Shorts: U.S.

Resolution focuses on Jewish refugees

washington (jta) | Proposals introduced in Congress call for any legislative reference to Palestinian refugees to be matched by similar references to Jewish refugees.

The bipartisan resolutions, introduced May 25, were sponsored by four senators and four representatives, including Rep. Tom Lantos (D-San Mateo).

According to Justice for Jews from Arab Countries, an organization that seeks rights for Jews displaced from Arab lands, the number of Jewish refugees from Arab countries far surpasses the number of Palestinians who became refugees in 1948.




Groups gather aid for Indonesia

new york (jta) | Several Jewish groups set up funds to aid victims of the recent earthquake in Indonesia.

The American Jewish World Service, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and B'nai B'rith International are accepting donations for victims of the May 27 earthquake.

The AJWS and JDC are accepting donations through its Web sites http://www.ajws.org and http://www.jdc.org, respectively. B'nai B'rith is accepting checks to its general disaster relief fund, at B'nai B'rith International, 2020 K St. NW, 7th Floor, Washington D.C., 20006.




Holocaust victims still remain in Mormon database

salt lake city (ap) | Jewish leaders say there is new evidence that the names of Holocaust victims continue to show up in the Mormon church's vast genealogical database.

A cross-referencing of more than 1,500 Dutch Jews whose names should have been deleted from the church's International Genealogical Index remain in the database, said Ernest Michel, a Holocaust survivor and founding member of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors.

In 1995, Mormons signed an agreement with Jewish leaders that should have prevented the names of Holocaust victims from being added to the database.




Some Presbyterians challenge divestment

washington (jta) | A few U.S. Presbyterian leaders are challenging their church's policy of divesting from Israel.

Completing a five-day mission throughout Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank this week, a group of 11 Presbyterian leaders said the current policy of divesting the church's $7 billion pension fund from Israel is flawed and will call for the 2004 decision to be rescinded at a general assembly scheduled for later this month in Birmingham, Ala.




First U.S. female rabbi planning to retire

new york (jta) | The first woman ordained as a rabbi in the United States is retiring this month. Sally Priesand will give up her post at Monmouth Reform Temple in New Jersey. She was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1972.

"I didn't follow this course to become a pioneer or to champion women's rights," she recently told the New Jersey Jewish News. "I simply wanted to be a teacher of Judaism."




Top Democrat slams AIPAC prosecution

washington (jta) | The top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee questioned the statute used to prosecute two former AIPAC lobbyists.

The committee heard testimony last week on how to balance First Amendment protections with the need to stem leaks.

Rep. Jane Harman (D-Torrance), the ranking Democrat on the committee, singled out for criticism the prosecution of Steve Rosen, the former foreign policy director at American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and Keith Weissman, its former Iran analyst. Harman said the 1917 statute used in the case was too broad. It is the first time the statute has been used in a prosecution.




ADL blasts church group on Israel

new york (jta) | The Anti-Defamation League criticized the World Council of Churches last week for what the ADL called a one-sided statement against Israel.

The ADL said the council "needs a reality check" after criticizing Israel for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In its statement, the Geneva-based council, which includes more than 350 churches from around the world, called for a relaxation of sanctions on the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.




Ex-JDL board forms splinter group

The former leadership board of the Jewish Defense League has founded a militant splinter group.

The new organization — B'nai Elim (Sons of the Mighty) — announced plans "to conduct Jewish defense and intelligence operations in a fresh package."

Shelley Rubin, the widow of former JDL Chairman Irv Rubin, assumed leadership of the JDL. Rubin recently won a lawsuit against the former JDL board, which sought control over the group's intellectual property.