U.S. Report

BOSTON (JTA) -- Two Orthodox groups filed a court brief against same-sex marriages.

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and Agudath Israel of America filed the brief in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts against judicial recognition of same-sex marriages.

The friend of the court brief supports the state of Massachusetts' view of "marriage in its traditional form."

U.S. seeks to deport Fla. man for genocide

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- U.S. officials are seeking to deport a Florida man for allegedly helping to murder thousands of Jews in World War II.

The Department of Justice's Nazi-hunting unit, the Office of Special Investigations, filed charges on Dec, 19 alleging that Vytautas Gecas, 80, of Sunny Hills, Fla., served in the Second Lithuanian Schutzmannschaft Battalion that killed thousands of Jews and others in mass shootings in both Lithuania and Byelorussia during the war.

Gecas made his way to England after the war. He came to Chicago in 1962, claiming he had been a student during the war.

Rashi auction makes thousands

NEW YORK (JTA) -- A 15th-century Bible commentary fetched more than $400,000 at an auction.

The Rashi Commentary to the Pentateuch, which belonged to Jews College, London, went for $434,000 at the Dec. 17 auction. Rashi, who lived from 1040 to 1105, is considered the premier commentator on the Bible and Talmud.