After one of Jerusalem’s largest ethnic clashes, no arrests made [Haaretz]
It became one of Jerusalem’s largest clashes between ethnic groups. Yet when the smoke cleared, not a single arrest was made, and no charges were pressed. After a soccer game, a group of Beitar Jerusalem fans poured into a shopping mall and began harassing the Arab workers there. The problem soon escalated, then turned into all-out chaos. Haaretz reports:
“‘I’ve never seen so many people,’ said A, a shopkeeper. ‘They stood on chairs and tables and what have you. They made a terrible noise, screamed ‘death to the Arabs,’ waved their scarves and sang songs at the top of their voices.’
Shortly afterward, several supporters started harassing three Arab women, who sat in the food hall with their children. They verbally abused and spat on them.
Some Arab men, who work as cleaners at the shopping center and observed the brawl, came to their rescue. ‘How can you stand aside and do nothing?’ said Akram, a resident of the Old City’s Muslim Quarter who was one of the cleaners who got involved. CCTV footage shows that they started chasing the rioting youths, wielding broomsticks.”
Which haggadah is right for you? [Forward]
If you’re gearing up for Pesach, and you’re not sure what haggadah you intend to use for your Seders, Jay Michaelson breaks down the best options of this season, what distinctive qualities each has, etc. (This is assuming you don’t write your own…) Michaelson writes:
“‘Of making books there is no end’ warns Kohelet, the preacher of Ecclesiastes. Nor, indeed, of Haggadot. Every year brings new entries to an already abundant market of mainstream and niche Passover liturgies, even as their compilers continue to rightly lament the hegemony of Maxwell House. (Indeed, The New York Times reported that the Obama Seder will still use the lousy old thing, notwithstanding a personal plea by The Atlantic columnist Jeffrey Goldberg to use ‘New American Haggadah,’ one of this year’s crop.)
Yet there is a method to the madness. As I’ve reviewed new Haggadot for several years now, I’ve begun to notice certain trends among them — trends that, I think, say much about the fruitful fragmentation of the American Jewish community. This year is no exception.”
Rick Santorum likes Jews, especially those Messianic ones (…wait, what?) [Politico]
In 2010, Rick Santorum accepted $6,000 to speak at a Messianic Jewish conference, according to a report by Politico. During his speech, Santorum highlighted his thoughts on Islamic extremism and Israel. While this may concern some Jewish groups (who see Messianic Judaism as a form of Christianity), a leading Messianic figure says Santorum is a great friend to Israel.
“The alliance supports Messianic Judaism, which embraces Jewish heritage and customs but holds the fundamental Christian belief that Jesus is the son of God. Its beliefs are similar to those of the group Jews for Jesus, which has drawn particular ire from Jewish leaders for its proselytizing efforts.
But Joel Chernoff, CEO of the Messianic Jewish Alliance, said ‘Israel could not have a better friend than’ Santorum, an observant Catholic whose speech to the group dealt with the threat of Islamic extremism. Chernoff said he personally supports Santorum, ‘and I think most Messianic Jews would probably say that,’ though he conceded Santorum’s passing affiliation with his group ‘could be a factor’ with traditional Jewish voters.”
Israeli hotel: no Torah scroll for mixed services [Jerusalem Post]
A group of students from a New York school affiliated with Conservative Judaism were denied access to a Torah for a Shabbat morning service at the hotel they were staying during a trip to Israel. Why? Because they refused to impose separate seating by gender during the length of the service. The Jerusalem Post reports:
“On Shabbat morning, one of the group’s counselors requested the use of a Torah scroll from the hotel’s synagogue, but the hotel’s religious supervisor told them they could only use it if their service was not mixed and they would not call women up to the Torah.
Men and women sit together in Conservative prayer services – unlike in Orthodox synagogues where they sit in separate sections – and in some Conservative congregations, women are called up to the Torah to recite the blessings and read the weekly portion.
According to one of the counselors, their service was being held after the hotel’s service in the synagogue had ended and there was no other impediment to their use of the Torah scroll other than the supervisor’s objections.
The group refused to accede to his demand and held their service without using a Torah.”
