U.S. Report

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The activist arm of the Reform Jewish movement applauded the Senate for supporting domestic partner benefits in the District of Columbia that ended a nine-year ban on local funding for domestic partner benefits that would allow insurance benefits, hospital visitation rights and bereavement leave for same-sex partners.

Following last week's decision, the Religious Action Center sent a letter to state governors encouraging them to follow the lead of California Gov. Gray Davis and publicly support domestic partnership benefits for gays and lesbians.

"Jewish tradition teaches us that we are all created in the image of God (b'tselem Elohim). Each of us is uniquely capable of working to repair the world, and thus inherently valuable. It is in this spirit that as a nation, we celebrate our diversity and insist on equality for all," the letter said.

Post-Sept. 11, Jews sought support at shul

NEW YORK (JTA) -- American Jews turned to synagogues more than any other Jewish institutions after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Wilstein Institute for Jewish Studies, a plurality of Jews -- 45 percent -- did not go to any Jewish institution for support.

But the survey found that 38 percent said they sought solace in a synagogue, 4 percent at a Jewish federation, 3 percent at a Jewish school and 3 percent through a Jewish social service agency.