Shorts: World

German Jews to welcome pope

berlin (jta) | Jews in Cologne, Germany, are preparing to welcome the pope.

Pope Benedict XVI is slated to be a guest of the Cologne Synagogue on Friday, Aug. 19 during the Catholic Church's World Youth Day celebrations in that city.

Local Jewish leaders see the historic visit of the German-born pope as proof of his commitment to interfaith relations and say they're not troubled by recent tensions over his failure to deplore terrorism against Israel.

"This disharmony between Rome and Jerusalem doesn't overshadow the visit," the Cologne Jewish community board member Abraham Lehrer said. "We are very happy and proud that he is coming." The pope will pause at the synagogue's Holocaust memorial before joining Rabbi Natanael Teitelbaum on the dais. Their chairs made especially for this occasion will be auctioned off afterward, with 30 percent of the proceeds going to benefit the Jewish community.




Anti-Semitic politician to be expelled from political party in Germany

berlin (jta) | A politician who said "one should not give the Jews so much money" will be kicked out of a German political party.

Expulsion proceedings are under way for Wolfgang Schmitt, 68, a district leader for the Electoral Alternative Work and Social Justice Party, which recently joined forces with the former Communist party for upcoming national elections.

Schmitt refused to distance himself from his anti-Jewish statement, which had been reported in a local newspaper. Such statements are nothing new for the politician, who three years ago complained about federal support for the rebuilding of synagogues in Germany.




Park close to Toronto removes neo-Nazi merchandise from shelves

toronto (jta) | An amusement park near Toronto drew praise from B'nai B'rith Canada for recently pulling merchandise with neo-Nazi symbols from its shelves.

Wonderland was "most responsive" once they were alerted to the fact, according to Frank Dimant, the executive vice president of B'nai Brith Canada.

"Wonderland, which projects a wholesome family image, once apprised of the problem, chose not to offer for sale symbols of hate favored by neo-Nazis and other gangs," he said. "We applaud the strong corporate responsibility and good citizenship that the park has shown."