World news-roundup: German imam writes letters in new Torah scroll
Country: Germany
An imam has helped complete the writing of a new Torah scroll in central Germany. Bilal El-Zayat, president of the Islamic community of Marburg, who often attends High Holy Day services, placed his hand on that of a scribe to pen the last letters, before joining a celebratory parade through the city.
Country: Peru
A Jewish New Yorker imprisoned in Peru for helping left-wing rebels has left the country after 20 years. Lori Berenson, 46, was escorted to the airport by the military. In 1995 she was convicted of treason for plotting to overthrow the government. She spent 15 years in prison then a further five on parole.
Country: Italy
Up to 100 Jewish souvenir vendors wore yellow Stars of David pinned to their clothing in a protest against new rules barring them from selling near the Vatican. Others had signs reading: ‘History is repeating itself.’ A spokesman for the group defended the use of Holocaust imagery in the demonstration.
Country: Russia
An American philanthropist is extending his initiative of giving away free Jewish children’s books to families by starting to distribute them in Russia. Harold Grinspoon’s PJ Library project already operates in eight countries, and gives secular Arabic-language books to Arab schoolchildren in Israel.
Country: Hungary
A life-size bronze statue of a Hungarian minister who sent thousands of Jews to their death is to be unveiled in the country this month. In 1939 Balint Homan restricted the rights of Jews and then, in 1944, ordered their deportation. The statue was part-funded by the centre-right Hungarian government.
Country: United States
Reams of American Jewish literary news and opinion from 1942-99 is now available as a free digital archive. The searchable treasure trove is material from Jewish Book Annual, with sections in English, Hebrew and Yiddish. The first essays are set against the backdrop of the Nazi threat in Europe.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
