Judaism

Date Set for Prom Falls on Sabbath

February 27, 2001

Source: The Arizona Republic

On February 27, 2001, The Arizona Republic reported that "scheduling the senior prom on the same night as the Sabbath has upset some students at Horizon High School and may force them to skip the event." The planned date for the prom falls on the Sabbath for the Jewish and Seventh-day Adventist students. One Jewish student is "considering legal action."

American Jewish Committee Announces Interfaith Document on Faith-Based Initiatives

February 27, 2001

Source: press release

http://www.ajc.org/press/default.htm?show.asp?ID=182

On February 27, 2001, the American Jewish Committee issued a press release saying that "a two-year initiative aimed at finding common ground among diverse religious and public interest groups on government funding of social services provided by religious organizations issued today its landmark report, “In Good Faith: A Dialogue on Government Funding of Faith-Based Social Services...More than 17...

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Hasidic Jew Granted Right to Sue Prison Guards for Cutting His Beard

February 23, 2001

Source: The Arizona Republic

On February 23, 2001, The Arizona Republic reported on an Appeals Court ruling, which said that "an Orthodox Hasidic Jew serving a life term can sue Ohio prison officials on his claim that they violated his freedom of religion when they cut off his beard."

Mixed Reactions to Funding of Faith-Based Organizations

February 21, 2001

Source: South Bend Tribune

On February 21, 2001, the South Bend Tribune reported that, "while not opposing Bush's initiative outright, Lutheran, Catholic and Jewish groups are raising concerns about potential religious discrimination and coercion, echoing arguments from civil libertarian quarters." Other concerns include the theoretical issue of the separation between church and state, government infringement on churches' freedom, and worries "about government funding of religious groups outside the mainstream, such as the Church of Scientology and the...

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Schedule of Basketball Game Conflicts with Sabbath

February 21, 2001

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On February 21, 2001, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the boys basketball team of Ida Crown, a Jewish school in Chicago, might have to forfeit its game against Holy Trinity in the Class A St. Gregory Regional semifinals because the game would conflict with the Sabbath. Unless the Illinois High School Association changes the date, the team's season will end on a forfeiture. There's a chance this issue might end up in court. The team is "two victories shy of the school record set by the 1977-78 team."

Mixed Reactions to Funding of Faith-Based Organizations

February 21, 2001

Source: Star Tribune

On February 21, 2001, the Minneapolis Star Tribune published an article that brings up one of the biggest problems with Bush's faith-based initiative. "The state cannot be in the business of deciding which faiths pass muster and which do not. If they are law-abiding and their programs are effective, it would seem you have to take them all or take none. You allow proselytizing in all or in none." For example, the Salvation Army "injects its Christian philosophy deep into its programs." If the Salvation Army can do this, the article asked...

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Small Iowa Town Makes Steps Toward Acceptance of Jewish Residents

February 19, 2001

Source: Star Tribune

On February 19, 2001, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the 150 to 200 Hasidic Jews who live in Postville, Iowa, "may finally be on the verge of gaining acceptance in this predominantly Christian community of 1,600 residents." The first Jews arrived from New York in 1987. "Last month, in one of the most significant developments yet, the town council appointed its first Jew." Several residents then signed a petition objecting to the appointment. The petition has "forced everybody off the fence" about their position toward Jewish...

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Mixed Reactions to Funding of Faith-Based Organizations

February 18, 2001

Source: Los Angeles Times

On February 18, 2001, the Los Angeles Times published an article about the Jewish response to Bush's new faith-based initiative. Many Jewish leaders "remain guarded with Bush, who has...made his Christian faith a prominent part of his political platform. Both the American Jewish Committee and the American Jewish Congress oppose the president's plan... Yet, there is a growing minority of American Jews who... are 'pleased that President Bush is committed to increasing the partnership between government and faith and community-based...

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Pre-School Provides Example on How Groups with Many Faiths Should Interact

February 18, 2001

Source: New York Daily News

http://www.nydailynews.com/2001-02-18/News_and_Views/City_Beat/a-100266.asp

On February 18, 2001, the New York Daily News reported on the the Treasure Island Pre-School in Brooklyn, New York, where love is "expressed daily among children whose families are Jewish, Muslim and Christian." In a community "where tensions have run high because of strains in the Middle East, an emphasis is being placed on unity among people...

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St. Louis Muslims Complain of Bias in Reports on Middle East

February 18, 2001

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On February 18, 2001, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "some Muslims believe the newspaper has long presented a slanted view of the situation in the Middle East." A recent article by reporter Phil O'Connor, about the election of Ariel Sharon as Israel's prime minister, received a lot of praise for quoting three Jewish leaders and two Islamic leaders; other articles on the Middle East have not been as balanced. Part of the reason for reporters' difficulty in obtaining balanced viewpoints on their stories is...

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Ohio Interfaith Association Works for Peace and Human Rights

February 16, 2001

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On February 16, 2001, The Columbus Dispatch reported on the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio, which has 350 members from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Baha'ism, Islam and Judaism. All are volunteers. "The missions of the association...are to educate its members and the public about customs of different faiths and to provide interfaith public worship and ceremonies related to local and global concerns." The association's projects, which range from peace-training programs in public schools to the creation of...

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Minister Claims Orthodox Christians and Jews Reject Inclusive Approach

February 16, 2001

Source: Capital Times

On February 16, 2001, the Madison Capital Times published an article by Rev. Michael A.Schuler of the First Unitarian Society, in which he warns that, under the Bush administration, "conservative Christians [will] try to halt the current drift toward pluralism...Orthodox Christians and Jews reject a more inclusive and open-minded approach to religion because, for them, to be religious means to be sectarian as well." Schuler says that, globally, they have begun to "redouble their efforts to defend the old order," in response to...

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