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Friday January 4, 2008

Shorts: U.S.

Bolton rejoins Jewish board

John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, returned as a member of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs board of advisers.

The institute, which promotes security ties between Israel and the United States and other U.S. allies, shares Bolton’s outspoken criticism of what Bolton says is the slow pace of U.S. efforts to confront Iran.

Bolton left the U.N. post a year ago, after it became clear that the Senate would not confirm his recess appointment by President Bush. — jta

Coalition calls for U.S.-Iran peace

A coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders is calling for American and Iranian authorities to open negotiations and stop planning for war.

The statement, “A Pax on Both Our Houses” says the war in Iraq demonstrates how war wastes lives and resources, and violates human rights.

Organizers also argue that U.S. intelligence reports that concluded Iran had shut down its nuclear weapons program is further evidence that armed conflict should be avoided. — ap

Matzah factory on the block

Streit’s, a family-owned matzah-making giant that churns out 16,000 pounds of unleavened bread a day and has been on the Lower East Side for nearly 75 years, is selling its factory.

Aaron Gross, the great-great-grandson of founder Aron Streit, said it is too difficult to keep manufacturing in New York City. The streets are too congested for tractor-trailers, and he gets regular complaints about the loud machines that mix, roll and cut the dough.

The red-brick factory will keep producing matzah until the family builds a new one in about a year. — ap

Kosher top food designation for ’07

Kosher was the most popular designation on food products in the United States in 2007.

The kosher label beat out designations such as “all natural,” the second most frequent claim, and “no additives or preservatives,” according to a report from Mintel’s Global New Products Database, a consumer products monitor.

In 2007, companies launched 3,984 new kosher food products and 728 kosher beverages. — jta

Poll: Orthodox trend hawkish

An analysis of the Orthodox in a survey of U.S. Jewish opinion suggests the subgroup has more hawkish views than the mainstream.

Fifty-seven percent of the Orthodox respondents in the American Jewish Committee poll published recently still favored the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, while 67 percent of all respondents are opposed to it.

The same percentage of Orthodox back military action against Iran to keep it from manufacturing nuclear weapons while 57 percent of all Jews surveyed oppose such an attack. — jta

Al Gore to visit Israel this year

Al Gore plans to come to Israel in May to be honored by Tel Aviv University.

Gore, who won a Nobel Peace Prize, will also attend an environmental conference being hosted by President Shimon Peres in conjunction with Israel’s 60th Independence Day celebrations. — jta

Church drops Nazi symbols

United Church of YHWH, an anti-Semitic church formed by white supremacists, has abandoned its neo-Nazi imagery to make its message more palatable.

The Alabama group banned the use of Nazi uniforms, red arm bands and similar regalia because they were an instant turnoff to people who might otherwise be open to the church’s teachings, including the belief that white Anglo-Saxons — not Jews — are God’s chosen people in the Bible.

Bill Nigut, a regional Anti-Defamation League director, said the group was attempting to “sanitize hatred” by appearing to be more mainstream. — ap

Big Tent Judaism goes online

The Big Tent Judaism Coalition is up and running online at www.bigtentjudaism.org.

The coalition, which was announced by the Jewish Outreach Institute at its October conference, is an online community of organizations committed to welcoming the unaffiliated, including interfaith families and non-Jews interested in Judaism.

It also acts as a guide for those individuals, helping them to find local Jewish groups open to them. — jta

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