By Bill Tammeus, National Catholic Reporter. Presbyterians and Jews in the U.S. once were long-time partners — in matters ranging from the Civil Rights Movement to various interfaith and social justice issues. And they evidenced mutual respect. That began to fall apart when we Presbyterians started considering — and eventually approved –disinvestment from companies the…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2014 SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER: PRESBYTERIAN VOTE TO ‘RECONSIDER’ TWO-STATE SOLUTION ALIGNS CHURCH WITH THOSE SEEKING END OF ISRAEL PCUSA Divestment Resolution Bolsters Anti-Peace Extremists The Simon Wiesenthal Center denounced today’s votes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA)…
The Layman One of the nation’s largest organizations for Jewish human rights is pushing for Presbyterians gathering at the PCUSA’s 221st General Assembly to defeat extreme anti-Israel positions taken by the denomination’s leadership, including a report that refers to Israel as racist and illegal. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, with more than 400,000 member families in…
The Layman Commissioners to the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) each have received a letter from more than 1,000 American Jewish leaders asking them to vote against the various boycott, divest, sanction (BDS) proposals slated for assembly debate. Along with a PCUSA committee’s call for divestment from three companies that do business with…
By Lauren Markoe (RNS) In a sign of the precarious state of Presbyterian-Jewish relations, the rabbi who heads the largest branch of Judaism in North America will appeal directly to the Presbyterian Church (USA) to step back from a series of critical resolutions aimed at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Invited to address the General Assembly of the Presbyterian…
By Noam E. Marans NEW YORK (JTA) — In the charming movie “Groundhog Day,” Bill Murray’s character repeatedly relives the same day until learning from the repetition transforms him from lout to worthy wooer of his colleague, played by Andie MacDowell. The “Groundhog Day” of Presbyterian-Jewish relations is coming soon to a theater near you,…
By Lauren Markoe (RNS) The first-ever global study of anti-Semitic attitudes shows that more than a quarter of the world’s population harbors intense anti-Jewish sentiment, with region, more than religion, shaping people’s view of Jews and Judaism. The poll, released Tuesday (May 13) by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League, also finds that a large proportion…
By Rick Jacobs NEW YORK (RNS) Some 2,000 years ago, a prospective Jew in ancient Israel asked Rabbi Hillel to teach him the whole Torah while standing on one foot. Hillel responded: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary.“ Later, Jesus uttered…
By John Lomperis In case you missed it, March 10 was National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day. Yes, a special day to celebrate the work done by our friendly neighborhood abortionists. The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), which enjoys official, unqualified endorsements from a collection of liberal Protestant, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, and atheist/humanist groups, marked…