Donald H. Harrison

Iran’s Human Rights Council secretary-general says stoning an important deterrent

NEW YORK (WJC)–Mohammad Javad Larijani, the secretary-general of Iran’s Human Rights Council, has defended the practice of stoning people. Larijani said in New York that the sentence had not been carried out applied for years because of a moratorium, but added that it served as an important deterrent. “More than 50 percent [of people] may […]

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Travel and Food

Jewish groups denounce initiative in San Francisco to ban circumcision

SAN FRANCISCO (WJC)–Jewish organizations have condemned a proposal to outlaw ritual circumcision of minors in San Francisco. The Anti-Defamation League, the SFJewish Community Relations Council, the Board of Rabbis of Northern California and the American Jewish Committee together issued a statement expressing “great concern” about the proposed initiative by a San Francisco resident, which would

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USA

Obama pushing peace treaty, whatever the consequences to Israel

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — During the Bush administration, an envoy was sent to ask what it would take for Israel to feel secure if a Palestinian state was established without a peace treaty with Israel. He had incentives in his pocket. The Israelis turned him down because without a treaty that addressed Israel’s

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen

Is 90-day construction freeze agreement unraveling?

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Let’s start with the bad news. For the good news, you’ll have to look elsewhere. A week ago things were looking pretty good. The prime minister reported that the Americans were offering, as an inducement for a 90-day construction freeze in the West Bank, 20 F-35 advanced military planes, free of charge,

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

‘Deathtrap’: Audiences will laugh themselves to ….

By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO — Ira Levin’s 1978 play Deathtrap was the longest running comedy-thriller on Broadway. It ran four years with over 1800 performances. Not bad for a non-musical. But everyone loves a good mystery, and Levin gives us that. If you are like the rest of us who sneak a peek at

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Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Obama’s order on faith-based initiatives stirs support, opposition

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)— In response to President Obama’s Executive Order concerning federally funded partnerships between the government and faith-based and neighborhood organizations, Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and member of the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, released the following statement: “We welcome today’s executive

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USA

ADL applauds court decision permitting mosque in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The Interfaith Coalition on Mosques (ICOM) on Thursday welcomed the decision of a Murfreesboro, Tenn., judge that turned back a meritless attempt to block the construction of a mosque. Chancellor Robert Corlew III rejected claims that the city planning commission had acted inappropriately in granting the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro permission to

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USA

Two ‘Musicians in the Making’ to perform at LFJCC Nov. 21

By Eileen Wingard  LA JOLLA, California– This Sunday afternoon, Nov. 21 at 2:00 p.m., two talented young musicians from our community will be presenting the first program of “Musicians In the Making” at the Lawrence Family JCC in the Astor Judaica Library. It is sponsored by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture’s Music Series Committee

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San Diego Calendar, San Diego County

Nazi website based in Iran runs through server in Arizona

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Is Iran’s government sponsoring an Internet site that extols the German Nazis, their history and achievements, including the antisemitism that the current Iranian regime also supports? Or is it merely permitting one to operate in a highly censored communications’ system? Here are the facts. There is a discussion group site entitled IranNazi that

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International, USA

U.S. reportedly insists Israel include East Jerusalem in construction freeze

JERUSALEM (WJC)–As part of a planned 90-day settlement freeze, the United States is reportedly demanding that Israel refrain from construction not only in the West Bank but also in the eastern part of Jerusalem. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to win their support, ministers of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party have said they would

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Middle East