anti-Semitism
RFRA’s END(A)? * Iraq’s Christians * Foreskin sorcery: July’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — August 4, 2014
Hobby Lobby ruling prompts calls for the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to be scrapped. Mosul’s Christians are ordered to convert to Islam or face death. And Zimbabwe might ban circumcision because foreskins could be used in witchcraft, obviously.
Political and religious leaders denounce European anti-Jewish outbursts tied to Gaza
By Elizabeth Bryant — July 22, 2014
PARIS (RNS) French authorities warn that extremist groups are trying to capitalize on public anger over Gaza, at a time of growing alarm over French youths joining conflicts in Iraq and Syria.
COMMENTARY: Why evangelicals’ love for Jews is a case of unrequited love
By Michael Schulson — July 18, 2014
(RNS) As a young Jew, I can’t help but see expressions of evangelical philo-Semitism as an attempt to keep Jewishness in its New Testament box, and to continue the old fallacy of conflating the Jewish people (of Bible fame) with living Jewish people.
France’s new chief rabbi calls for inclusiveness
By Elizabeth Bryant — June 23, 2014
PARIS (RNS) The election of Rabbi Haim Korsia comes during a deeply troubled time for France's Jewish community, the largest in Europe.
Are Nike’s evil soccer robots supposed to be Jewish?
By Lauren Markoe — June 12, 2014
(RNS) Nike's 2014 World Cup video features dark-haired soccer robots whose team logo, to some, looks much too much like the Star of David.
Wake-up call in Kansas: Anti-Semitism is alive and dangerous in America
By Charles C. Haynes — May 28, 2014
Survey: One-quarter of the world harbors anti-Semitic sentiment
By Lauren Markoe — May 13, 2014
(RNS) One in four people globally are anti-Semitic, and nearly half the world has never heard of -- or denies or believes the Holocaust is exaggerated -- a new study finds.
Who knew? The late Cardinal John O’Connor’s mother was born Jewish
By David Gibson — April 30, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) It’s hard to think of a Catholic churchman who was more outspoken in defense of Jews and Judaism than the late Cardinal John O’Connor. Now it turns out that the mother of the New York archbishop was actually born Jewish -- and O’Connor apparently never knew.
COMMENTARY: Ukrainian order to register Jews may have a Westboro corollary
By Jeffrey Weiss — April 21, 2014
(RNS) What’s this got to do with Westboro, the church whose members are notorious for bringing their “God hates fags” signs to military funerals? Lots.
COMMENTARY: Anti-Semitism card overplayed in Ukraine
By Abraham H. Foxman — April 18, 2014
(RNS) In Ukraine, manufactured incidents of anti-Semitism have been cynically used to discredit political opponents as anti-Semites, whether they are, or not.
Anti-Semitic incidents continue to decline in US
By Lauren Markoe — April 2, 2014
(RNS) The ADL tracked an overall decline in anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. last year but also a rise in violent anti-Semitic assaults.
Obama asked to pressure Saudis to revise offending textbooks
By Lauren Markoe — March 27, 2014
(RNS) Some are urging President Obama to apply pressure on King Abdullah to revise school textbooks that disparage Christians, label Jews "pigs," and teach that execution is an Islamic response to gay sex.
70 years after Nazi occupation, anti-Semitism still a problem in Hungary
By Trevor Grundy — March 19, 2014
BUDAPEST, Hungary (RNS) On the 70th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of Hungary, many Jews are wondering whether the passage of time has done much to quell this nation’s troubling history of anti-Semitism.
Katy Perry’s mistake * Brunei’s Allah ban * God’s Constitution: Religious Freedom Recap Feb. 24 – March 3
By Brian Pellot — March 3, 2014
Katy Perry destroys “Allah” in a music video, then dissolves the incident completely amid backlash. Brunei bans non-Muslims from using “Allah” and 18 other holy words. And Tom DeLay tells us Allah, A.K.A. God, wrote the Constitution. S/he just never got around to signing it.
Authors protest Sochi Olympics * Jews flee France * Comic heckles Christ: Religious Freedom Recap: Feb. 3-10
By Brian Pellot — February 10, 2014
Big-name authors are protesting Russia’s blasphemy and anti-gay laws. More French Jews are migrating to Israel amid rising anti-Semitism. And an Aussie comic who resembles Jesus is stirring up controversy with his Come Heckle Christ show.