Report: Trump’s attorney requests impeachment trial pause for Jewish Sabbath
In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) late last week, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s impeachment lawyer asked that the trial be suspended during the Jewish Sabbath. Read more
U.S. Senate votes 97-3 to keep US embassy in Jerusalem
February 7, 2021 by Agencies
The U.S. Senate voted late Thursday night in favour of an amendment to the COVID-19 budget resolution to keep the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Read more
Australia says no to ICC involvement in “situation in Palestine”
February 7, 2021 by J-Wire Newsdesk
The International Criminal Court in the Hague has claimed it has jurisdiction in Palestine. Read more
Free Judaism classes now permanent for potential converts
February 7, 2021 by Rabbi Yaakov Glasman
Two years ago St Kilda Shule launched an ambitious project to provide free Judaism classes to people wishing to convert to Judaism. Read more
MDA teams administered over 4 million COVID-19 tests since outbreak
February 5, 2021 by TPS-IL
Magen David Adom (MDA) teams have sampled 4,042,947 people for Coronavirus (COVID-19) since the beginning of the outbreak in Israel in February 2020, the number equivalent to almost half of the country’s population. Read more
US Supreme Court rules against Holocaust victims’ heirs in Nazi-era disputes
February 5, 2021 by JNS
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday against the heirs of Holocaust victims seeking to recover their families’ art treasures and other property seized by Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Read more
German cabinet officially recognizes IHRA as an international institution
February 5, 2021 by JNS
The German cabinet officially recognized the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) on Wednesday as an international institution. Read more
Jewish Care Victoria welcomes legislative ban on harmful LGBTI+ conversion practices
February 5, 2021 by Kirsten Young
The Victorian Parliament late last night passed much needed, lifesaving legislation to outlaw ‘therapy’ practices that attempt to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, a decision welcomed by Jewish Care and Jewish Community Council of Victoria. Read more
Israeli researcher reverses brain damage in worms. Humans next?
February 5, 2021 by TPS-IL
A team of Hebrew University in Jerusalem researchers have successfully used genetic engineering as a first step to what one day may allow scientists to genetically repair damaged brain circuits in humans. Read more
EXCLUSIVE: Allegations of Jibril Rajoub involved in elimination of Hamas men amid heated elections race
February 4, 2021 by Baruch Yedid - TPS
Fatah’s internal power struggles are intensifying ahead of the election and have become a “dirty game,” according to one of the organization’s senior members. Read more
Technion to award Pfizer CEO honorary doctorate for coronavirus vaccine
February 4, 2021 by Agencies
The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology will award an honorary doctorate to Pfizer CEO and chairman Dr. Albert Bourla for his “extraordinary achievement” in leading the record-time development of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, Technion president Professor Uri Sivan announced this month. Read more
Israelis 16 and up eligible for COVID vaccine; Netanyahu urges inoculation for all over 50
February 4, 2021 by JNS
The Israeli Health Ministry on Wednesday announced that beginning today, COVID-19 vaccines would be available to all Israelis over the age of 16. Read more
Leading foreign policy voices tell NIF Australia of a new era in US foreign policy in the Middle East
February 4, 2021 by J-Wire Newsdesk
More than 500 people joined New Israel Fund Australia’s first event of 2021 to hear a discussion about Joe Biden’s plans for US policy in the Middle East. Read more
The Abraham Accords in New Zealand
February 4, 2021 by J-Wire photo story
Israel’s ambassador-designate to New Zealand Ran Yaakoby and Chargé d’affaires of the United Arab Emirates Matar Ali Mansoori met at the Embassy of Israel in Wellington in the Spirit of Friendship as the fruits of the Abraham Accords continue to flourish. Read more
A 120,000-year-old Message?
February 4, 2021 by Tali Aronsky
While scientists and historians have long surmised that etchings on stones and bones have been used as a form of symbolism dating back as early as the Middle Paleolithic period (250,000-45,000 BCE), findings to support that theory are extremely rare. Read more
A call for reform for the Sydney Beth Din
February 4, 2021 by J-Wire Newsdesk
The Working Group established by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies in 2019 to inquire into and make recommendations regarding the administration, finances, governance, communal oversight and other matters concerning the Sydney Beth Din (SBD) has now brought down its final report. Read more
PA plants trees to honour 35,000 Shahids, including suicide bombers
February 3, 2021 by TPS-IL
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has launched a project to honour all Arabs who have died as so-called Shahids, martyrs killed while fighting the Infidel, since 1917 when the British Army liberated the land of Israel from the Ottoman Empire. Read more
Biden administration ‘embraces’ international definition of antisemitism
February 3, 2021 by JNS
The Biden administration has said it will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, a key tool in fighting antisemitism at home and abroad. Read more
Israel transfers COVID-19 vaccines to PA, PA denies It
Israel transferred 2,000 vaccine doses to the Palestinian Authority (PA) on Monday, the first batch of a total of 5,000 doses. Read more
Kushner and Berkowitz nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for Abraham Accords
February 2, 2021 by JNS
Jared Kushner, senior adviser to former U.S. President Donald Trump, and his deputy Avi Berkowitz were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on Sunday for their role in the normalization deals between Israel and several Arab states known as the Abraham Accords. Read more
Iron Dome upgraded
February 2, 2021 by J-Wire Newsdesk
The Israeli Air Force and Navy have participated in successful flight tests of the upgraded Iron Dome defence weapon system. Read more
Coming soon to cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Canberra
February 2, 2021 by J-Wire Newsdesk
From star-studded features, gripping historical dramas, and stories of iconic Jewish trailblazers and innovators, the Jewish International Film Festival (February 17 – March 24) returns for another year of spectacular Jewish cinema from around the world. Read more
The Orah Fund generates a further $350,000 for charity
February 1, 2021 by J-Wire Staff
In the second half of 2020, the ORAH Fund generated an 18% investment return for investors, as well as $350,000 of donations to Jewish-related charities in Australia and around the world. Read more
Historical discovery in southern Israel offers glimpse into wardrobe of King David and King Solomon
February 1, 2021 by TPS-IL
Groundbreaking research conducted by Israeli archaeologists enabled them to recover scraps of fabric dyed in royal purple from the time of King David and King Solomon, some 3,000 years ago, the first time that purple-dyed Iron Age textiles have been found in Israel, or indeed throughout the Southern Levant. Read more
Is Iran behind the attack on Israel’s embassy in India?
February 1, 2021 by Aryeh Savir - TPS
An explosion occurred on Friday afternoon close to the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi, sending India’s security apparatus in search of a terror cell that may be connected to Iran. Read more
Entrepreneurs from Syria, Libya, Iraq, Gaza participate in Israeli program to develop startups and social initiatives
February 1, 2021 by TPS-IL
A group of young entrepreneurs from Arab countries is participating in weekly zoom meetings as part of a unique Israeli program for the development of startups and social initiatives. Read more
Iran says nuclear deal non-negotiable, rejects new participants
February 1, 2021 by JNS
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that its 2015 nuclear agreement with six world powers was non-negotiable and rejected any changes to the participants in the accord. The announcement came in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement on Friday that any new negotiations should include other countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia. Read more
Leifer gets a change of chaplain
January 31, 2021 by J-Wire Newsdesk
With the ultra-orthodox Malka Leifer imprisoned in Victoria facing 74 charges of child sexual abuse, the Department of Justice and Community Safety has dismissed the chaplain chosen to offer her counselling. Read more
Melbourne’s Adass Yisroel is not supplying chaplaincy services for Malka Leifer.
January 29, 2021 by J-Wire
Fatah lauds Munich Olympics massacre as a ‘quality operation’
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction posted a video last week praising Black September commander Ali Hassan Salameh, one of the architects of the 1972 Munich massacre. Read more
