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Friday February 1, 2008

Shorts: U.S.

Bush observes Holocaust Day

President Bush commemorated the Holocaust by condemning “the resurgence of anti-Semitism.”

Bush was marking the International Day of Commemoration in memory of Victims of the Holocaust established by the United Nations three years ago and timed for the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945.

“I was deeply moved by my recent visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust museum,” Bush said in his statement Jan. 27, referring to the culmination of his visit to Israel earlier this month.

“Sixty-three years after the liberation of Auschwitz, we must continue to educate ourselves about the lessons of the Holocaust and honor those whose lives were taken as a result of a totalitarian ideology that embraced a national policy of violent hatred, bigotry and extermination,” he added. — jta

Lawyer seeks fees from survivors

A lawyer who sparked outrage over his multimillion-dollar fees for a Holocaust reparations case has demanded interest.

Burt Neuborne, a New York University law professor, in court papers filed last week said he was due an additional $300,000 because two years have elapsed since he originally filed for his fee.

Last month a federal judge ordered that Neuborne be paid $3.1 million for his work. The additional request is based on an interest calculation of 4.72 percent.

In a letter to the judge, an attorney for Neuborne said such a payment “is entirely consistent with the litigation of this particular matter.” — jta

Holocaust museum breaks ground

The Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust celebrated a groundbreaking for its first permanent building.

Survivors, public officials and Israeli diplomats participated in a ceremony Jan. 25 for the innovatively designed building, which will rise on city-owned property in the Pan Pacific Park, adjacent to the existing Holocaust memorial monument.

When completed in 2010, the museum is expected to hold tours for and teach some 50,000 high school students each year. Admission will be free. — jta

Court: Boy must weigh in on brit

Lower courts must consider a 12-year-old’s opinion in deciding a parental battle over circumcision.

The decision last week by the Oregon Supreme Court returns to the lower courts a case pitting James Boldt, the father who converted to Judaism in 2004, against his ex-wife, Lia.

James Boldt wants their son circumcised. Four national Jewish groups have filed friend-of-the-court briefs in the case supporting James Boldt, noting that groups who hope to make the practice illegal are supporting Lia Boldt.

The groups are the American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Congress, the Orthodox Union and the Anti-Defamation League. — jta

UCSB endows Jewish studies chair

UC Santa Barbara is establishing an endowed chair in Jewish studies.

Jay Glazer, a business entrepreneur, and his wife, Marsha, a noted art collector, have donated $1 million to fund the professorship and pledged additional funds for faculty and student support. The effort is part of an expanded curriculum and research program in the field.

“This inspiring gift will help launch a new Jewish studies initiative, which will strengthen intellectual and cultural communities beyond the campus,” said David Marshall, dean of humanities and fine arts at UCSB. “It will stimulate new scholarship and thinking, and create increased understanding of the history and culture of Judaism.”

An estimated 2,400 Jewish students are enrolled at UCSB in a student body of 21,000. — jta

Gaucher’s trial under way at NYU

A worldwide trial of an Israeli enzyme treatment for Gaucher’s disease is under way.

The trial is looking at a new enzyme replacement drug for Gaucher’s disease produced by an Israeli company from plant cells. It is being coordinated by Professor Ari Zimran of the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

The safety of the drug was established in animals and healthy human volunteers. New York University is participating in the study, in which patients diagnosed with Gaucher’s receive treatment and are monitored for their response.

To join the study, contact NYU’s Dr. Gregory Pastoras at (212) 263-1018. — jta

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