Shorts: U.S.

Hate crime imposter sentenced

los angeles (jta) | A professor who vandalized her own car with anti-Semitic graffiti, then blamed the act on others, was sentenced to a year in jail.

Kerri Dunn, a former visiting assistant professor at Claremont McKenna College, was ordered to pay the college $19,500 for extra security measures taken after the fake crime.

After Dunn's initial report, the local community responded with sit-ins, teach-ins and rallies. After investigation, however, police found two witnesses who said they saw Dunn vandalizing her own car.




Orthodox defend prison worship

washington (jta) | The Orthodox Union joined an evangelical organization in defending the right of a group of allegedly racist prisoners to worship.

The Orthodox Union and the National Association of Evangelicals filed a friend of the court brief with the Supreme Court this week in a case pitting the state of Ohio against three prisoners who seek worship rights in prison.

The state claims the prisoners want to use the worship for racist activities, but the Orthodox Union said the decision violates the prisoners' constitutional rights.




Judge orders Christmas display

miami (jta) | A federal judge ruled that a Florida town must display Christian decorations alongside a Jewish display.

Town leaders in Bay Harbor Islands rejected Sondra Snowdon's repeated requests since 2001 to display nativity scenes alongside a giant menorah and multiple stars of David. District Court Judge Cecilia Altonaga ruled earlier this month that the town is favoring Judaism by displaying its menorah next to a toll bridge.

The town must now write Snowdon and tell her how it plans to include Christian symbols in the same display.




Herzl honored in New York

new york (jta) | Diplomats from four nations honored the father of Zionism in New York City.

At a ceremony this week marking the centenary of Theodor Herzl's death, Park East Synagogue hosted the officials from Israel, the realization of Herzl's dream; Hungary, where he was born; and Austria, where he studied and worked.

Herzl's "whole life serves as a solid testimony for all against the evil and the inhuman; silence and inaction will not be an alternative," said the Hungarian consul, Gabor Horvath.