Judaism

Reform Jews' Protest of Anti-Gay Policy Stirs Debate

February 10, 2001

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On February 10, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported on the debate between Reform Jews over their leaders' call to cut ties with the Boy Scouts of America in protest against its anti-gay policies. "In metro Atlanta, Reform congregations are debating...over how far they should go in following" this advice. "The strongest advocates of protesting the Scouts' policy on gays say Jews have a special obligation to speak out against discrimination because of their own history of being persecuted...[But]...

Read more about Reform Jews' Protest of Anti-Gay Policy Stirs Debate

American Chooses the Life of a Hindu Holy Woman

February 10, 2001

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On February 10, 2001, The Houston Chronicle published an article on 29-year-old Sadhavi Bhagwati, formerly Phoebe Garfield. "The Stanford University graduate was transformed into a living Hindu saint, or holy woman, in four years. In Hinduism, a saint is a person who has attained a high level of personal sanctity through meditation and good works. The individual's guru or swami bestows the rank. A male saint is known as a sadhu; a woman is called sadhavi. Bhagwati is a leading figure of Parmarth Niketan," a Hindu religious...

Read more about American Chooses the Life of a Hindu Holy Woman

Jewish and Christian Clergy Form Interfaith Group

February 4, 2001

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On February 4, 2001, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published an article about a newly formed interfaith group among Jewish, Lutheran, Unitarian, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal clergy from Pittsburgh's northern suburbs. Rabbi Art Donsky hosts the meeting of the group once a month at his synagogue, Temple Ohav Shalom in McCandless, Pennsylvania. "'It's a really great opportunity for people of different faith traditions to be in dialogue with one another,' said the Rev. Duane Morford, senior pastor at the Ingomar United Methodist...

Read more about Jewish and Christian Clergy Form Interfaith Group

Museum Exhibit Tells Story of Jewish Pioneers

February 4, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On February 4, 2001, The New York Times published an article on the "Jewish migration westward to New Mexico by wagon train along the Santa Fe Trail. Their number was not great -- by 1917, fewer than 1,000 called New Mexico home -- but these Jews helped shape the economy, culture and political landscape of the region." A new exhibition at the Palace of the Governors of the Museum of New Mexico called "Jewish Pioneers of New Mexico" tells their story. The first settlers were from Germany. "They moved west from the East Coast...

Read more about Museum Exhibit Tells Story of Jewish Pioneers

Modern Jews Eager to Revive Ancient Traditions

February 3, 2001

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On February 3, 2001, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that there has been "a growing movement in the United States among Conservative and Reform Jews to adopt or adapt some Orthodox rituals and practices." One of these rituals is "the ancient Jewish tradition known as laying tefillin (pronounced te-Fill-lun)." The ritual involves wrapping a black leather strap around one's body, whose "purpose is to hold firmly in place words from the Jewish sacred scripture, the Torah, concealed and sealed into...black leather boxes......

Read more about Modern Jews Eager to Revive Ancient Traditions

New Holy Land Park Stirs Controversy

February 2, 2001

Source: USA TODAY

On February 2, 2001, USA TODAY reported on the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Florida, which claims to "transport" visitors to the ancient Middle East. Its 15 acres include a replica of the temple of King Herod, a cement copy of the Qumran Caves, where ancient Jews stashed the Dead Sea Scrolls, a palm-tree grove mimicking the Via Dolorosa, the path to Jesus' crucifixion, a Jerusalem City Gate, and "Calvary's Garden Tomb, where [people dressed as ancient Israelites] celebrate the resurrection of Christ." Costumed dramatists tell Old and...

Read more about New Holy Land Park Stirs Controversy

Use of Jesus' Name in Bush's Inauguration Discussed

January 29, 2001

Source: Star Tribune

On January 29, 2001, the Minneapolis Star Tribune published a commentary by Alan Dershowitz on Franklin Graham's dedication of Bush's inauguration to Jesus Christ. Graham's "particularistic and parochial language," claimed Dershowitz, "excluded tens of millions of American Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Shintoists, Unitarians, agnostics and atheists from his blessing...The plain message conveyed by the new administration is that Bush's America is a Christian nation, and that non-Christians are welcome into the tent so long as they agree to...

Read more about Use of Jesus' Name in Bush's Inauguration Discussed

Improvements Noted in Jewish-Catholic Relations

January 28, 2001

Source: The Denver Post

On January 28, 2001, The Denver Post published an article on the improvement in Jewish-Catholic relations in the past few decades. Rabbi James Rudin thinks that "more good was accomplished in Jewish-Catholic relations in the last 35 years than in the rest of the millennium." He said "most of the movement has come from changes in attitudes by the Roman Catholic Church." There has been "a long line of overtures and apologies made by the Catholic Church in the last three decades of the 20th century." Rudin said such apologies -- for...

Read more about Improvements Noted in Jewish-Catholic Relations

Plans Made to Build Eruv for Jewish Cambridge Residents

January 16, 2001

Source: The Boston Globe

On January 16, 2001, The Boston Globe reported on plans to build an eruv in Cambridge by the summer. "An eruv is a physical entity, an enclosure of walls and fences and plastic wire strung between utility poles." It is "a large, symbolic household. Orthodox Jews, or others who strictly observe the Sabbath, do not 'carry' outside the house between sunset Friday and sunset Saturday, unless they live within an eruv." With an eruv, families can all attend synagogue together and visit friends on their...

Read more about Plans Made to Build Eruv for Jewish Cambridge Residents

Jewish Leaders Protest the Exclusion of Gays from the Boy Scouts

January 13, 2001

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On January 13, 2001, The Houston Chronicle reported that "Reform Jewish leaders have recommended that parents withdraw their children from Boy Scout chapters and that synagogues end their sponsorship of Scout troops because of the group's exclusion of gays." Such exclusion is "incompatible with our consistent belief that every individual--regardless of his or her sexual orientation--is created in the image of God and is deserving of equal treatment," said the Joint Commission on Social Action. The commission urged...

Read more about Jewish Leaders Protest the Exclusion of Gays from the Boy Scouts

Jewish Leaders Protest the Exclusion of Gays from the Boy Scouts

January 10, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On January 10, 2001, The New York Times reported that "Reform Jewish leaders are recommending that parents withdraw their children from membership in the Boy Scouts of America and that synagogues end their sponsorship of Scout troops, the strongest reaction yet by a religious group to the Supreme Court decision allowing the Boy Scouts to exclude gay members...In a memorandum to congregations dated Jan. 5, the Joint Commission on Social Action of the Reform movement asked congregations to sever ties to the Boy Scouts, or at least...

Read more about Jewish Leaders Protest the Exclusion of Gays from the Boy Scouts

Jewish Leaders Protest the Exclusion of Gays from the Boy Scouts

January 10, 2001

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On January 10, 2001, The Columbus Dispatch reported that "Reform Jews nationwide are being urged to cut ties with the Boy Scouts because of the Scouts' refusal to admit homosexuals." A commission representing the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Central Conference of American Rabbis issued a memo calling for the withdrawal. But even if they agree that the Scouts' position is a problem, not all Reform Jews agree with the suggested course of action. Temple Israel, which does not sponsor a boy scout troop,...

Read more about Jewish Leaders Protest the Exclusion of Gays from the Boy Scouts

Severe Shortage of Cantors in All Branches of Judaism

January 6, 2001

Source: Star Tribune

On January 6, 2001, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the shortage of Jewish cantors "suddenly has become acute" in all branches of Judaism. "Last year, for example, 30 synagogues vied for the 14 cantors who graduated from Hebrew Union College." Cantors are also called "Shelichei tzibbur," the emissaries of prayers. One reason Jewish leaders cite for the shortage is that "the booming economy has enabled more synagogues to hire full-time cantors." Today cantors "are ordained clergy who perform all the...

Read more about Severe Shortage of Cantors in All Branches of Judaism

Settlement Reached in Workplace Discrimination Lawsuit

January 6, 2001

Source: The Buffalo News

On January 6, 2001, The Buffalo News reported that "a Williamsville company has settled a lawsuit with two Jewish women [from Buffalo], who claimed they were discriminated against because their religious beliefs prevented them from working on Saturdays." Attorneys from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said that Esther Smothers and Amanda Brooks, both in their 20s, "received a combined $ 50,000 in damages and back pay from National Action Financial Services/SITEL, one of the largest collection agencies in Western New York...

Read more about Settlement Reached in Workplace Discrimination Lawsuit

Pages