This week in power: DOMA, Pope, Immigration, Ferris Wheel

A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:

DOMA overturned
The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the Defense of Marriage Act that denied federal benefits to same-sex spouses. Many religious organizations, including the Orthodox Union, put out statements following the ruling. “We are grateful that we live in a democratic society, in which all religions are free to express their opinions about social issues and to advocate vigorously for those opinions,” ” target=”_blank”>wrote Simi Lichtman at The Jewish Daily Forward. But there's still a long way to go toward equality, ” target=”_blank”>Pope Francis said on Monday. “Papal audiences typically are rich in formality, and, by necessity, devoid of significant policy conversations. But, with Pope Francis, there was an atmosphere of honest goodwill, assuring that the Catholic-Jewish relationship will continue to grow closer and stronger,” ” target=”_blank”>traces contemporary relations back to the 1930s.

Belgian paper
Last week a Belgian newspaper called the private visit of Prince Laurent of Belgium to Israel “a new demonization of the State of Israel,'' ” target=”_blank”>attacked for putting up a mezuzah.

Camps worry
Immigration reform is a hot topic this year, and some worry that tightened border security may result in the ” target=”_blank”>heading for Tel Aviv next spring. The attraction has hit big locations like London, Hong Kong, New York, and Paris in the past. It stands at 80 meters (263 feet) tall and will include 42 sealed and air-conditioned passenger capsules, which can hold up to six people each. Rumors from 2010 put the attraction in Jerusalem, earning blogger support: “It should be stunning!” ” target=”_blank”>said another.