International

Gay Israeli Celebs Decry State Opposition to Same-Sex Adoption

by Andrew Tobin, JTA | Jul 20, 2017 | International, Israel, News, Politics

TEL AVIV (JTA) – Israel may pride itself on being an oasis of LGBT tolerance in the otherwise hostile Middle East, but many gay citizens are less than wowed. On Sunday, the government came out in favor of effectively preventing adoption by same-sex couples. Responding...

Anti-Semitic Crime Rose 44 Percent in Britain Since 2014, Audit Finds

by JTA | Jul 17, 2017 | International, News

(JTA) — Anti-Semitic crime in the United Kingdom rose 44 percent in the past two years, according to a new audit released by the Campaign Against Antisemitism. The 2016 National Antisemitic Crime Audit registered a total of 1,078 anti-Semitic crimes in 2016. It found...

Alan Gross, After 5 Years in Cuban Prison, Starting Over in Israel

by Ron Kampeas, JTA | Jul 13, 2017 | Commentary, International, Israel, Maryland, News

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Alan Gross contacted me a couple of months ago over Facebook Messenger. There was something he thought I should know. I was pleasantly surprised. I’d only exchanged pleasantries with Gross in the several times I’d seen him since...

Baltimore Wrestler Wins Gold at International Games in Israel

by Jeff Seidel | Jul 11, 2017 | Baltimore, College Sports, International, Israel, Local, Maryland, National, News, Sports

Owings Mills native Jack Mutchnik won a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling yesterday, July 10, at the 20th World Maccabiah Games in Israel. A red-shirt junior (third-year of varsity competition) at American University who wrestled at his alma mater, St. Paul’s...

Athletes Come for Love and Glory at the 2017 Maccabiah Games

by Hillel Kuttler, JTA | Jul 6, 2017 | International, Israel, News, Sports

RAMAT GAN, Israel (JTA) – Danny Janel first noticed Allison Silfen’s smile in July 2013. They were hanging out with other athletes in a hotel room a few evenings after arriving in Israel. He was smitten. She had already noticed him on the flight over. Half asleep,...

British Rabbis Want Peer Fired for Pro-Homosexuality Comments

by JTA | Jul 3, 2017 | International, News

(JTA) — A group of rabbis in London are calling for the country’s top Sephardi rabbi to be fired over his comments welcoming growing acceptances of homosexuality. Rabbi Joseph Dweck, who serves as senior rabbi at London’s S&P Sephardi Community, came under fire...

Basketball ‘Junkie’ Heading to Israel for International Competition

by Jeff Seidel | Jun 30, 2017 | International, Israel, Local, Maryland, News, Sports

Over the years, Eric R. Abel has endured quite a few tough injuries while playing basketball, a game he truly loves. The Owings Mills resident has torn the ACL in both of his knees and dealt with a torn Achilles tendon in his right foot. But Abel, who turns 49 on July...

Suspension of Western Wall Deal Leaves Jewish Leaders Feeling Betrayed

by Ben Sales, JTA | Jun 26, 2017 | International, Israel, News, Politics

(JTA) —They’ve tried strongly worded statements. They’ve tried private meetings with the prime minister. They’ve tried negotiations, protest and prayer. But for the past five years, despite broad internal consensus and consistent pressure, the American Jewish...

Otto Warmbier’s Family Hid his Jewishness

by JTA | Jun 22, 2017 | International, News

(JTA) — The family of Otto Warmbier, the University of Virginia student imprisoned by North Korea who died after being sent back comatose to the United States, hid his Jewishness from the public as negotiations for his release took place, a family spokesman said....

Pope Francis Names Two Rabbis to Pontifical Academy of Life

by JTA | Jun 19, 2017 | International, News

(JTA) — Two rabbis, one from Israel and one from Argentina, were appointed by Pope Francis to the Pontifical Academy of Life, the first time rabbis have been invited to be members. Pope Francis appointed 45 new ordinary members and five honorary members to the...