WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Donald Trump said it was time to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. “After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of… Read more »
News
Prominent pro-Israel donor pulls out of AIPAC conference after saying two Muslim lawmakers ‘clash’ with American values
![](https://cdn-15011.jigsawanalyticsgroup.cloud/20240223075605/3-19-19-adam-milstein-1024x791.jpg)
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Adam Milstein, a major pro-Israel funder, has withdrawn from speaking at the annual AIPAC policy conference following a series of tweets in which he accused two Muslim lawmakers of clashing with “American values.” The American Israel Public Affairs Committee distanced itself from Milstein. Milstein, the chairman… Read more »
Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue raises more than $40,000 for families of Christchurch mosque attack victims
(JTA) — The Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh is paying it forward. The congregation has raised more than $40,000 to support the victims and their families of the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand. “We feel compelled to come to the aid of those communities, just as our… Read more »
In focus 3.22.19: THA class wins blue ribbons at regional science fai
![](https://cdn-15011.jigsawanalyticsgroup.cloud/20240223075602/tha-class-science-award-in-focus-e1553204875238.jpg)
Students in Melissa Landau’s third-grade class at Tucson Hebrew Academy won a SARSEF first place Grand Award for their project at the Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation fair on March 7 in the animal and plant sciences category. The project, “Germination Station,” allowed students to use the… Read more »
People in the news 3.22.19
![](https://cdn-15011.jigsawanalyticsgroup.cloud/20240223075608/anna-howe-our-town-460x460.jpg)
Anna Howe will play the role of Mary Lennox in Arts Express’ production of “The Secret Garden,” March 22-31 at the Berger Performing Arts Center. Howe, a sixth-grader at Orange Grove Middle School, is a former Tucson Hebrew Academy student. Howe began performing with Kids Unlimited when she was… Read more »
Business briefs 3.22.19
![](https://cdn-15011.jigsawanalyticsgroup.cloud/20240223075609/Paul-Patterson_CMYK.jpg)
The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona has hired Paul Patterson as a community security consultant. His office is located at the Harvey and Deanna Evenchik Center for Jewish Philanthropy, but he is available to synagogues and Jewish agencies and organizations throughout the community. Patterson, a 23-year veteran of law… Read more »
Israel ranked 10th healthiest country in world
Israel is the 10th healthiest country in the world — 54 spots ahead of the United States. The Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, published Feb. 24, ranked 169 nations based on factors such as life expectancy and access to sanitation and medical care. Countries were penalized for tobacco use and… Read more »
Brexit is pushing Jews to seek passports from countries that persecuted their ancestors
![](https://cdn-15011.jigsawanalyticsgroup.cloud/20240223075612/03-15-19-Michael-Newman-jewish-refugees-uk-1024x775.jpg)
(JTA) — Portugal used to be little more than a sunny holiday destination to Adam Perry, a 46-year-old Londoner who works in procurement. But following the United Kingdom’s 2016 vote to leave the European Union, Perry, who is a Sephardic Jew, applied for citizenship in the Iberian nation. Since… Read more »
Tucson Board of Rabbis reacts to shooting of Muslim worshippers in New Zealand
The Tucson Board of Rabbis sent an email message to community members March 15 via the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona. It reads: A Message from The Tucson Board of Rabbis on the Horrific Shootings of Muslim Worshipers in New Zealand To our community members, The attacks at the Al Noor… Read more »
Pitzer College president says he’ll ignore faculty’s vote to end Haifa study program
(JTA) – Faculty at California’s Pitzer College voted in favor of suspending its study abroad program in Israel, but the institution’s president said he would ignore their motion. Thursday’s non-binding recommendation by faculty at the college governing body was spearheaded by proponents of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement… Read more »
Israel strikes dozens of Hamas targets in response to rockets fired on Tel Aviv
(JTA) — Israel struck dozens of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to the firing of several rockets into the Tel Aviv area. Sirens alerted residents that rockets were coming into the area just after 9 p.m. local time on Thursday. Hours later, Israeli aircraft carried out… Read more »
New Zealand Jews ‘sickened’ by mosque shootings that killed 49
(JTA) — Jewish groups from New Zealand and beyond expressed their horror at the slaying of at least 49 people at two mosques in Christchurch Friday. The New Zealand Jewish Council is ”sickened and devastated” by the attacks, in which at least one armed individual killed dozens of people… Read more »
Why these 2 nice Jewish girls are skipping school on Friday
![](https://cdn-15011.jigsawanalyticsgroup.cloud/20240223075611/3-14-19-two-nice-jewish-girls-1024x768.jpeg)
(JTA) – We are Jewish middle-school students, and we are extremely worried about climate change. This is why we, along with other students around the country, are protesting the government’s refusal to act on this important issue by skipping or walking out of school on Friday, March 15. While… Read more »
On this Spanish island, Purim used to be the biggest holiday for persecuted Jews
![](https://cdn-15011.jigsawanalyticsgroup.cloud/20240223075612/3-12-19-Mallorca-Spain-Tu-bShvat-1024x683.jpg)
PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain (JTA) — On this island south of Barcelona, Jews celebrate Purim these days pretty much as they do most anywhere else in Europe. There’s the reading of the Book of Esther at the small synagogue near the marina, followed by a costume party bringing together… Read more »
Donald Trump says Jews are leaving the Democrats. Are they?
![](https://cdn-15011.jigsawanalyticsgroup.cloud/20240223075613/3-12-2019-Donald-Trump-1024x571.jpg)
WASHINGTON (JTA) — The House hearing was about foreign aid, and almost as soon as it started it took a political turn: The most powerful congressional appropriator was asking one of Washington’s most influential lobbyists about bipartisanship. “What in your view would be the consequence of making Israel a… Read more »
A Jewish comedian is the front-runner in Ukraine’s presidential vote
(JTA) — Ukraine’s presidential elections is shaping up to be a case of life imitating art. The leading candidate in the March 31 vote is Volodymyr Zelensky, a Ukrainian-Jewish comedian who portrays a history teacher turned president in his hit television show “Servant of the People.” Polls conducted throughout… Read more »
Belgium Jewish museum killer sentenced to life in prison
(JTA) — The French Muslim extremist convicted of murdering four people in a terrorist attack at the Jewish Museum of Belgium in 2014 was sentenced to life in prison. Mehdi Nemmouche, 33, was convicted last week for the 2014 attack that left four dead, including two Israeli tourists. He… Read more »
Police close Temple Mount after firebomb thrown at officers
JERUSALEM (JTA) — All entrances and exits to the Temple Mount were closed by Israel Police after a firebomb was thrown at a police outpost at the site. The police said in a statement Tuesday afternoon following the attack that one of the suspects was identified and detained. Dozens… Read more »
Trump touts new Republican group, ‘Jexodus,’ urging Jews to bolt Democratic Party
WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Donald Trump promoted on his Twitter feed a group founded by Republicans that hopes to draw young Jews away from the Democratic Party. “‘Jewish people are leaving the Democratic Party,’” Trump said Tuesday morning on his feed, quoting Elizabeth Pipko, a spokeswoman for “Jexodus,” who appeared… Read more »
Pope Francis praises role of women in meeting with Jewish delegation
(JTA) — Pope Francis used an audience with the American Jewish Committee to praise the role of women in the world and renew his longstanding condemnation of anti-Semitism. In the private audience Friday – International Women’s Day – he highlighted the “irreplaceable contribution of women in building a world… Read more »