Brooklyn, NY - How the frum community should react when some of our most scandalous problem comes to light Tonight a major media report by CBS TV on Orthodox-community impropriety of the most sordid sort has our entire world talking. For this reason alone, VIN News cannot simply ignore it; we must say something. But it is the subject of the report that had our editorial board cogitating...

Salem, OR - December inside Oregon's Capitol is filled with a forest of lighted trees, tall toy soldiers and carols sung by school choirs. But requests to add a Jewish menorah and a Christian display to the mix have sent legislative leaders directly to their lawyers. What are the boundary lines between church and state? What about freedom of speech and religion? And is the rotunda at the center...

Central Valley, NY - For the first time, the throngs converging on Woodbury Common Premium Outlets for post-Thanksgiving shopping will have the option of parking some place other than the center of the storm. The outlet center is encouraging shoppers driving north from the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region to use the Palisades Interstate Parkway instead of the New York State Thruway and...

Jerusalem - After more than 30 years of diplomatic relations with Israel, Vietnam will open an embassy in Tel Aviv in the coming weeks. Foreign Ministry Director-General Aharon Abramovich was informed of the plan while visiting the southeastern Asian country several days ago. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which unites the northern and southern parts of the country, has existed in its...

Westhampton Beach, NY - A group opposed to the creation of a religious boundary in Westhampton Beach is circulating an informational pamphlet, two blank petitions, and a copy of an editorial that supports its stance on the issue to homeowners in the village. Jewish People Opposed to the Eruv, a group opposed to the creation of a largely invisible religious boundary, called an eruv, that is...

Washington - President George W. Bush has granted pardons to 14 individuals and commuted the prison sentences of two others, The Associated Press learned Monday. The new round of White House pardons are Bush's first since March and come less than two months before he will end his presidency. The crimes committed by those on the list include drug offenses, income tax evasion, bank embezzlement...

Dallas, TX - A Muslim charity and five of its former leaders were convicted Monday of funneling millions of dollars to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, finally handing the government a signature victory in its fight against terrorism funding. U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis announced the guilty verdicts on all 108 counts on the eighth day of deliberations in the retrial of the Holy...

San Jose, CA - Facebook has been awarded $873 million in damages against a Canadian man accused of sending spam messages to its members. The default judgment was issued in federal court in San Jose, Calif., on Friday against Adam Guerbuez, of Montreal, and his company, Atlantis Blue Capital. The ruling also forbids Guerbuez from using Facebook or interacting with its members ever...

New Jersey - Agudath Israel of New Jersey salutes the passage of bill S-2199 in the New Jersey Senate today. This bill, recently passed in the Assembly, will enable the State to reschedule an election or referendum if it falls out on a major religious holiday. The bill was authored by Assemblyman Gary Schaer of Passaic (D-36) coming on the heels of the Jewish community’s outspoken objection...

Ste-Agathe, Canada - Four arrests have been made in connection with a series of anti-Semitic incidents in a town in the Laurentians during the summer. Included among those arrested is a minor who is expected to be charged with assaulting Mendy Haouzi, a 23-year-old McGill student who was attacked in August while on his way to synagogue in Ste. Agathe. The Sûreté du Québec has asked a...

New York - Stocks rallied Monday as investors cheered news that the government has agreed to backstop troubled bank Citigroup. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up more than 350 points in the final half-hour of trading, adding to Friday's nearly 500-point gain. Citigroup shares jumped 60 percent, trading around $6 a share, following last week's severe battering. The government agreed to...

Forest Hills, NY - Councilwoman Melinda Katz today announced she would cut up her American Express card in what was intended to be a symbolic protest of credit card companies that benefit from federal bailout funds but don't cap their interest rates to pass the love along to their customers (AKA: The taxpayers). Katz, who, according to a staffer, is still full-steam ahead with her 2009...

Manhattan, NY - What a relief! The free public restrooms operated by the Charmin toilet paper company in Times Square during the holidays are being rolled out for another year. It's the third straight year for the 20 deluxe stalls. The plush potties feature flat-screen televisions, attendants dressed in tuxedos and plenty of Charmin. The toilets are so luxurious that Charmin promises...

New York - A historic transition is planned for this coming Motzoei Shabbos, at Agudath Israel of America’s 86th national convention. The mantle of the organization’s lay leadership will then pass from one rightly celebrated and accomplished askan to another. It will be passing as well from dear friend to dear friend and from one confidant of Gedolei Yisroel to another. Rabbi Shmuel...

El Salvador - Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni will tomorrow (Tuesday, 25 November 2008) present a special Certificate of Commemoration to the Foreign Minister of El Salvador, Marisol Argueta de Barillas, in tribute to her country's policy of saving Jews during the Second World War. The certificate, which will be presented to FM Barillas after a working lunch...