Archive for The Diaspora

| April 25, 2014
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Canadian FM visits Auschwitz extermination camp memorial

 

FM Baird visited the memorial museum that documented the Nazi atrocities & preserves the memory of the victims.

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Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird paid a visit on Thursday to the memorial museum at the World War II Auschwitz-Birkenau German Nazi death camp.

Canada’s Foreign Minister John Baird

Canada’s Foreign Minister John Baird, second right, walks through the ill-omened “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work Sets You Free) gate of the World War II Nazi German death camp of Auschwitz in Oswiecim – Photo: AP

Baird and Canadian ambassador to Poland, Alexandra Bugailiskis, walked through the “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work Sets You Free) gate though which inmates were brought into the camp from across Europe to face death either in its gas chambers or from forced labor, starvation and disease.

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Category: Jewish News, The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| April 22, 2014
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U.S. Supreme Court reviews president’s refusal to abide by Jerusalem birthplace law

 

The U.S. Supreme Court will review the State Department’s refusal to enforce a 2002 law that allows U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem to have Israel listed as their birthplace.

By Reuters

 

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to weigh the constitutionality of a law that was designed to allow American citizens born in Jerusalem – the historic holy city claimed by Israelis and Palestinians – to have Israel listed as their birthplace on passports.

Jerusalem

American passports do not recognize Jerusalem as being in Israel. – Photo; AFP

The case concerns a long-standing U.S. foreign policy that the president – and not Congress – has sole authority to state who controls Jerusalem.

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Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , , , ,
| April 21, 2014
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The Racism and Open Hatred of the Israel-Bashers

Chloe Simone Valdary, an African-American undergraduate student who supports Israel has become the latest precipitant of vile, hateful & racist slurs from the BDS advocates.

By Anthony Hardy Williams/The New York Post

 

The Boycott, Divest and Sanction movement against Israel is often seen as progressive — so it’s astounding to see its supporters turn to racism.

Chloe Simone Valdary and friends advocation for Israel - Facebook photo

Chloe Simone Valdary (2nd from left) and friends advocating for Israel – Facebook photo

The latest target: Chloe Simone Valdary, an African-American undergraduate at the University of New Orleans and founder of the Allies of Israel Association.

Valdary recently wrote an article criticizing the Jewish Museum’s decision to invite Judith Butler, a University of California, Berkeley professor and outspoken BDS supporter to speak — an invitation Butler at first accepted, then declined. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| April 20, 2014
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Will Bill & Hillary Clinton have Jewish grandchildren?

 

Looking at the responses generated by Chelsea Clinton’s announcement, it’s anybody’s guess.

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Chelsea Clinton’s announcement Thursday afternoon that she and Jewish hubby Marc Mezvinsky are expecting their first child has set off a fairly predictable wave of reactions Jewish-wise, not unlike the interest their 2010 wedding generated.

File photo: Chelsea Clinton and her husband Marc Mezvinsky. February 9, 2011.

Chelsea Clinton and her husband Marc Mezvinsky. February 9, 2011.- Photo: AP

Interfaithfamily.com quickly seized the pregnancy as an “opportunity to share with ALL expecting parents” its various resources for new interfaith parents, including a booklet called “To Circumcise or Not: That is the Question.”

Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, The Jewish Press chose this headline: “Chelsea Clinton Pregnant With Non-Jewish Child.”

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Category: Jewish News, The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| April 18, 2014
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South Africa Muslim leader accuses rival party’s pro-Israel stance as ‘paid-for’

 

Al Jama-ah leader asked whether South Africa’s second largest political party’s pro-Israel position was based on donations.

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A month ahead of national elections, a question is being asked: Does the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second largest political party, smile on Israel because it’s funded by pro-Israel sources?

James Selfe, leader of the DA.

James Selfe, leader of the DA. – Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

That’s the question asked by the leader of a rival party, Al Jama-ah, a shopkeeper named Imraahn Ismail-Mukaddam, according to Independant Online, which aggregates the websites of the country’s largest media group.

The DA for its part said it doesn’t have to answer his questions, and didn’t comment on his allegations.

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Category: The Diaspora | Tags: ,
| April 18, 2014
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John Kerry: Anti-Jewish demands in Ukraine city are ‘grotesque’

 

Pamphlets were distributed to Donetsk’s Jews requiring them to register assets with pro-Russian separatists or face forced deportation.

By i24news

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday notices were sent to Jews in a Ukrainian city asking them to identify themselves as Jews, a move he condemned as “grotesque.”

Pro-Russia activists stand in front of a placard bearing the logo of Ukraine's disbanded elite Berkut riot police reading "Glory to Berkut" as they guard a barricade in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on April 14, 2014 ( Alexander Khudoteply (AFP) )

Pro-Russia activists stand in front of a placard bearing the logo of Ukraine’s disbanded elite Berkut riot police reading “Glory to Berkut” as they guard a barricade in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on April 14, 2014 – Photo: Alexander Khudoteply/AFP

“In the year 2014, after all of the miles travelled and all of the journey of history, this is not just intolerable, it’s grotesque.

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Category: Mid-East News, The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| April 17, 2014
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IN PHOTOS: Passover Seder held by the Jews of Kaifeng, China

 

The Kaifeng Jews according to some, are direct descendants of Sephardi Jewish traders who settled in China during the 8th or 9th century.

By SAM SOKOL


The community of Kaifeng held one of the first Seder meals to be held by indigenous Chinese Jews in generations this week.

Kaifeng

Kaifeng Jews, Burning of unleavened bread (Chametz). 
There are around 1,000 residents of Jewish descent in the city, one of China’s former imperial capitals. The Seder, was organized by Jerusalem-based Shavei Israel.Burning of the unleavened bread (Chametz).

The Shavei Israel organization aims at helping people of Jewish descent to “rediscover or renew their link with the people of Israel.”

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Category: Jewish News, The Diaspora | Tags: ,
| April 17, 2014
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10 Israeli backpackers injured as bus overturns in Argentina

 

10 Israeli backpacking tourists were injured in a road accident on Seven Lakes Route with one suffering a severe head injury. All were taken to local hospitals.

By Itay Blumenthal

 

A bus carrying Israeli backpackers overturned Thursday morning in the area of the Seven Lakes Route in Argentina. One of the Israelis suffered a severe head injury, and the nine others were in light condition.

Overturned bus in Argentina

Overturned bus in Argentina – Screenshot

The Foreign Ministry has been notified and representatives of the Israeli consulate in Buenos Aires were expected to arrive to the area within the next few hours to visit the hospitalized Israelis and check on their condition. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: ,
| April 17, 2014
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Israeli still in Indian Prison After Neglected Bullet Found in Backpack

Steve Silvenchev is another of several post-IDF Israelis who are or have been imprisoned abroad for the ‘crime’ of forgetting to clean out a backpack that was used during his army service.

By Yosef Berger

 

Steve Silvenchev, an Israeli tourist in India, had been in jail in Mumbai for seven months, after authorities there found a bullet in a backpack that he had used at times during his stint in the IDF. They were detected when he went through security in Mumbai when he arrived on what was planned to be a post-army hike. Equipment at Ben Gurion Airport did not pick up the bullets. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| April 16, 2014
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NYT calls on White House to drop peace efforts

New York Times reports how Obama & Kerry should ‘move on & devote their attention to other major int’l challenges like the Ukraine.’

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U.S. President Barak Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry should drop their Middle East peace efforts and “move on and devote their attention to other major international challenges like Ukraine,” the New York Times wrote in an editorial on Tuesday.

Kerry and Lieberman


Kerry, right, with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Washington last week. – Photo: AFP

Instead of continuing to promote peace negotiations, the paper wrote, the United States should “lay down the principles it believes must undergird a two-state solution, should Israelis and Palestinians ever decide to make peace.” Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , , , ,
| April 14, 2014
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Israel Prime Minister sends condolences to families of Kansas Jewish center killings

 

Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israel obligated to confront problem of “hatred of Jews” after white supremacist lunatic murders kills 3 random Jews in U.S. hate-attack.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sent his condolences to the families of those killed in Sunday’s shootings at two Jewish centers in Overland Park Kansas.

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Dr. William Lewis Corporon and grandson & Reat Griffin Underwood, a 14-year-old high school freshman – Photo Courtesy

“We condemn the shootings which, according to all the signs, were perpetrated out of hatred for Jews,” Netanyahu said Monday of the attack, allegedly carried out by a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

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Category: Jewish News, The Diaspora | Tags: ,
| April 13, 2014
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2 Dead in Shootings at Kansas Jewish Community Center and Old Age Home

The male suspect appeared to yell ‘heil Hitler’ as he was led away. Shootings were at Jewish Community Center in Overland Park and Village Shalom, an old age home.

By Ernie SInger, Gil Ronen

 

Two shootings have been reported at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, Kansas City, and at Village Shalom, a retirement home in Leawood. At least two people are reported dead. A third person was shot and critically injured. That person was taken to a nearby hospital.

alertOther accounts said one person was killed an one other critically injured.

According to KSHB in Kansas City, Overland Park Police confirmed that multiple shots were fired at the community center, which is located at 5801 W 115th St. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags:
| April 13, 2014
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Teacher at London School threatened to send Jewish student to ‘gas chambers’

Commenting on the incident at North London Collegiate School, a Community Security Trust official said, “This would be highly offensive in any circumstance, but to be directed at a (Jewish) pupil by a teacher is unheard of and makes it far worse.” 

By JTA

 

The parents of a Jewish student at an exclusive girls’ school in London are angry over an incident in which a teacher told their daughter that she would be sent “to one of your gas chambers.”

Auschwitz death showers – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The incident at North London Collegiate School occurred in January, London’s Daily Mail reported on Sunday.

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Category: Jewish News, The Diaspora | Tags: , , ,
| April 12, 2014
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Peres Weibo page at ceremony in Beijing gains 50 million surfers in minutes

 

When asked in China about the secret to the Jewish people’s wisdom, Israel’s President writes, “Our secret is learning. It’s important to ask questions.”

By Yori Yalon

 

President Shimon Peres marked the end of a successful visit to China on Thursday by officially launching his account on the Chinese answer to Facebook, Weibo, becoming the first Israeli leader with an account on the social networking website.

President Shimon Peres launches his Weibo profile on Thursday – Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom / GPO

The ceremony for Peres’ Weibo profile launch took place at the company’s headquarters in Beijing, and in keeping with Chinese culture, Peres hit a gong set up for the occasion.

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Category: Israel News, The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| April 12, 2014
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Denmark & Norway allow male circumcision under gov’t guidelines

In Denmark’s press release Friday: ‘Ritual circumcision of boys has been practiced for thousands of years in the Jewish & Muslim populations. The procedure is not banned in any country.’ 

“When someone believes very strongly that circumcision is correct, then it is no use going against them,” agreed Lise Moller, the chief of the association’s ethics committee.

By JTA

 

Resisting calls to ban the non-medical circumcision of boys, the governments of Norway and Denmark have taken steps to preserve the practice’s legal status.

Health Minister Bent Høie on the podium at the Parliament in Oslo. - Photo: Thomas Winje Øijord/NTB Scanpix

Health Minister Bent Høie on the podium at the Parliament in Oslo. – Photo: Thomas Winje Øijord/NTB Scanpix

Norway’s health ministry has submitted a bill that proposes placing some limitations and fees on ritual circumcision but not banning it outright, while Denmark’s health board issued guidelines stating that the practice is legal.

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Category: Jewish News, The Diaspora | Tags: , , , ,
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