2010-08-27

Community flocks to Tampa synagogue’s fund-raising project



Flocks of flamingos are roosting on lawns in Tampa, but instead of having the pink-feathered kind, they are the plastic lawn ornament kind that many Floridians love to hate. And the plan is for them to keep cropping up until Congregation Kol Ami raises $10,000. Kol Ami’s Fundraising Chair Samantha Wallace said the congregation got the idea from United Synagogue […]

HERMAN MAYER PAIKOWSKY,



HERMAN MAYER PAIKOWSKY, 82, of Clearwater, died Aug. 17. A native of New York City, NY, he lived in Vermont before moving here more than 35 years ago. He was a graduate of the University of Vermont and did graduate work at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He worked as an inventory control manager for the Eckerd Corporation. He […]

Jerusalem trains could have segregated cars



JERUSALEM (JTA) —The head of the company developing Jerusalem’s light rail system said there could be gender-segregated cars to accommodate Jerusalem’s Haredi Orthodox community. “I think it is required to create alternatives for everyone… It is not a problem to declare every third or fourth car a mehadrin [kosher] car,” CityPass CEO Yair Naveh said. Opponent Jerusalem city council member […]

In a first, Israelis to serve on U.N. force



JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli police delegation will leave for Haiti to serve as part of a U.N. multinational force, marking the first time Israelis will serve on a U.N. force. The 14 police officers attended a ceremony at the Western Wall on Aug. 23 ahead of their scheduled departure. The delegation constitutes the first-ever Israeli group to serve in […]

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks lineup: Who’s coming to dinner at the White House?



WASHINGTON — The White House dinner on Sept. 1, prior to the official launch of renewed Palestinian-Israeli talks, will be key to outlining the contours of the negotiations. “The dinner will help to restore trust,” Dennis Ross, the Obama administration’s top Iran policy official, said in a conference call with Jewish organizational leaders. Unless, that is, it turns into a […]

JNF regional leader to appear at local events



The Jewish National Fund’s Southeast Region co-president will make several stops in the Tampa Bay area on Sept. 21. Lauren Mescon, a resident of Columbus, GA and formerly of Atlanta, will be the guest speaker at a morning breakfast in Tampa for the JNF Lawyers for Israel group, a luncheon in Tampa and an evening event sponsored by the JNF […]

Florida Congressional candidate stands behind ‘Gestapo’ reference



WASHINGTON (JTA) — A Republican challenging a Florida Jewish Democrat in a congressional race stood by his use of “Gestapo” to describe a videographer. Josh Grodin, Allen West’s campaign manager, told JTA that the term aptly described how operatives for the Florida Democratic Party and Rep. Ron Klein (D-FL) constantly trailed West with cameras. “We’re not apologizing for it. What […]

Shalom TV cable network to broadcast High Holiday services



For the first time on national cable television, High Holiday services will be carried across the country on Shalom TV, the free Video on Demand Jewish cable network. Designed for those unable to attend a synagogue service, the Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur congregational programs begin airing on Shalom TV the week of Sept. 5. The High Holiday services will […]

Poll: Jews like Obama more than most others



(JTA)—Jews gave President Obama an above-average job approval rating compared to other religious groups in the U.S. A new Gallup poll found that Muslims gave Obama the highest job approval rating out of the religious groups polled, while Mormons gave him the lowest. Jews and those affiliated with other non- Christian religions gave him above average ratings, along with those […]

Ex-U.S. Sen. George Allen describes post- ‘macaca’ search for Jewish roots



RESTON, VA (JTA) — Former U.S. Sen. George Allen said he believed denying his Jewish past helped cost him re-election in 2006. Allen, who lost the Virginia seat in a razor-close election to James Webb, spoke out Aug. 25 for the first time of the fallout from the controversy of his denying his Jewish past. He also spoke of his […]