed' worship. Their beliefs run the gamut from strict monotheists to those who worship a pantheon of goddesses... their numbers could be in the hundreds. In September, Jewitchery.com site...

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Jewish Inmate Wins Right to Eat Kosher Meals

October 30, 2003

Source: Associated Press

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=2806

On October 30, 2003 Associated Press reported that " a Jewish man serving a life sentence in prison for murder won the right to kosher meals in a settlement with the Florida Department of Corrections on Tuesday. Alan J. Cotton, 58, filed a civil lawsuit in September 2002, charging that his Orthodox Jewish dietary requirements were not being met by the Everglades Correctional Institution. "

FBI Crime Report Shows Decrease in Hate Crimes

October 27, 2003

Source: Anti-Defamation League

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HatCr_51/4386_51.htm

On October 27, 2003 Anti-Defamation League reported that "the annual FBI crime report released today indicated that hate crimes across the country declined from record high levels of 2001...The 2002 FBI hate crime data, released today and collected under the mandate of the 1990 Hate Crime Statistics Act (HCSA), documented 7,462 hate crimes – an almost 23 percent decrease from the 9,730...

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Hancock Park Residents File Suit Over Jewish "House of Worship"

October 26, 2003

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-me-hancock26oct26,1,3825451.story?coll=la-news-religion

On October 26, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "Orthodox Jews use of a residentially zoned house in upscale Hancock Park as a synagogue, and their plan to build another nearby, have prompted area residents to file suit... A long-running legal battle continues over Etz Chaim's right to...

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Fire Destroys New Synagogue in Queens

October 24, 2003

Source: The Jewish Week

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=8593

On October 24, 2003 The Jewish Week reported that Agudith Israel, the newest synagogue in Far Rockaway, was destroyed in what may be a case of arson. "A suspicious fire on Saturday morning, on Shemini Atzeret, broke out in the women’s section of the one-story brick building on a residential side street, ruining the interior and damaging the just-completed structure. '...

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Assault of French Rabbi Condemned by Prime Minister Raffarin

October 19, 2003

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3205330.stm

On October 19, 2003 the BBC News reported that "an attack on a rabbi in the Parisian suburbs has been strongly condemned by the French prime minister. The government was determined to fight anti-Semitism and religious intolerance, said Jean-Pierre Raffarin. Several men pushed the rabbi about and one allegedly punched him in the face in Friday's attack in the Essonne area. Police are holding two men in their...

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Rhetoric of Iraq War Reveals Religious Tensions

October 19, 2003

Source: Boston Herald

http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/international/anal10192003.htm

On October 19, 2003 the Boston Herald reported that the rhetoric of the war with Iraq shows a focus on religious issues, citing comments alledgedly made by Osama bin Laden on an audio tape, U.S. Lt. Gen. William "Jerry'" Boykin's derogatory comments about Islam and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed's anti-Semitic comments at an Islamic summit. The article quoted...

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Jewish and Buddhist Traditions Meet in Seattle Synagogue

October 18, 2003

Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/144424_jews18.html

On October 18, 2003 Seattle Post-Intelligencer described Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue, where meditation is blended with traditional Jewish worship and services "focus less on liturgy and more on the contemplative aspects of the faith, with more singing, chanting and guided meditation. " The synagogue is celebrating a 10 year anniversary just as Jewish mysticism and Buddhism are...

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Anti-Defamation League Calls Easterbrook's Apology "Insufficient"

October 17, 2003

Source: Anti-Defamation League

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/4374_12.htm

On October 17, 2003 Anti-Defamation League stated that "today's mea culpa by New Republic Senior Editor Gregg Easterbrook for his anti-Semitic writings on the Hollywood film industry was 'insufficient,' and called on Easterbrook and the magazine to make a clear statement of apology. " Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, said in a statement that " by injecting religion into his criticism...

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Past Arizona Synagogue and Church Finds Finds Future with Jewish Historical Society

October 17, 2003

Source: The Arizona Republic

htt p://w ww.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/mesa/articles/1011synagogue11Z11.html

On October 17, 2003 The Arizona Republic reported that the Arizona Jewish Historical Society has purchased and will restore a 1921 structure that was formerly a synagogue before being converted to a Baptist church. The building, which was owned by Iglesia Bautista Central until the congregation recently outgrew the facilities, maintains many of the characteristics of its former synagogue years, down to the curtain...

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Disagreement Over Judicial Structure Threatens Sharon's Coalition

October 17, 2003

Source: Forward

http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.10.17/news7.split.html

On October 17, 2003 Forward reported that "a sweeping plan to restructure Israel's religious infrastructure took a big step forward last week, delighting liberals but presenting Prime Minister Sharon with his first major coalition crisis. The Cabinet voted 18 to 3 to dissolve the Religious Affairs Ministry, a major stronghold of rabbinic and Orthodox political patronage, and reassign...

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