Jewish News

It’s only logical: Mr. Spock supports two-state solution for Mideast peace

Jewish-American actor Leonard Nimony, noted for his portrayal of Mr. Spock in the TV classic Star Trek, has urged Israelis and Palestinians to reach a peace agreement based on the two-state solution, warning Americans against the continued and direct effect recent Mideast turmoil could have on their daily lives.In an open letter published by U.S. left-leaning NGO Americans for Peace ...

ITIM to Court: Accept Orthodox Conversions

The ITIM religious services and advocacy group has filed a petition with the High Court of Justice demanding that the Interior Ministry recognize Orthodox conversions performed in Israel in non-state Orthodox rabbinical courts.The state conversion authority, which comes under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office, is the only body in the country through which an Orthodox convert can gain ...

Italy Kingmaker’s Anti-Jewish Views Under Scrutiny

Comic Beppe Grillo’s populist tirades were seen as a benign outlet for popular anger in the days his protest movement was a sideshow in Italian politics. Now that he’s one of Italy’s most powerful figures, his views are coming under greater scrutiny – and a history of anti-Semitic statements has started to raise concern outside the country.Grillo’s 5-Star Movement captured ...

Istanbul rally: Israel will drown in blood

Around 10,000 Turks marched in protest from the Israeli consulate in Istanbul to a main square, chanting, “Murderous Israel you will drown in the blood you shed!” following the deadly IDF raid on the Gaza aid flotilla Sunday night. The protesters earlier tried to storm the Consulate building but were blocked by police. The Gaza aid flotilla of six ships, ...

Israel’s West Bank policies render the two-state solution DOA

The very first meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama following the latter’s assumption of the American presidency was preceded by a dramatic decision by Israel’s Supreme Court. On May 18, 2009, the High Court of Justice issued gave the state 90 days to detail steps it had taken to dismantle six unauthorized outposts in the West Bank ...

Israel’s U.S. ambassador: No one will dictate Israel’s borders

Israel’s ambassador to the United States Michael Oren remarked on Tuesday that Israel would not allow anyone to dictate its borders.“Like Ben-Gurion, Netanyahu will not allow the United Nations, or any other organization, to dictate our borders. They will be determined through negotiations,” he said in Washington during an event at the Chamber of commerce celebrating 25 years since the ...

Israel’s second-most visited Jewish holy site, now under state control

The cabinet Sunday decided to place the ancient tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai under the management of a special government company under the supervision of the tourism minister.It is expected to cost approximately NIS 27 million to implement the decision.About 10 days ago the High Court turned down a petition by a yeshiva that operates at the tomb, located ...

Israel’s officials urge energy independence following Egypt pipeline blast

Israel needs to prepare itself for a future without Egyptian natural gas supplies, an senior Israeli official said on Wednesday, following an earlier explosion at the Sinai pipeline carrying gas from Egypt into Israel.An explosion rocked a natural gas terminal near Egypt’s border with Israel earlier Wednesday sending flames shooting into the air and forcing the shutdown of the country’s ...

Israel’s legal establishment to examine rabbis’ letter forbidding rental of homes to Arabs

The attorney general’s office stated on Thursday that it would look into possible criminal aspects of a religious ruling to forbid renting homes to gentiles signed by a number of leading rabbis.Dozens of Israel’s municipal chief rabbis signed on to the letter, which came just months after the chief rabbi of Safed initiated a call urging Jews to refrain from ...

Israel’s Largest Appliance Company May Halt Service Calls to Charedi Community

Israel – Sources inform ‘‘Globes’’ that Electra Consumer Products Company. is considering halting services to haredi (ultra-orthodox) areas after violent attacks against the company’s technicians. The company has hired private security guards at the homes of its executives. Yesterday, the haredi rabbinical court issued a boycott against Electra Consumer Products, which resulted in violent attacks against the company’s technicians making ...

Israel’s High Court Affirms that Thousands of Jewish Conversions are Kosher

The High Court of Justice has affirmed the validity of thousands of conversions called into question by the Rabbinical Court of Appeals in 2008, but refused to discuss the rabbinical courts’ authority to annul conversions in general.Nevertheless, the justices leveled harsh criticism at the rabbinical courts’ conduct.“The Rabbinical Court of Appeals rode roughshod over basic procedural rules and the principles ...

Israel’s First Rocket-Proof Children’s Hospital

Israel is about to build its first rocket-proof children’s hospital.The Center for Children’s Health, to be part of the Ziv Medical Center (Rebecca Sieff Hospital) in Tzfat (Safed), will be tailor-made to the specifications of the Home Front Command. A new medical school has just opened up right next door, linked to Bar Ilan University.It is also the country’s first ...