Judaism

Growing Religious Diversity in Bible Belt

July 28, 2001

Source: Messenger-Inquirer

http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/columnists/owen/3382699.htm

On July 28, 2001, the Messenger-Inquirer reported on the growing religious diversity in the Bible Belt. "About 200 Jains and about as many Sikhs live in west-central Kentucky and Tennessee now... Bowling Green has 2,000 actively practicing Muslims, mostly Bosnian immigrants... Nashville has about 24,000 Hispanics, compared to 2,700 a decade ago." Thomas Russell and...

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$2.5 Million Awarded to Man Fired for Not Working on Sabbath

July 27, 2001

Source: Intermountain Jewish News

On July 27, 2001, Intermountain Jewish News reported that the "Pueblo man who was found by a federal jury...to be a victim or religious discrimination said he hopes his legal victory will work to protect the rights of other religious minorities, especially those who -- like himself -- observe the Sabbath on Saturday instead of Sunday...[Don] Reed [the Pueblo man] is a member of a 'nondenominational' Christian group which, like Jews, marks the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday." Reed said "the significance of...

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Ten Facts Illustrate Atlanta's Growing Religious Diversity

July 26, 2001

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On July 26, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "during the second half of the 20th century, metro Atlanta...became a richly diverse religious community." The article listed ten facts that exemplified the growing diversity. For example, "Hindus have several worship centers in Atlanta" and "Pagans and witches worship in their own ceremonies throughout the metro area."

Vigil Memorializes Middle East Victims

July 24, 2001

Source: The Baltimore Sun

on July 24, 2001, The Baltimore Sun reported on "a weeklong vigil [in Baltimore] honoring more than 130 Israelis killed since Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke down in September...Vigil organizers with the Baltimore Zionist District, an Israel advocacy group, said the event is meant to personalize the killings and highlight the senselessness for Jews and gentiles alike." 500 Palestinians have also been killed in the fighting.

New Temple Is Orange County's Largest

July 23, 2001

Source: Los Angeles Times

On July 23, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported that Temple Beth El's congregation has had no permanent home for the past 20 years. They finally have "a new $18-million building of their very own,...the largest synagogue in Orange County, by far." The building includes 21 classrooms, two libraries, two sanctuaries, a youth lounge designed by teenagers, an outdoor plaza and gardens, volleyball and basketball courts, and a kitchen and social hall. "The idea...is to make the temple a holistic center of Jewish community life."

Boston Church Property Increases in Value

July 22, 2001

Source: The Boston Globe

On July 22, 2001, The Boston Globe reported on "the potential financial bonanza for churches, synagogues and other religious organizations sitting on increasingly valuable parcels of land...In the city itself, the value of real estate owned by religious denominations has doubled over the last five years...At the same time, many religious denominations...are scrambling for money."

Orthodox Jews Follow Clothing Regulations

July 22, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On July 22, 2001, The New York Times reported on Orthodox Jewish law of shatnez, which "prohibits the wearing of any garment that has a mixture of lamb's wool and linen. These days, the testing of clothes, rugs and even upholstery is on the rise as more people adopt the Torah's prescribed regulations...Even the most learned of rabbinical scholars are uncertain about the underlying reason for the laws."

$2.5 Million Awarded to Man Fired for Not Working on Sabbath

July 18, 2001

Source: The Denver Post

On July 18, 2001, The Denver Post reported that "a Denver federal jury...awarded $2.25 million to a former Pueblo air traffic controller who was fired for refusing to work on the Sabbath. The jury concluded that employers may not force religious worshipers to work on the Sabbath if it is their 'sincerely held religious belief.'...Reed, who said he believes 'in the word of God' rather than a formal religion, said his belief in resting on the Sabbath comes from the book of Genesis."

Outdoor Religious Services Bring Together People of Different Faiths

July 17, 2001

Source: Newsday

On July 17, 2001, Newsday reported that the "Montauk Community Presbyterian Church, which is hosting a series of sunrise and sunset worship services this month in the Montauk [New York] area...on local beaches and in parks," which bring together members of different churches and cultures. The hosts include Protestant ministers, a Catholic priest and a rabbi... Montauk's religious leaders are trying to break down the walls between churches."

Report Finds Anti-Semitism at Minnesota University

July 17, 2001

Source: Star Tribune

On July 17, 2001, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that "a 'strong perception' of anti-Semitism exists at St. Cloud State University, which seems unwilling or unable to deal with it, according to a report...To conduct the study, the university hired the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas...'Many' suggested that campus problems might reflect 'a larger environment of discrimination' in the St. Cloud area, the report said." The report can be found on the web at...

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Religious Leaders Ask Congregations to Pool Tax Refunds

July 14, 2001

Source: The Washington Post

On July 14, 2001, The Washington Post reported that "at the annual meeting of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church...the finance chairman of [the] congregation...called on the area's 200,000 United Methodists to donate" to their churches the "advance payment'" check they will receive as part of the $ 1.35 trillion tax cut President Bush has just signed into law. "The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, which represents 1.5 million Reform Jews, also sees the potential of pooling rebates for...

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$2.5 Million Awarded to Man Fired for Not Working on Sabbath

July 11, 2001

Source: The Denver Post

On July 11, 2001, The Denver Post reported that "a former Pueblo air-traffic controller...has sued his former employer in U.S. District Court for allegedly harassing and then firing him because he refused to work on the Sabbath."

Arizona Faith Groups Respond to White Supremacist

July 6, 2001

Source: The Arizona Republic

On July 6, 2001, The Arizona Republic reported that "Arizona's diverse faith community will kick off an anti-hate campaign...in response to a White-power leader's plans to recruit here for the White Aryan Resistance...Congregations will begin a 'Not in Our State' campaign, coordinated by...the National Conference for Community and Justice. The American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Arizona Catholic Conference and numerous churches have signed on with the campaign ."

Churches and Synagogues Building More Schools

July 2, 2001

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On July 2, 2001, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that, "fueled by shifting populations, expanding or consolidating churches, a growing unease with public education, school choice vouchers and the wealth created by the recent economic expansion, churches and synagogues [across southeastern Wisconsin and the nation] are pouring millions" into construction of their own schools... According to the U.S. Census Bureau, faith-based primary and secondary school construction rose 234%, from $728 million in 1993 to $2.4...

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Product of Muslim/Jewish Book Proposal Angers Some Muslims

July 1, 2001

Source: The Washington Post

On July 1, 2001, The Washington Post reported on the American Jewish Committee's 'Children of Abraham' project, which involved "publishing a book on Islam for Jewish readers and a book on Judaism for Muslims, then marketing them as a package to promote understanding between the two faiths...But [the] project is generating more interfaith arrows than embraces, as some Muslims have assailed portions of the guide to Islam and criticized the committee's choice of author...The author has gone into hiding under heavy security...

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