A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:
Impact of debt ceiling talks
As the Aug. 2 deadline creeps closer, and the Obama administration and Congress grapple with compromising on a proposal, they are once again floating a potential limit to the tax deduction for charitable donations, which has “alarmed several Jewish nonprofit groups,” ” title=”http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/07/15/3088562/senate-democrats-press-jews-for-help-on-budget-defending-obama” target=”_blank”>urging American Jews to make their voices heard as the budget gets decided on and settled. The Republican party effort is headed up by House Majority leader Eric Cantor, who is Jewish, and, as ” title=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/18/argentina-iran-jewish-centre-bombing” target=”_blank”>according to reports. It hasn’t happened to this point “due in large part to Iran’s threatening influence over international politics,” ” title=”http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/07/17/will-argentina-kiss-and-make-up-with-iranian-murderers/” target=”_blank”>said Jonathan S. Tobin at Commentary. “It is vital that authorities investigate, reveal the truth, and ensure that these governments are held accountable for any violations of international sanctions and applicable U.S. laws,” ” title=”http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18487396″ target=”_blank”>according to reports. Now, four Jewish summer camps ” title=”http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/07/14/269603/as-concerns-over-fracking-grow-four-pennsylvania-summer-camps-to-host-drilling-operations/” target=”_blank”>oked Stephen Lacey at Think Progress. But not everyone approves. ” title=”http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/07/20/3088622/kiwi-jewish-leaders-dismiss-israeli-spy-accusations” target=”_blank”>reported JTA. Israel’s ambassador to the country called the allegations “science fiction,” and criticized fears that Israelis may have hacked into the national computer network. Suspicions reportedly arose around the five passports found on the body of one of the deceased, Ofer Mizrahi, and “security services also took note that a Facebook page set up in remembrance of Mizrahi has only five ‘likes,’” ” title=”http://www.forward.com/articles/5044/” target=”_blank”>raised suspicions.
JDub Records closes
A reliable source for Jewish music is no more, as ” title=”http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/07/17/3088583/op-ed-jewish-community-needs-a-jewish-cultural-policy” target=”_blank”>say Stephen Hazan Arnoff and Steven M. Cohen at JTA. But some don’t buy it. “The turn against these outfits by their funders should be welcomed as a potential indication of growing seriousness in American Jewish priorities,” ” title=”http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/well_versed/commentary_kicks_dead_horse_eulogy_jdub_records” target=”_blank”>countered Eric Herschthal at The Jewish Week. “What Ackerman doesn’t get is that the young Jews who identified with JDub saw only conformity and corportaism in mainstream Jewish organizations, and they craved new creative outlets. JDub seemed to capture that clientele wonderfully.”
