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Israel's Chief Rabbis Receive Death Threats Over Women Of Wall Prayer

06/03/2013 | JTA

Israel’s chief rabbis received death threats in letters to their offices warning them to allow the Women of the Wall to pray “in accordance with our customs.”

The letters, headlined “This is a last warning,” were delivered Monday to the offices of Rabbi Yona Metzger and Rabbi Shlomo Amar. A complaint was filed with the security officer of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Belgian Students Join Academic Boycott Of Israel

05/31/2013 | JTA

A Belgian student association passed a motion in favor of an academic boycott of Israel.

'Hitler' Tea Kettle Sells Out Online

05/30/2013 | JTA

A JC Penney tea kettle resembling Adolf Hitler sold out online.

JC Penney, which had come under fire this week for advertising and selling the space-saving tea kettle, sold out the item on its website by Tuesday afternoon, according to reports. The retailer’s site said the Bells and Whistles Stainless Steel Tea Kettle, which was designed by American architect Michael Graves, is back ordered until June 26.

Assad Claims To Have Advanced Missiles From Russia

05/30/2013 | JTA

Syrian President Bashar Assad said Russia has delivered an advanced air defense system to his civil war-torn country.

Assad reportedly made the announcement during an interview with the Hezbollah-controlled Al-Manar television network in Lebanon. Excerpts of the interview were released on Thursday morning, the French news agency AFP reported, with the full interview scheduled to be aired that night.

Mayoral Candidates Discuss Circumcision Controversy

05/30/2013 | Adam Dickter

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn seems to stands alone among Democrat mayoral candidates in supporting the city’s effort to regulate the practice of motzeitzi b’peh.

At a mayoral forum sponsored by The Jewish Press, an Orthodox weekly in Brooklyn, five other Democrats either declined to take a stand on the issue or sided with haredi Jews trying to overturn the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s requirement that parents sign a consent form before allowing oral suction by a mohel during a circumcision.