Here in Chicago, a decades-long shandeh may finally be coming to an end: US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald announced today that former Police Commander Jon Burge (above) has been arrested and charged with two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury for denying his department tortured suspects in their custody.
According to witness allegations, Burge led [...]
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Finally, Justice in Chicago
Posted in Civil Rights, Human Rights, News, Torture on October 22, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Basketball Diplomacy
Posted in Current Events, Iran, Israel, News, Politics, Politics/Middle East on August 11, 2008 | 1 Comment »
For me, the first truly inspiring news from the Beijing Summer Olympics had nothing to do with athletic achievement. It occurred when David Blatt, the Israeli coach of the Russian basketball team made a point of shaking the hands with and embracing the captain of the Iranian team after a game.
The American-born Blatt [...]
Did Ya Hear the One About the Hagbah Who Sued the Gabbai?
Posted in News, Religion on June 15, 2008 | 2 Comments »
This just in: a Tennessee man is suing his church for $2.5 million, claiming that someone should have been there to catch him when he fell backwards in religious ecstasy:
(Matthew) Lincoln alleges that Lakewind (Church) and its pastors were “negligent in not supervising the catchers to be sure that they stood behind the person being [...]
Shande on Michigan Ave.
Posted in Current Events, Judaism, Labor, News, Religion on June 13, 2008 | 4 Comments »
I spent my afternoon yesterday with 1,000 other demonstrators in front of the Congress Park Hotel on Chicago’s Michigan Ave. - the site of the longest ongoing labor strike in the country. Marking the fifth anniversary of the strike, it was certainly the largest labor demonstration this city has seen in some time.
Some shameful stats: [...]
Reconciliation in Austrailia
Posted in Current Events, Human Rights, Interfaith, Judaism, News, Religion on February 13, 2008 | No Comments »
According to a fascinating article in the JTA, the recent Austrailian government apology to the Aboriginal ”Stolen Generation” was facilitated largely by the efforts of the Austrailian Jewish community.
In a statement, Rabbi Mordechai Gutnick, the president of the Organization of Rabbis of Australia, said:
Our faith teaches and emphasizes the universal principles of coexistence and respect for human [...]
Emergency in Tabasco
Posted in Current Events, Global Activism, International Aid, News on November 13, 2007 | 1 Comment »
An enormous humanitarian crisis continues to unfold south of the border. Since the beginning of November, the state of Tabasco, Mexico has been hit by widespread flooding due to steady rains - currently, more than 80% of the state is completely flooded, leaving thousands homeless.
Recent reports from the Red Cross indicate:
- [...]
A Teenage Blueprint for Peace
Posted in Coexistence, Israel, News, Palestine, Peace, Politics/Middle East on August 29, 2007 | No Comments »
More inspirational news on the co-existence front - this in today from the European Jewish Press:
HELSINKI (AFP) - Israeli and Palestinian teenagers, meeting in Finland, put their names Wednesday to their own blueprint for Middle East peace, one that envisions two separate states and the eradication of terrorism.
Inspired by the international diplomatic roadmap that [...]
Inherent Dignity
Posted in Children's Rights, Civil Rights, Current Events, Genocide, Human Rights, News, Poverty on June 19, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Another anniversary I can’t let slip by unnoticed: on this day fifty-nine years ago, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights adopted its Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I know, I know: it’s a controversial document, it’s non-binding, the UN has left unfulfilled its promise on human rights, blah, blah, blah…
I don’t want to hear it. [...]
It Was 40 Years Ago, Today…
Posted in Israel, News, Palestine, Politics, Rock and Roll, Zionism on June 3, 2007 | 3 Comments »
Anyone notice the the media is currently overflowing with reminiscences, analyses, etc. about two very different milestones that are marking their forty year anniversary this month? I’m referring, of course, to the Six Day War (June 5, 1967) and the release of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (June 1, 1967). Indeed, it’s [...]
Bilaam’s Folly and the Evangelical Right
Posted in Interfaith, Iran, Israel, Judaism, News, Palestine, Peace, Politics, Politics/Middle East, Religion, Religion/Politics, Torah Commentary, Zionism on June 29, 2007 | 2 Comments »
In this week’s Torah portion, Balak, King of the Moabites sends for Bilaam, a sorcerer-type who is reputed to have remarkable powers: whomever he blesses becomes blessed and whomever he curses becomes cursed. Impressed by his reputation, Balak recruits Bilaam to curse the Israelites and seal their doom.
What ensues is brilliant Biblical satire. Bilaam sets [...]
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