Judaism

Muslim and Jewish Children Share Salaam-Shalom Circus in St. Louis

July 6, 2002

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On July 6, 2002 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch featured an article on the interfaith bridges being built at the City Museum in St. Louis's Salaam-Shalom Circus, "a year-round circus class with Muslim and Jewish children and their parents." The participants come from the Central Reform Congregation where "parents eagerly embraced the chance for an interfaith experience... Their partners in the interfaith bridge building are parents and children from Clara Muhammad School... Along the way, the parents have even invited one...

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Appeals Court Rules "Under God" in Pledge of Allegiance Unconstitutional

July 6, 2002

Source: The Providence Journal

http://www.projo.com/opinion/contributors/content/projo_20020706_cthicks6.835aa.html

On July 6, 2002, The Providence Journal featured an editorial by Prof. Douglas Hicks of the University of Richmond entitled "Let's Pledge to Respect Differing Beliefs." The piece emphasizes that "'One nation under God' means different things to different Americans... Both critics and supporters of the...

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Muslim Advocacy Group Backs Jewish and Muslim Police Deputies Fighting Uniform Policy

July 6, 2002

Source: The Chicago Tribune

On July 6, 2002, The Chicago Tribune reported that "two Cook County sheriff's police deputies will be allowed to wear religious head coverings while on duty, the sheriff's office announced Friday, apparently resolving a controversy that tested the limits of religious freedom on the job... Sgt. Larry Davidson, an Orthodox Jew, will be permitted to wear his yarmulke, and Crystal Clark, a Muslim, will be allowed to wear a scarf. But both must cover their religious headwear with a department-issued cap or hat."

Long Island Teachers Take Seminar on Islam

July 5, 2002

Source: Newsday

On July 5, 2002 Newsday reported that due to immigration, more Muslim students are attending Jericho High School in a predominantly Jewish area of Long Island, NY. "Hoping to learn more about a religion that for many Long Islanders remains steeped in mystery, and sometimes outright suspicion,... about a dozen Jericho social studies teachers spent two days this week attending a 15-hour seminar on Islam at the high school... The seminar, which included sections on Islamic phrases, the role of women, the history shared by Jews, Christians...

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Anti-Semitic Pamphlets Distributed in Boston Suburbs

July 4, 2002

Source: The Boston Globe

On July 4, 2002 The Boston Globe reported that "literature espousing views that are racist and anti-Semitic was tossed on lawns and driveways by unknown people" in five Massachusetts towns north of Boston. "The literature, which included a pamphlet and a booklet, carried the name of the World Church of the Creator, a white supremacist group based in Illinois... Bedford police... Chief James Hicks said... "A lot of it was picked up by officers and thrown in dumpsters. [But,] I'm sure there is more out there.'"

Muslim Advocacy Group Backs Jewish and Muslim Police Deputies Fighting Uniform Policy

July 3, 2002

Source: The Council on American-Islamic Relations

On July 3, 2002 The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a press release "condemning a decision by Illinois' Cook County Sheriff's Department to strip police powers from an Orthodox Jewish deputy after he refused to remove his yarmulke, or religious skullcap, while on duty... The Washington-based Islamic advocacy group says it has offered to take up the case of the Jewish deputy, who was reassigned to clerical duties one day after CAIR offered public support for a Muslim deputy who is being...

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Appeals Court Rules "Under God" in Pledge of Allegiance Unconstitutional

July 3, 2002

Source: Los Angeles Times

On July 3, 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported that last week's two U.S. court rulings concerning religion in the public square demonstrate the strong "disagreements over the relationship between God and public life in America... First, a federal appeals court ruled that religion could not be part of a daily ritual of public school life... The next day, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that religious schools could receive public school dollars... The Rev. C. Welton Gaddy, executive director of the Washington-based Interfaith...

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Appeals Court Rules "Under God" in Pledge of Allegiance Unconstitutional

June 30, 2002

Source: Statesman Journal

http://news.statesmanjournal.com/article.cfm?i=44359.

On June 30, 2002, the Statesman Journal of Salem, Oregon featured an article on the recent Pledge of Allegiance ruling. "The decision created instant furor, in part because the pledge is an American icon. But it may have just as much to do with people’s relationship with God — or lack thereof... In America, God means different...

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Clergy Sexual Abuse Across Traditions

June 29, 2002

Source: The Washington Post

On June 29, 2002, The Washington Post featured an article on an Orthodox Rabbi convicted of sexual abuse. "While sexual abuse of minors by priests has shaken the Roman Catholic Church this year, a smaller-scale but still painful scandal over sexual abuse by a charismatic rabbi has reverberated through the nation's Orthodox Jewish community... A jury of six men and six women in central New Jersey found Rabbi Baruch Lanner, 52, guilty of abusing two teenage girls... Once a rising star among Jewish educators, Lanner had...

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Conference Brings Together Diverse Religious Leaders for Training

June 29, 2002

Source: Newsday

On June 29, 2002 Newsday reported on an interfaith conference in New York City designed to help religious leaders "sustain their post-9/11 ministry." The conference was attended by "approximately 800 priests, pastors, imams, rabbis and other spiritual leaders from the metropolitan area... 'Leaders of faith communities are the first line (of defense) in mental health,' said Rabbi Stephen Roberts, president of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains, who chaired the daylong conference sponsored by the American Red Cross last month...

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Religious Centers Grow with Northern Virginia Population

June 27, 2002

Source: The Washington Post

On June 27, 2002 The Washington Post reported that "Census figures show that the Northern Virginia suburbs [of Washington, DC] are among the fastest growing in the country. But unlike giant chains such as Blockbuster and Burger King, churches, synagogues and mosques often do not have the capital or luxury to stay one step ahead of the demographic curve. Planning and fundraising take time, and dealing with the thicket of local land-use regulations can [be difficult]... 'We've seen the number of people attending in the last...

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Land Use Battles in Southern California Halt Construction on Jewish House of Worship

June 26, 2002

Source: Los Angeles Times

On June 26, 2002 the Los Angeles Times reported city officials have halted the construction work on a home used by Congregation Etz Chaim, for Orthodox Jewish services, part of an on-going battle over zoning in the residential neighborhood. "Congregation Etz Chaim's dilemma was cited by federal lawmakers when they passed the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000...    The law prohibits local land-use and zoning regulations from substantially burdening religious practice, unless officials can show a...

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Alarm Over Anti-Muslim Comments at Southern Baptist Convention Meeting

June 24, 2002

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On June 24, 2002, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette featured a letter to the Editor from Rabbi James Gibson, responding to the comments of Rev. Vines. "I am the senior rabbi of Temple Sinai in Squirrel Hill and have worked to improve inter-group relations in Pittsburgh for the last 14 years. I am shocked at Mr. Vines' callous disregard for interfaith sensibilities as well as his ignorance about Islam... Every person of faith, regardless of their belief, should demand a public retraction of Mr. Vines' statement. Neither explanation...

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