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Albany Teacher Who Gave 'Jews Are Evil' Assignment Suspended

04/14/2013 | JTA

The New York teacher who assigned her students to write a persuasive essay on why Jews are evil was placed on leave and will be disciplined.

The teacher, who has not been named, was placed on leave Friday from her job at Albany High School and could face a reprimand or firing, according to the Albany Times Union.

Michael Broyde, A Leading Orthodox Rabbi, Leaves Religious Court After Deception

04/14/2013 | JTA

Rabbi Michael Broyde, a prominent Orthodox rabbi who admitted to creating a fake alternate identity, is no longer a member of the Beth Din of America.

Turks: Plot To Blow Up Synagogue, U.S. Embassy Foiled

04/12/2013 | JTA

Turkish police earlier this year uncovered what they claim to be a plot linked to al Qaeda to bomb a synagogue in Istanbul and the U.S. embassy in Ankara.

Twelve people were arrested during a raid in February on two houses in Istanbul and Corlu in February, the New York Times reported on Thursday, quoting Turkish media.

Eight of them were Turks, two were Chechens and two were Azeris.

NY Lawyer Gets 4 Years, $2.5 Million Fine For Posing As Rabbi

04/12/2013 | JTA

A New York immigration lawyer who fraudulently presented himself as a rabbi was sentenced to a four-year prison term.

Earl Seth David, 49, was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan for passing himself off as Rabbi Avraham David in order to swindle illegal immigrants in their bid for naturalization. He also was forced to pay $2.5 million in damages.

Aiming to win the trust of the immigrants, David posed as a rabbi for 13 years and would take up to $30,000 per case to forge documents to submit to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Weiner Speaks Out On Scandal, Wants 'Second Chance' In Politics

04/10/2013 | Adam Dickter | Assistant Managing Editor

Former congressman Anthony Weiner, who represented one of the most heavily Jewish districts in the nation before his fall from grace, is still considering a run in this year’s Democratic primary for mayor, he told The New York Times Magazine in Sunday’s edition.

Hate Crimes Charges Against Suspect In Williamsburg Mezuzah Burnings

04/09/2013 | Adam Dickter and JTA

After extensive questioning, police have charged Ruben Ubiles, 34, of Bedford-Stuyvesant with burglary, arson and criminal mischief as felony hate crimes, as well as reckless damage and reckless endangerment, reports said Friday.

The New York Times said Ubiles had a prior arrest record for robbery, assault and drug possession.

Ubiles was apprehended by police based on surveillance footage at a Williamsburg housing project where a mezuzah was burned on Tuesday. According to some reports Ubiles posted on Facebook that he was annoyed about Jews setting fires on streetcorners, apparently referring to chasidim burning chametz before Passover.

On Thursday Ubiles was charged with an unrelated crime, criminal contempt in connection with a violation of a court order of protection obtained by his girlfriend, Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne told The Jewish Week.