Perth, Australia - A magistrate has found that alleged Nazi war criminal, 86-year-old Charles Zentai is eligible for extradition to Hungary. Mr Zentai, a Perth resident, is alleged to have killed an 18-year-old Jewish man in Budapest on the 8th November 1944. Magistrate Barbara Lane said Mr Zentai's case and circumstances meet the requirements of the Australian Extradition Act and the...

Borough Park, NY - “I am deeply concerned about the two Borough Park abductions which have now been tied to the same assailant,” said Assemblyman Hikind (D-Brooklyn). “Already shaken by the recent assault, this will make residents even more anxious about the safety of our children. This is a community with a lot of children and they must be protected. The NYPD is to be commended for the...

New York City - American brand name shoe designer Kenneth Cole has started a new ad campaign with the theme “we all walk in different shoes”, featuring matisyahu [hasidic reggae artist] among others, recognizing interesting individuals who have refused to conform to societal boundaries. Kenneth Cole is married to the daughter of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. ...

Staten Island, NY - A fall of two and a half stories has left an Oakwood Beach elevator mechanic $2.25 million richer. Brian Rogers, 38, picked up his settlement after a judge ruled that Manhattan building owner 2 Gold, LLC and general contractor 2 Gold GC, LLC were liable for the August 2004 accident. Rogers injured his shoulder, back and arm when he fell in an elevator shaft. "Now...

Riga, Latvia - Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis has issued a decree ordering the Justice Ministry to consider compensations to Latvia's Jewish community for losses it suffered during the Holocaust.   The Jewish community would be able to use the allocated funds for renewing and preserving the cultural heritage, development of the Jewish community, financing culture, education and other...

Edison, NJ - Agudath Israel of New Jersey is pleased with the decision of the Edison School Board to change the date of their School Construction Bond Referendum from September 30, the first day of Rosh Hashana, to December 9, 2008, at their upcoming meeting this Thursday, August 21. We would like to thank the following New Jersey State organizations for partnering with us in advocating for...

Nizhny Novogorod, Russia - Gravestones were vandalized in a Russian Jewish cemetery that has been attacked several times this year. Some 21 gravestones were discovered vandalized in the Krasnaya Etna cemetery in Nizhny Novogorod. The JTA is reporting, that police detained two suspects, aged 11 and 13, in the incident, and will determine whether to bring charges, according to the Union of...

Brooklyn, NY - Fire department on the scene requesting a 2nd alarm for a heavy fire at a 4 story 200 x 200 warehouse at Bldg 269 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard at Flushing Avenue and Cumberland Walk. U/D: 5:15pm Fire Department has the fire under control at this time. ...

Williamsburg, NY - When you sit down to write a memo of how great the volunteer organization's in the Jewish community at large, your hopes and prayers are, that its only a minor case and no one got hurt, Shomrim was there. A minor accident or a cut and Hatzolah was there, you have to get to the hospital and Chesed was there, you have a flat and Chevirim was there etc.; but not in a million...

Chicago, IL - Within the last few hours I've spoken with two of the finalists for the role of Barack Obama's running-mate, and to two other sources who are close to the process. My bottom line is this: Barring a big surprise or last-minute change of heart, the choice is likely to be Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. He is a lively and feisty if...

Jerusalem - Following up his objection to any division of Jerusalem in an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee on Tuesday praised moves to boost the Jewish presence in Arab areas of Jerusalem through property purchases. His host for his two-day trip is The Jerusalem Reclamation Project, a New York foundation working to move Jews into the Muslim Quarter of the...

New York City - An acquaintance of ours who had worked as a senior managing director at Bear Stearns, Andrew Neff, recently published an article on the Jewish Telegraphic Agency wire touching on his experiences there that included a recounting of his role "running the Bear Stearns minyan," the daily gathering of the ten men required as a quorum for Orthodox Jewish communal prayer. "When Bear...

Beijing, China - There is one man at the Beijing Olympic village who is not officially classified as an athlete, but runs as many kilometers as the competitors. He too began preparing for the Olympics many years ago and he too has put forth a lot of effort. He's running a "relay race" which he has not yet completed. "It was more than worth it," the man who was appointed "Beijing's Olympic rabbi"...

Philadelphia, PA - US Airways announced this morning that will ask for regulatory approval to add nonstop service between Philadelphia and Tel Aviv, Israel. US Airways, which would fly one daily round-trip flight between the cities, says its request for approval comes as the carrier "continues its international expansion." US Airways hopes to begin year-round service on the route in July, pending...

Williamsburg, NY - Hatzolah BLS, Medics and FDNY are all rushing to 70 Clymer and Wythe Avenue for a 5-year-old boy that's down the elevator shaft from between the 11th floor and 10th floors after the elevator doors opened between the floors and he and his brother squeezed out from the opening leading to his fall down the shaft, child is in traumatic arrest at this time, his older brother is...