World news-roundup: Pope to receive Chumash
All the latest Jewish stories from around the world, this week covering the Vatican, America, Sweden and New Caledonia
Country: Vatican
Pope Francis is to receive a Chumash (a Torah in printed form) in a Vatican presentation on Thursday, with his friend Rabbi Abraham Skorka in attendance. It is a creation of young Spanish-Italian publishers as part of The Torah Project. The Pope will then add it to the city’s iconic art collection.
Country: United States
A prisoner in Tennessee serving a 56-year sentence for the disappearance of his wife and a plot to murder her parents is suing the state because his kosher food isn’t good enough. Perry March filed a 200-page lawsuit alleging religious discrimination, saying the quality of his provisions were not nutritious.
Country: Sweden
Furniture manufacturer IKEA has apologised for publishing a catalogue for Charedi men featuring no women. The chief executive for the Swedish firm in Israel, where there are three stores, said: ‘We realise that people are upset. The publication does not live up to what IKEA stands for and we apologise.’
Country: New Caledonia
A new Chabad House has opened in a far-flung Pacific atoll known for its barrier reef and scuba diving. New Caledonia, a special French collectivity, is home to about 250 Jews among its 250,000 residents. The dozen islands have beaches lined with palm trees, marine-rich lagoons and luxury boutiques.
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.
