Breaking News

Flooding From Heavy Rain Shuts Down Tel Aviv

01/08/2013 | JTA

Traffic stood at a standstill for several hours in Tel Aviv after flooding closed a major highway.

The Ayalon Highway closed early Tuesday morning and remained closed throughout the day, as the Ayalon and Yarkon rivers overflowed in the city. The Ayalon is usually a dry riverbed.

Trains running in the Tel Aviv area also were disrupted by flooding and the city's train stations shut down.

Israelis were asked to avoid traveling to Tel Aviv except in emergency situations.

Ex-Chief Rabbi Suggests Yeshiva Students Leave Israel To Avoid Draft

01/08/2013 | JTA

Ovadia Yosef, a former Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel, said haredi Orthodox yeshiva students may have to leave the country to avoid being forced into military or national service.

Coalition Promises Fight Against Coney Island Casino

01/08/2013 | Adam Dickter

A coalition of organizations and groups, including many Russian Jewish immigrants, is working to keep gambling out of Coney Island as the state mulls expanding casinos.

“If you look at every independent economic study that’s been done about casinos, what happens is crime and traffic increases and the quality of life decreases,” said Steve Zeltser, a spokesman for Stop The Coney Island Casino, which held a press conference Monday morning at the Kings Bay Y.

Conservative Synagogue Group $5.7 Million In Debt, According To Audit

01/08/2013 | JTA

The congregational arm of the Conservative movement ran a cumulative budget deficit of more than $5 million over the past two years, JTA has learned, renewing longstanding concerns for the future of one of the movement's key institutional pillars.

RJC Blasts NJDC's Support For Hagel Nomination

01/07/2013 | JTA and Staff Report

In response to the National Jewish Democratic Council's statement in support of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary, Matt Brooks, director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, accused the group of hypocrisy.

Sen. Graham: Hagel An 'Antagonist' Toward Israel

01/06/2013 | Adam Dickter and JTA

Former senator Chuck Hagel will face tough questions on Israel and its enemies if nominated for defense secretary, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a member of the House Armed Services Committee on Sunday.

"He is an antagonistic figure toward the State of Israel," Graham, a South Carolina Republican, told Candy Crowley on CNN's State of the Union.

Citing some of Hagel's expressed opinions on Israel, Iran and Afghanistan, Graham declined to say whether he would be willing to join a fillibuster to block the expected nomination.