Tefillin on airplanes
Many of you have probably heard by now about the Kentucky-bound US. Airways Express flight that was diverted last week when the flight crew was alarmed by a Jewish teenager putting on tefillin (New York Times).
Category Archives: Religion
Family “Letters to the Editor” Score: +1
In today’s Boston Herald: Learn from Israel Monday, January 11, 2010 The Israelis do not use racial profiling for airport security (“European response mixed to new U.S. security demands,” Jan. 4). They use profiling, which includes patterns of behavior, coordination of intelligence and sophisticated modeling of which country of origin as but one factor. Interviews… Read More »
After 20 years, AIPAC is still behind the curve on how to use the Internet
Around twenty years ago when I was at MIT, I spent far more hours than I care to contemplate combating anti-Semitic, anti-Zionist and anti-Israel propaganda on Usenet. This was back before the Web took off, and Usenet was the happening place for bigots, racists and nutjobs of all sort to spread their filth and lies. … Read More »
Joe Fitzgerald’s token Christmas-loving Jew
To: letterstoeditor@bostonherald.com To the editor: On Dec. 10, Joe Fitzgerald wrote about Irina Koltoniuc, his favorite Christmas-loving Jew, for the sixth time (“Jewish immigrant champions Christmas”). Does he keep writing about the same woman because he’s too lazy to find someone else, or because he can’t find any other Jews willing to talk about how… Read More »
Mea Culpa on Westboro Baptist Church visit
Last week, I received, via email sent to one of my synagogue’s contact email addresses, a flyer from someone at the Westboro Baptist Church, announcing the protests they were planning on holding this week in front of Jewish institutions in Boston. I was appalled, and my initial reaction was to make a big deal out… Read More »
The Vilna Shul: We just don’t feel like removing you from our mailing list
November 26, 2009 Jack Swartz, President The Vilna Shul 18 Phillips Street Boston, MA 02114 Dear Mr. Swartz, I am writing to you because my efforts over the past two years to resolve this matter through The Vilna Shul’s executive director, Steven Greenberg, have been unsuccessful. Over two years ago, I embarked upon an ambitious… Read More »
Here’s how we know Rubashkin is planning on fleeing to Israel
It is looking more and more likely that Sholom Rubashkin will do his best to flee to Israel rather than serving his prison sentence for the crimes of which he has been convicted and/or will be convicted at his next trial. Today, the WCF Courier reports: Rubashkin’s attorneys presented more than 1,300 letters and e-mails… Read More »
Vatican: guy nailed to cross is “symbol of unity and welcoming for all of humanity”
Yesterday, the European court of human rights ruled that the display of crucifixes in Italian public school classrooms violates religious and education freedoms (story). Spokesmen for the Italian government and the Church have, of course, made comments disparaging this ruling. Of course, these comments have been absurd and outrageous and have made it clear, yet… Read More »
Capuano supports Israel’s right to self-defense, sort of
Several years ago, I wrote to Congressman Michael Capuano asking why he didn’t sign an ad published by the CJP which many other politicians signed, attesting to Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks. A friend has pointed out that I was remiss in not posting Capuano’s response, which seems somewhat more significant now… Read More »
Sheraton free-overnight-stay promotion excludes observant Jews
From October 6 to October 9, Sheraton will be giving customers the opportunity to win a free overnight stay at one of 86 recently renovated Sheraton hotels across the United States and Canada. The free overnight stays will be on a single night, Friday, October 23. By only allowing the free overnight stays on a… Read More »