Clinton war stance alienates US Jews

Senator Hilary Clinton's 'middle ground' position on the Iraq war risks alienating millions of American Jewish voters, the majority of which are opposed to the war, the New York Jewish News reported Friday.

"Fresh data showing heavy Jewish opposition to the Iraq war may signal trouble ahead for Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign for Jewish support in her presidential drive," the Jewish News report said.

The article quoted a recent Gallup poll, according to which 48 percent of Protestants and 53 percent of Catholics said the Iraq war was a mistake, as opposed to 77 percent of Jews. "The Jewish figure was second only to African American Protestants in opposition to the conflict," the report said.

"The Clinton people are very nervous," a Jewish democratic source was quoted as saying.

Ten reasons to love Purim 

A special Purim feature in the Los Angeles Jewish Journal spelled out the top ten reasons to love the festival of Purim, beginning with the reading of the megillah.

"One of four mitzvot, or commandments, on Purim is listening to the reading of Megillat Esther, the Book of Esther, at night and in the morning. In the tale, Esther, the new Persian queen, saves the Jews from destruction by the evil Haman. When reading the name of Haman and his family -- symbols of all the Jews' enemies -- it's customary to drown it out by making noise, often using groggers, or noisemakers. It is also customary to repeat the happy ending of the story: La'Yehudim hayta ora v'simcha (And the Jews had joy and light)," the feature said, spelling out the basics of the holiday, and synagogues in the Los Angeles area where Purim can be celebrated.

The remaining nine reasons were listed as costumes, shpiels (comic performance), carnivals, singles parties, Purim meals (seuda), mishloach manot (gift baskets), Hamantashen (cookies), charity gifts to the poor, and modern technology, with which Jews can celebrate the holiday of Purim in the 21st century.

Ali G sued 

British-Jewish comedian Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G, Borat), is facing a lawsuit from a woman who attended the Habomin youth movement, after she said that Cohen, playing Ali G, called her a "bitch," and a "minger," and claimed he "left her pregnant" as part of his Ali G act, the Jewish Chronicle in Britain reported.

"The sketch, in 2004, referred to Heddi Cundle, the name of a former Newcastle student and member of a well-known Leeds Jewish family who got to know Mr Baron Cohen during a Habonim tour of Israel 20 years ago. Now living in California, she is suing in the Los Angeles courts under the name 'Jane Doe,' the report said.

"The lawsuit is against Mr Baron Cohen, broadcaster HBO and Da Ali G Show for damages over alleged libel, slander, invasion of privacy, fraud, negligent misrepresentation and negligent infliction of emotional distress," it said, adding: "She alleges that HBO agreed to edit out her name in future broadcasts of the clip, but that full versions subsequently appeared on YouTube and on Finnish TV. She is seeking a global recall of the material, legal costs and 'further relief as the court may deem just and proper.'"