World News
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Anti-vaccine protest planned for Orthodox health event in Brooklyn
(New York Jewish Week) — A conference for Orthodox medical professionals that aims to improve healthcare literacy in the community is drawing backlash from anti-vaccine activists, who are also planning a protest. The conference, set to take place at a hotel in the heavily Hasidic Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg, will cover a broad range of…
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Israeli minister charged with fighting antisemitism: Elon Musk is ‘an amazing entrepreneur and a role model’
(JTA) — Israel’s foreign minister disavowed his ministry’s condemnation of Elon Musk for saying progressive Jewish megadonor George Soros “hates humanity.” Now, a second Israeli minister — this time the one in charge of the government’s efforts to combat antisemitism — has gone further in in defending Musk, whose Soros comments have been condemned by…
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Mayor of Missouri town apologizes after saying trash collectors are ‘not trying to Jew anybody’
(JTA) – The mayor of a Missouri town has apologized for saying a local trash company is “not trying to Jew anybody” at a recent public meeting, writing in an open letter that the remark was “not in keeping with the beliefs and values” of the town. Stephen Wright, the mayor of Odessa, made the…
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‘Fauda’ creators debut ‘Ghosts of Beirut,’ Showtime series about Mossad’s killing of master terrorist
(JTA) — A new Showtime series from the creators of “Fauda” chronicles the exploits of one of the Middle East’s most infamous terrorists and the joint CIA-Mossad operation that eventually led to his death. “Ghosts of Beirut,” a four-episode series that begins streaming for Showtime subscribers on Friday but premieres on air Sunday night, dramatizes…
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Right-wing Flag March in Jerusalem’s Old City features arrests, racist chants
(JTA) — At a right-wing parade celebrating Jerusalem Day, police arrested both participants and protesters, while marchers assaulted Palestinians and once again chanted racist slogans. The parade is an annual event that takes thousands of mostly religious Jewish marchers through Jerusalem’s Old City, including its Muslim Quarter. It celebrates the reunification of Israel’s capital following…
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Following jury selection, Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial to begin May 30
(JTA) — The trial of the alleged shooter in the Pittsburgh synagogue attack is slated to begin May 30. Jury selection for the federal trial began last month and is expected to end next week, according to the Pittsburgh Union Progress, a local publication, and the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, which are jointly covering the trial.…
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Austrian police charge 2 men after Hitler speech plays on public train’s loudspeakers
(JTA) — Austrian authorities are searching for two men suspected of blaring a recording of Hitler’s voice and a series of “Heil Hitler” and “Sieg Heil” chants on a public train for about 20 minutes on Sunday night. Vienna’s chief rabbi was on the train and told CNN that the recording started with “strange music,…
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London firefighters scold British synagogue for lighting holiday bonfire indoors
(JTA) — London’s fire and rescue service gave a statement reminding Jewish congregations to keep holiday bonfires outdoors after the city’s Jewish News outlet shared video of a synagogue celebrating Lag B’Omer with an indoor fire last week. The video showed a fire raging inside Beis Medrash Beis Shmuel, a haredi Orthodox synagogue in Golders…
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In Queens, a Jewish mourning ritual inspires a performance about memory
(New York Jewish Week) — What happens to the places that are no more? To the people who have died? To the events that meant so much but cannot ever reoccur? Is there a way to bring the intangible power of vanished spaces into the physical world? On Friday, May 19, dancers, musicians, orators and…
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Tunisian president pledges security for Jews after synagogue shooting and controversial comments
(JTA) — Tunisia’s president met with the country’s chief rabbi and pledged to protect Tunisian Jews and their houses of worship on Wednesday, just over a week after a deadly synagogue shooting rattled the local Jewish community and raised questions about their security. Kais Saied had also drawn scrutiny over comments he made last weekend,…
