In a first, a Jewish organization opens an office at the Vatican

(JR) — In what’s being touted as a first for a Jewish organization, the World Jewish Congress advocacy group opened an office in Vatican City to liaise with Catholic leaders and further Catholic-Jewish relations. WJC President Ronald Lauder visited Pope Francis while inaugurating the organization’s “representative office to the Holy See” on Thursday. Lauder, a billionaire […]

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Italy votes to build first Holocaust museum in Rome on 80th anniversary of Nazi raid

(JR) — Italy’s government unanimously approved a bill to establish a Holocaust museum in Rome on Wednesday, 80 years after the Nazis rounded up over 1,000 Roman Jews to be deported and exterminated. Initially proposed as Italy’s first Holocaust museum in 2005, the project has been mired in financial and bureaucratic delays. Prime Minister Giorgia […]

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Popular German author says Orthodox Jews don’t work except for ‘diamond trading’ and ‘financial transactions’

(JR) — A best-selling German author and philosopher apologized for saying during an episode of his podcast that Judaism bars Orthodox Jews from working, “except for a few things like diamond trading and a few financial transactions.” The show’s moderator and co-producer, Markus Lanz, immediately agreed with Richard David Precht, saying “correct” and “accurate,” during […]

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Israel-Colombia spat deepens, as Israel stops arms sales and Bogotá threatens to cut ties

(JR) — Israel paused arms sales to Colombia over what Israel’s foreign ministry called Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s “hostile and anti-Semitic statements,” and Petro responded by threatening to suspend all diplomatic ties with Israel. Since Hamas’ attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, Petro — Colombia’s first left-wing president in decades — has continuously written pro-Palestinian posts […]

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