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Cameron Steps Down From JNF in Britain

05/30/2011

(JTA) -- A pro-Palestinian group is claiming responsibility for British Prime Minister David Cameron's stepping down as a patron of the Jewish National Fund.

Cameron's name was removed from the JNF's list of honorary patrons in recent days; earlier this month the pro-Palestinian Stop the JNF campaign sent a letter to Cameron calling on him to end his association with the charity.

1,600 Israelis Visit Joseph’s Tomb, Accompanied by Soldiers

05/30/2011

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Some 1,600 Jewish worshipers escorted by Israeli soldiers visited Joseph's Tomb for late night prayers, but the event was overshadowed by others who refused to leave the West Bank holy site.

The worshippers entered the site in the West Bank city of Nablus early Monday morning in coordination with the army. The visit came five weeks after a Jewish man who entered the tomb without permission was shot dead by a Palestinian policeman.

World ORT Meets in Berlin, Site of its Founding

05/30/2011

BERLIN (JTA) - For the first time since World War II, World ORT has gathered its leadership at the site of its former world headquarters in Berlin.

The charitable organization, which focuses on vocational training and rehabilitation, invited 97 people from 23 countries to attend a two-day board of representatives meeting which ended Monday in Berlin, the city from which its students and teachers were deported to Auschwitz some 68 years ago..

Conservative Movement Ordains First Openly Gay Rabbi

05/29/2011

(JTA) – The Conservative movement ordained its first openly gay rabbi during ceremonies at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.

Rachel Isaacs, 28, was ordained at JTS on May 19. She told the Forward that she began her rabbinical training at the Reform movement’s Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, but switched to the Conservative seminary after it began admitting openly gay and lesbian students in 2007.

Don’t ‘Delude’ Palestinians, Peres Tells U.N. Official

05/29/2011

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The United Nations "should not delude" the Palestinians into thinking that a unilateral declaration of a state will lead to its establishment, Israeli President Shimon Peres told a U.N. official.

Israel supports the establishment of an independent state, but one achieved through "direct and discreet" negotiations, Peres told U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Ashe-Rose Migiro Sunday during a meeting in Jerusalem.

Senators Introduce Enhanced Iran Sanctions Bill

05/27/2011

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- U.S. Senators introduced an enhanced Iran sanctions bill matching one recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The crux of both bills is a ban on business with any entity that does $1 million in a single trade with Iran's energy sector, or $5 million over one year. The current threshold is $20 million in business per year.