Breaking News

Health Department: Child Infected From Bris That Defied Consent Rule

04/03/2013 | Hella Winston | Special To the Jewish Week

The mother of an infant who contracted herpes following a bris with direct oral suction last month denied receiving the required consent form from the mohel, whose name she refused to disclose to the New York City Department of Health, The Jewish Week has learned.

Historic Damascus Synagogue Looted And Burned

03/31/2013 | JTA

The 2,000-year-old Jobar Synagogue in the Syrian capital of Damascus was looted and burned to the ground.

The Syrian army loyal to President Bashar Assad and rebel forces are blaming each other for the destruction of the historic synagogue, according to reports on Sunday.

Poll: 45 Percent Would Ban Kosher Slaughter In Britain

03/29/2013 | JTA

About 45 percent of 1,900 Britons polled favored banning Jewish ritual slaughter and 38 percent said they favored banning nonmedical circumcision.

Tunisian Parliament Rejects Special Bloc For Jews

03/29/2013 | JTA

(JTA) -- A Tunisian government committee rejected a proposal to allocate a bloc of seats in parliament to Jews.

The proposal, which had been opposed by Tunisia's Jewish leadership, was rejected by the National Constituent Assembly's committee on legislative and executive powers on the grounds that it would create unnecessary divisions among Tunisians, committee member Walid Bannani told Tunisia Live.

Israel Closes West Bank For Passover

03/25/2013 | JTA

The Israeli military imposed a general closure of the West Bank through the end of Passover.

The closure went into effect at midnight Sunday and will remain into effect until the night of April 2, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces. It was ordered by the minister of defense in accordance with IDF assessments, the statement said.

Those in need of medical attention or humanitarian aid, or in exceptional cases, will be allowed to leave the West Bank with the authorization of the Civil Administration, according to the IDF.