Shorts: U.S.

Swastika burned into family lawn

new york (jta) | A swastika was burned into the lawn of a Jewish family in a city near Atlanta. Accompanying the swastika near Ginger Ragans' house in Lawrenceville, Ga., was the word "fascist."

In addition, toilet paper was thrown on her trees and someone urinated and defecated on the family porch, the Associated Press reported. Ragans said she believes the act is retaliation for her work as a community watchdog who recently mentioned in a newsletter that teens were caught out after curfew.




Controversial circumcision ritual defended

new york (jta) | Fervently religious officials are refusing to abandon a ritual circumcision practice that may have led to the death of an infant. The officials stood firm despite months of meetings with New York City health officials, the New York Times reported.

Health officials believe three New York-area newborns contracted herpes, one of them fatally, from the practice of metzitzah b'peh, in which the mohel places his mouth directly on the wound. "The Orthodox Jewish community will continue the practice that has been practiced for over 5,000 years," said Rabbi David Niederman of the United Jewish Organization in Brooklyn, after meeting with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "We do not change. And we will not change.'