World news roundup: European top court sides with Reform Judaism
The latest and greatest Jewish news from around the globe:
Hungary
Europe’s top court has sided with Reform Judaism over the Hungarian government after the state stripped it of recognition and funding. The country introduced a new law that only recognised religious institutions that were at least 100 years old, but the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg were unimpressed.
Get The Jewish News Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
Ukraine
An American-Israeli journalist was quickly released after being taken hostage by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The self-appointed ‘mayor’ of the city of Sloviansk said Simon Ostrovsky, who works for Vice News, has been detained for reporting false information. He was one of five journalists kidnapped then freed.
United States
A Venezuelan Jewish man in prison in Alabama is suing the US state for not serving him kosher food. Rafael Alberto Lloveras Linares also wants to observe the Sabbath and meet monthly with a rabbi. He was arrested by immigration officials in 2010 but says that, as a Jew, it is not safe for him to live in Venezuela.
Greece
The next chief rabbi of Greece has thanked ‘Rabbi Google’ for his selection. Gabriel Negrin, who is only 25, said the internet was a major contributor to his learning. Former musician Negrin hopes to revamp Jewish education for his country’s 5,000 Jews and wants young people to be ‘freaking proud’ to be Jewish.
China
A senior US politician has urged China to allow Jews access to synagogue services on a trip to the Far East. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a top opposition lawmaker and the highest ranking Jewish member of Congress, urged China to ensure religious freedoms, as President Barack Obama visits the region.
Germany
German-Jewish writer Stefanie Zweig has died aged 81 years. Her family fled from the Nazis in 1938 and moved to Kenya, where she attended a British school. She wrote more than two dozen books but is best known for her autobiographical novel ‘Nowhere in Africa,’ the movie adaptation of which won an Oscar in 2003.
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.
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)