FM Lieberman accuses Chavez of allying with radical Islam ... Read more

Poll finds Israelis favor rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem ... Read more

British Jews offer Oseh Shalom video ... Read more

Registration underway for 2009 GA in November in U.S. capital ... Read more

IDF contrasts Israel's actions with Hamas' 'grave violations' during lead-up and war in Gaza ... Read more

Equal Employment Opportunities Commission sues Sahara Hotel in harrassment of Egyptian worker ... Read more

Appeals Court lets decision stand declaring Ten Commandments display as unconstitutional ... Read more

American Humanist Assn. urges Supreme Court to declare cross in Mojave unconstitutional ... Read more

Maccabi Haifa re-signs Davon Jefferson to Israel basketball ... Read more

FM Lieberman accuses Chavez of allying with radical Islam


BOGOTÁ, Colombia (WJC)—Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has accused Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez of cooperating with "radical branches of Islam" and of anti-Semitism. "I will not speak about intelligence specifics, but we have enough to be concerned about the collaboration between radical branches of Islam and Hugo Chávez," Lieberman told the Colombian newspaper ‘El Tiempo'. Lieberman said he saw "no reason" to communicate with Chávez while the latter maintained "relations with Iran, with Hezbollah and with Hamas".

"Israel had a bad experience when attacks occurred in Buenos Aires [in 1992 and 1994]. Today we see the closeness between Chávez and the Iranians, and of course we want to prevent further attacks against Israelis," Lieberman said when answering questions seeking evidence to support Israel's claim that the Iran-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah has cells in Venezuela.

Chávez has repeatedly expressed support for Iran's controversial nuclear program. Iran has recently sought to expand its interests and make new allies in the Latin American region, specifically with Bolivia and Venezuela.

Lieberman completed his ten-day tour of Latin American with a stop in Colombia. He pledged more involvement by his country across South America. "We think that today Israel must be more and more active in this continent," said Lieberman. Earlier this week, President Chávez severed diplomatic relations with Colombia over accusations from Bogotá that he supplied the guerrilla group FARC with weapons. Chávez said Colombia was becoming the "Israel of Latin America" having agreed to host US military operations.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Embassy in Caracas soon will be able to help Venezuelan Jews obtain Israeli visas, the Canadian government said. Currently, diplomatic relations between the two countries are suspended, following a decision by Chávez in the wake of the Gaza War.

Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress


Poll finds Israelis favor rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (Press Release)—Two thirds of Israelis have indicated they would like the Temple in Jerusalem to be rebuilt, including Israelis who describe themselves as secular. The survey, conducted for ‘Ynet’ and the organization Gesher, asked 516 Israelis if they knew the meaning of Tish B’Av and if they would like to see the Temple restored. Ninety-seven percent knew the meaning of the Fast of Tish B’Av, that it was the destruction of the Temple, while only two percent said they did not know. Sixty-four percent of those surveyed said they would like to see the Temple rebuilt, including secular Jews.

Gesher Director-General Danny Tropper said: "We are a nation with a remarkable historic affinity. The Temple was destroyed 1,942 years ago, and almost two thirds of the population want to see it rebuilt, including 47 percent of seculars. I don't think this is a practical proposal, but it seems that Tisha B'Av really does constitute a day of meaningful memory to most people."

Preceding provided by World Jewish Congesss

British Jews offer Oseh Shalom video

He who makes peace in His heavens
May He make peace for us
and for all Israel
and let us say, say Amen

Make peace for us and for all Israel
and let us say Amen

Registration underway for 2009 GA
in November in U.S. capital

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)—Online registration has been launched for the 2009 General Assembly (GA) of UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America. The 2009 GA will take place Nov. 8-10 in Washington, DC, and is expected to draw thousands of Jews from North America and around the world. Please click here to visit the GA Web site.
 
The GA is the premier annual North American Jewish communal event, attracting Federation volunteer leaders and professionals, the leadership of our partner organizations and a range of national Jewish organizations. The GA inspires and engages current and emerging Jewish leaders, tackles the most critical issues of the day, and showcases the best of the Federation movement.

The theme of this year’s GA is “Remember When You Thought Anything Was Possible? It Still Is.” The idea focuses on the potential The Jewish Federations of North America have to make a difference for the Jewish people worldwide. For the first time this year, Federations and partner agencies submitted ideas for GA programming, helping to drive and shape the agenda.

The GA plenaries, forums and breakout sessions will feature top speakers from the political, business and non-profit realms. Invited political leaders include President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Whip Rep. Eric Cantor and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The program will focus on seven timely themes: Global Jewish Responsibility; Upgrading Federation Philanthropy; Inspiration, Innovation and Engagement; Politics, Advocacy and Action; Developing Leaders; Caring Community and Service Delivery and Succeeding in Economic Uncertainty. Sessions will offer take-home value for communities with a special emphasis on the Annual Campaign and ways communities can more effectively deliver services and work with partner agencies.

Leadership for the 2009 GA includes Co-Chairs Dede (Dianne) Shaff Feinberg and Kenneth Feinberg, International Chair Leonid Nevzlin and GA Host Community Co-Chairs Cathy Zachs Gildenhorn and Michael Gildenhorn

Preceding provided by United Jewish Communities



IDF contrasts Israel's actions with Hamas' 'grave violations' during lead-up and war in Gaza

JERUSALEM (Press Release) -- The Israel Defense Force has released a 164-page report on the Gaza War conducted last December and January.

In an executive summary, IDF contrasted its own actions versus those of Hamas. The report said the following:

"In a detailed legal analysis, including a survey of the relevant legal principles and State practice, the Paper notes that Israel’s resort to force in the Gaza Operation was both a necessary and a proportionate response to Hamas’ attacks.

"While the IDF continues to investigate specific incidents during the Operation, the Paper demonstrates that Israeli commanders and soldiers were guided by International Humanitarian Law, including the principles of distinction and proportionality. These principles, enshrined in IDF training, Code of Ethics and rules of engagement, required IDF forces to direct their attacks solely against military objectives and to try to ensure that civilians and civilian objects would not be harmed.

"Where incidental damage to civilians or civilian property could not be avoided, the IDF made extraordinary efforts to ensure that it would not be excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage in each instance and as a whole. Both before and during the Gaza Operation, the IDF went to great lengths, as documented in the Paper, to ensure that humanitarian aid reached the Palestinian population, including by facilitating the delivery of 1,511 trucks carrying 37,162 tons.

"By contrast, both before and during the Gaza Operation, Hamas committed clear grave violations of international law. The Paper documents Hamas’ deliberate rocket and mortar
attacks against Israel’s civilian population, which violated the


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international law prohibition on deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian objects. It also documents deliberate
Hamas tactics that put Gaza’s civilian population in grave danger.

These included the launching of rocket attacks from within densely populated areas near schools and protected
U.N. facilities, the commandeering of hospitals as bases of operations and ambulances for transport, the storage of weapons in mosques, and the booby-trapping of entire civilian neighbourhoods so that an attack on one structure would devastate many others. These actions, which are clearly shown in photographic and video evidence throughout the Paper, violated international law.

Many of the civilian deaths and injuries, and a significant amount of the damage to property during the Gaza Operation, was attributable to Hamas’ tactic of blending in with the civilian populatio n and its use of, or operations near, protected facilities and civilian property. The Paper also notes the direct injury and damage caused to Palestinians by the explosion of Hamas’ weapons factories and the falling of rockets short of their targets on Palestinians in Gaza.

To read the entire report, please click here

Preceding provided by the Israel Defense Force


Equal Employment Opportunities Commission sues Sahara Hotel in harrassment of Egyptian worker

LAS VEGAS (Press Release)– The Sahara Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip violated federal law by creating a hostile work environment for an Egyptian kitchen employee through a daily barrage of derogatory comments due to his national origin and retaliating against him when he reported it, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed Thursday.

According to the EEOC's complaint, the Sahara's supervisors and coworkers continuously belittled and harassed Ezzat Elias, whose job was delivering food from the kitchen to the hotel buffet and maintaining the buffet, because of his Egyptian heritage. The harassment included offensive comments, slurs, and graffiti, such as being called “Bin Laden,” “Taliban,” and “f ____ Egyptian” and being told to “go back to Egypt.” Elias was also targeted with graffiti, which he was then required to wash off. Despite Elias’s repeated complaints of such harassment, the defendants failed to take effective measures to stop it. Instead, supervisors retaliated against him, which included disciplinary write-ups and suspension.

National origin discrimination violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed the suit (EEOC v. Gordon Gaming dba Sahara Hotel and Casino, Stockbridge / SBE Holdings dba Sahara Hotel and Casino, Civil Action No Case 2:09-cv-01356-PMP-RJJ ) in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement. The Commission seeks monetary damages for Elias, as well as injunctive relief to prevent such discrimination in the future.

"There is no excuse for such blatant and abusive behavior targeting workers on the basis of their national origin,” said EEOC Las Vegas Local Director Lucy Orta. “Employers must train their managers and frontline supervisors to prevent discrimination and to take prompt and effective action against harassment when it occurs."

EEOC Regional Attorney Anna Y. Park commented, "Employers only compound their problems when they fail to take discrimination complaints seriously. This allows harassment to escalate into retaliation. The EEOC takes retaliation very seriously because workers who speak up and speak out against unlawful discrimination should not be forced to endure more problems because they have done the right thing.”

Preceding provided by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission


FIRST AMENDMENT CASES

Appeals Court lets decision stand declaring Ten Commandments display as unconstitutional

DENVER (Press Release) — In a 6-to-6 decision, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit Thursday narrowly decided not to review a three-judge panel’s determination that a Ten Commandments display at the Haskell County, Oklahoma, Courthouse is unconstitutional. Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund plan to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Americans shouldn’t be forced to abandon their religious heritage simply to appease someone’s political agenda,” said ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot on Friday.“As some of the dissenting justices pointed out, the three-judge panel’s decision is in conflict with both the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal appellate courts. There is no difference between this Ten Commandments display and the one at the Texas state capitol that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court nearly five years ago.”

The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit to have the monument removed on behalf of a man who claims he was offended by it. In August 2006, a federal district court judge ruled that the presence of the Ten Commandments monument on the Haskell County Courthouse lawn was constitutional. The courthouse lawn area also includes memorials to veterans of World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War; an Unmarked Graves monument; a Choctaw Indian Tribe Monument; as well as numerous other items commemorating significant events. The ACLU then appealed the decision to a three-judge panel of the 10th Circuit, which reversed the district court’s ruling in June. ADF attorneys appealed to the full court for review.

Preceding provided by Alliance Defense Fund


American Humanist Assn. urges Supreme Court to declare cross
in Mojave unconstitutional

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)-- The American Humanist Association filed a friend of the court brief Friday with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Salazar v. Buono in support of Respondent Frank Buono. The case will determine whether a Christian cross may remain atop Sunrise Rock in the Mojave National Preserve in California.

"A cross has no place on public land, and that doesn't change when Congress sells off the narrow portion of land on which the cross rests to a private party yet retains control over it as a so-called war memorial," said Bob Ritter, Legal Coordinator of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center. "A reasonable observer would continue to believe that the cross in the middle of the Preserve--that is ninety-five percent owned by the government--still gives the appearance of government endorsement of Christianity.”

After a district court ordered the removal of the cross on federal property in the California desert, Congress authorized the exchange of land the cross sits on to the Veterans of Foreign Wars for other land privately held in the Preserve. They also designated the cross as a war memorial. As the 9th circuit observed, Congress left “a little donut hole of land with a cross in the midst of a vast federal preserve.”

"This is a clear violation of the establishment clause," continued Ritter. "Under Court precedent, government may not prefer one religion over another, or religion over nonreligion. Here, government has done both."

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in the case on October 7th. The brief was signed on to by several organizations, including The American Ethical Union, Atheist Alliance International, Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, Secular Student Alliance and the Society for Humanistic Judaism.

Preceding provided by the American Humanist Association

 

Maccabi Haifa re-signs Davon Jefferson to Israel basketball

AVENTURA, Florida – The Maccabi Haifa professional basketball team, the Israeli Premier League runner up, announced last Monday they have re-signed superstar forward Davon Jefferson to a one-year contract.

Jefferson, 22, earned the League’s Sixth Man Award after finishing his first professional season in Israel averaging 16.7 points and 7.9 rebounds in 28 games.  Jefferson, who averaged a double-double (19.8 ppg, 10.1 rpg) in the team’s last seven playoff games, became a dominant presence on the court earning the reputation as one of the league’s most impressive dunkers.

“I’m very happy to return to Maccabi Haifa.  I truly felt at home here in Israel and I want to help this team go even further this year,” said Jefferson.

“Davon was a key to our offense last season,” said Coach Avi Ashkenazi.  “His tremendous work ethic, desire to win, and explosive offensive ability makes him one of the most dynamic players in Israel. “

Jefferson, a native of Lynwood, California, played his collegiate ball at the University of Southern California with current NBA-star O.J. Mayo, before leaving school to play overseas after his freshman season.

“We are very pleased to bring Davon back to Haifa,” said owner Jeffrey Rosen.  “It was a pleasure to watch Davon hone his skills over the course of the season to become a force in the Israeli Premier League. Davon’s signing is a statement that Maccabi Haifa will again endeavor to earn a Final Four appearance this upcoming season.”

The Jefferson signing marks Maccabi Haifa’s first major off-season acquisition coming off of a Cinderella-like season this past year, earning an appearance in both the State Cup Finals and League Championship game against Maccabi Tel Aviv. 

Preceding provided by Maccabi Haifa