Shorts: U.S.

Conservative head chastises Shas rabbi for Katrina remark

new york (jta) | The Conservative movement chastised a leading Israeli rabbi for saying Hurricane Katrina was divine punishment for Israel's Gaza Strip withdrawal. Rabbi Jerome Epstein, executive vice president and CEO of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, wrote to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, spiritual head of the Shas Party and a former Israeli chief rabbi, that he was astounded by his commentary.

"God gave the Torah to humanity with the hope that we would live by it and interpret it intelligently," Epstein said. "For you to speak with such certainty about what God wants is arrogance. To attempt to convince others of the truth of your interpretation is irresponsible."

In his weekly sermon Sept. 7, Yosef claimed that Katrina "was God's retribution" for U.S. pressure on Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip. Noting that many of the hurricane's victims were African American, he also suggested they were punished for being irreligious. The Reform movement and several American Jewish groups also have criticized Yosef's comments.




President Bush at D.C. synagogue

washington (jta) | President Bush had been expected to make his first visit to an American synagogue as the nation's leader.

Bush was scheduled to tour the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 14, after j.'s press time before speaking at a dinner commemorating the 350th anniversary of Jewish life in America. Bush was to tour the synagogue and view a Torah rescued from the Dachau concentration camp, White House officials said.




Jewish lawyers start a court blog

washington (jta) | A group of conservative Jewish lawyers launched a blog on U.S. Supreme Court nominations and confirmation hearings.

The blog, entitled "Judge and Jewry: Above the Din," was launched last week by Jeff Ballabon of the Center for Jewish Values, a politically conservative think tank, and other Jewish lawyers. Ballabon said in the inaugural posting that judicial nominations are the "most significant Jewish issue in American politics."

Judge John Roberts is appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week for hearings on his nomination as chief justice of the United States. President Bush will name a successor to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor later this fall.




Appeals court rules for survivors

washington (jta) | A U.S. appeals court upheld a ruling that allows part of the money from a Holocaust settlement to be distributed based on need.

The ruling issued last week confirmed Judge Edward Korman's ruling that the portion of the $1.25 billion Swiss banks settlement set aside for individual survivors should be weighted to survivors living in the former Soviet Union because they are needier.




Air Force revamps chapels in Europe

washington (jta) | The Air Force is to unveil separate chapels for Jewish and Muslim servicemen and women at its main European base in Germany.

The synagogue and Muslim prayer room in Ramstein were created alongside the base's interfaith South Chapel. The synagogue is to open with a ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Rabbi David Lapp, the director of the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council, and Rabbi Donald Levy, the base's only Jewish chaplain, will officiate at the Jewish ceremony. Some 50,000 Americans are stationed in and around Ramstein.

According to Levy, about 60 worshipers are expected to attend High Holy Day services at the base.




Jewish groups bring Protestants to Israel

new york (jta) | Two American Jewish groups announced plans to bring mainline Protestant leaders to Israel.

Thirteen Protestant leaders will participate in an "Institute in Israel," beginning nest week, sponsored by the United Jewish Communities federation umbrella group and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. Several mainline Protestant groups have resolved to divest from American companies that deal with Israel's military.