Shorts: U.S.

Justice Department criticized over AIPAC case

washington (jta) | The Senate Judiciary Committee slammed the Justice Department for its broad interpretation of a 90-year-old statute used to indict two former pro-Israel lobbyists.

The department is basing its classified information leak case against Steve Rosen, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's former foreign policy director, and Keith Weissman, its former Iran analyst, on a 1917 statute that criminalizes the receipt of classified information. The statute had never been used until last year's indictment.

In a hearing Tuesday, June 6, a bipartisan slate of senators on the committee said they were especially concerned by prosecutors' statements that the statute could be used against journalists in the future.




Minnesota Democrat apologizes for link to Nation of Islam

minneapolis (jta) | State Rep. Keith Ellison, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress, acknowledged in a May 28 letter to the local Jewish Community Relations Council that he failed to scrutinize the positions of the Nation of Islam and its leader, the Rev. Louis Farrakhan, during his association with the group for about 18 months in the mid-1990s.

Ellison, who is considered a favorite to win the congressional seat in November, would become the first Muslim ever elected to Congress. He admitted that he "wrongly dismissed concerns that [the Nation of Islam] were anti-Semitic."




New York parade salutes Israel

new york (jta) | Tens of thousands of marchers and top local politicians participated in the Salute to Israel Parade in New York City on Sunday, June 4.

The event marked the 58th anniversary of Israeli independence.

Rally organizers estimated the event attracted nearly 100,000 people, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine. Actress Tovah Feldshuh was the honorary grand marshal.




Liberal mikvahs growing in number

newton, mass. (jta) | The number of non-Orthodox Jewish ritual baths in North America is growing.

Most of the 20 or so mikvahs are less than 5 years old, according to organizers of "Reclaiming Mikveh," a three-day conference of clergy and educators that met this week in Newton, Mass. Almost all are affiliated with Reform and Conservative congregations, which are often blocked from using Orthodox-owned mikvahs.

The conference was sponsored by the Union for Reform Judaism's Northeast Council in partnership with 32 other local and national Jewish groups.