Judaism

Researchers Uncover Long-Lost Tunnel Used By Jews To Escape Extermination Pits : The Two-Way : NPR

July 1, 2016
Using advanced imaging technology, researchers in Lithuania have uncovered a tunnel that Jewish prisoners used to escape Nazi extermination pits. By doing so, they have provided physical evidence of a well-known tale of heroism during the Holocaust — known before only through the testimony of 11 Jews who escaped.

Source: Researchers Uncover Long-Lost Tunnel Used By Jews To Escape Extermination Pits : The Two-Way :...

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Who Is a Jew? Maybe Not Woman Converted by Esteemed New York Rabbi - The New York Times

June 24, 2016
JERUSALEM — Critics of Israel’s chief rabbinate have long complained that scores of American converts to Judaism have trouble getting approval to marry in Israel. Now, one such case with a celebrity connection could break open the rabbinate’s longstanding secrecy over which foreign rabbis are approved to conduct conversions.

Source: Who Is a Jew? Maybe Not Woman Converted by Esteemed New York Rabbi - The New York Times

20 Senators Push Medal of Freedom for Rabbi Abraham Heschel - Breaking News – Forward.com

June 17, 2016
WASHINGTON ( JTA ) — A slate of 20 senators urged President Barack Obama to posthumously award Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the nation’s highest honors.The letter made public Wednesday, spearheaded by Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, cited the role of Heschel, who fled Nazi-era Germany, in advancing the cause of civil rights through his friendship with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Source: 20 Senators Push...

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Myanmar’s Only Synagogue Cited by Historical Organization - Breaking News – Forward.com

June 10, 2016
Myanmar’s only synagogue was recognized by a Yangon historical organization.The Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue in Yangon, formerly Rangoon, installed a blue heritage plaque Sunday given by the Yangon Heritage Trust. Only 11 other buildings in the city have received this recognition so far, the Myanmar Times reported.

Source: Myanmar’s Only Synagogue Cited by Historical Organization - Breaking News – Forward.com

At Interfaith Pride Service Clergy Speak On Journey from Silence to Celebration - SpokaneFāVS

June 10, 2016
In its 25-year history clergy have occasionally come together during Spokane Pride to celebrate and worship with the local LGBT community. But longtime OutSpokane board member Bridget Potter said until Wednesday evening, she had never seen such a diverse group of faith leaders speak up about the struggles and rights of gays.

Source: At Interfaith Pride Service Clergy Speak On Journey from Silence to Celebration - SpokaneFāVS

Spiritual Ensemble to present ‘Jews and Blacks’ concert

June 3, 2016
Lee Pringle is the founder and producer of “Jews & Blacks: Parallels of Our Past,” a narrated concert by the Charleston Spiritual Ensemble, scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday. After a sold-out performance in February, the ensemble will bring the concert to Piccolo Spoleto Festival.

Source: Post and Courier

Message of Hope in Planning LGBT Pride Service - SpokaneFāVS (Op-Ed)

June 3, 2016
his article finds me knee-deep in planning an Interfaith Worship Service for Spokane’s PRIDE Week. Working with Jewish, New Thought, Buddhist, and other Christian clergy, we are attempting to put together a worship service so that Spokane’s LGBTQ+ folk will feel celebrated and affirmed. It’s been a humbling and surprising venture for me, as I have never done any overt interfaith work before, and never as clergy leadership. Source: Message of Hope in Planning LGBT Pride Service - SpokaneFāVS...
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Judge: Congregants can take control of oldest US synagogue - WorldWide Religious News

June 1, 2016
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The congregation that worships at the nation's oldest synagogue prevailed Monday in a bitter legal fight that threatened its existence, as a federal judge ruled it may now control its own destiny and decide what to do with a set of ceremonial bells worth millions.The lawsuit pitted congregants at the 250-year-old Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, against the nation's oldest Jewish congregation, Shearith Israel in New York City.

Source: Judge: Congregants can take control of oldest US...

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London’s Muslim Mayor Cites Islamophobia in Pledging To Fight Anti-Semitism - Breaking News – Forward.com

June 1, 2016
( JTA ) — London’s newly-elected mayor, Sadiq Khan, endorsed a pledge co-signed by dozens of American and European mayors to fight anti-Semitism.Khan, a Muslim Labour politician who won the May 5 mayoral election by a broad majority, recently informed the Board of Deputies of British Jews of his decision to join the Mayors United Against Antisemitism initiative, the Board said in a statement published Thursday.

Source: London’s...

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Germany to Build World’s First All-in-One Synagogue, Church and Mosque - Breaking News – Forward.com

June 1, 2016
A decade ago, the idea of building a unique religious structure that would combine prayer halls for the three main monotheistic religions was first proposed during archaeological excavations of a plot on the southern end of the Fischerinsel (Fisher Island) in the Mitte neighborhood of Berlin. In 2012, an international architectural competition was held to plan the building, combining a synagogue, church and mosque. The Berlin architectural firm of Kuehn Malvezzi was selected.The building, named the “House of One,” will not be large, only 670 square meters, and construction is...
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