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Friday May 11, 2007

Shorts: U.S.

U.S. support for Israel soaring, poll finds

American public support for Israel in the face of its enemies is at a five-year high, a poll found. A new survey commissioned by the Israel Project showed that an average of 66 percent of Americans rate their feelings toward the Jewish state as “warm” or “very favorable,” while 11 percent gave Iran a positive rating.

Asked about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 65 percent of respondents said they support Israel, while 10 percent said they support the Palestinians. About three-quarters of those polled said the United States should not resume sending aid to the Palestinian Authority until the Hamas-led government “ends the culture of hate” and recognizes Israel.

“Support for Israel among American opinion elite has reached its highest level over the last five years, and more than eight of 10 believe that Israel is one of our strongest allies,” pollster Neil Newhouse said. — jta

Jewish Sports Hall of Fame inducts 12

Swimmer Mark Spitz and broadcaster Howard Cosell were among 12 sports greats inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The athletes and others were recognized at a ceremony on Sunday, April 29 at the Suffolk JCC, site of the Hall of Fame, in Commack, N.Y.

Spitz won seven gold medals in the 1972 Olympics. Cosell was best known for his work on “Monday Night Football” and his relationship with boxer Muhammad Ali.

Others inducted into the hall were Lennie Rosenbluth, an All-American basketball player at the University of North Carolina; Olympic high jumper Dwight Stones; Senda Berenson, a pioneer in women’s basketball; broadcaster Bonnie Bernstein; boxer Harry Haft; George Kalinsky, official photographer of Madison Square Garden; marathoner Deena Kastor; Craig Ludin, a special Olympian; bodybuilder Dan Lurie; and NFL referee Jerry Markbreit. — jta

Hillel director apologizes for attack

The director of UCLA’s Hillel issued a public apology to a journalist he assaulted after a campus event in 2003. Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller’s apology to Rachel Neuwirth, issued in February, follows three years of litigation that grew out of the attack on the Los Angeles campus.

As Seidler-Feller and Neuwirth left a lecture by Alan Dershowitz, Neuwirth commented critically on Sari Nusseibeh, a Palestinian speaker Seidler-Feller had invited. The rabbi then physically attacked her.

Seidler-Feller subsequently was ordered to attend an anger-management course.

In his apology he wrote, “I am deeply sorry that I hit, kicked and scratched you and called you a liar on Oct. 21, 2003. By taking these unprovoked actions, I have contradicted the pluralism, peace and tolerance about which I often preach. I also violated the humanitarian teachings of Judaism regarding kindness and respect for others that I am bound to uphold. I am also sorry for and deeply regret that as a result of the incident, various statements were made in the media which you feel mischaracterized the incident. I am accepting 100 percent responsibility for my actions. I had no right to do what I did.” — jta

Cantors choose new leader

Joseph Gole will be installed as president of the International Cantors Assembly during the organization’s convention in Los Angeles. “Cantorial music has always reflected the world around it, and while retaining the traditional chants is today strongly influenced by pop and folk music,” said Gole, cantor of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.

The Cantors Assembly’s 450 members represent mainly Conservative synagogues, but include every Jewish denomination. Gole, 59, was 18 when he first led a congregation in prayer as a cantor. He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and American Youth Symphony, and numerous opera companies in the United States and Europe. — jta

Lawmakers want NIH investigation

Three congressmen called on the National Institutes of Health to investigate allegations of anti-Semitism and religious discrimination. NIH removed the Rev. Ray Fitzgerald as director of its chaplain’s office after he fired Roman Catholic, Jewish and Greek Orthodox clerics and reportedly used anti-Semitic epithets to describe the Jewish chaplain, Rabbi Reeve Brenner. Fitzgerald remains as a chaplain, however.

Reps. Steven Rothman (D-N.J.), Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) wrote Friday, May 4 to Elias Zerhouni, the NIH director, saying, “Pending the results of such an investigation, we call on you take the appropriate actions, and if necessary punitive measures against Rev. Fitzgerald, to ensure that religious tolerance is promoted and protected at NIH.” — jta

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