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VA Jews decry Jesus in public prayer

WASHINGTON — Virginia Jews urged the state’s governor to reconsider a policy of keeping Jesus out of public police prayers. The state police superintendent introduced the policy in 2008 after a Virginia court ruled that city councillors may not pray “in Jesus’ name” during official proceedings. Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell lifted the ban following a lobbying effort by Conservative groups.

Urging McDonnell to reconsider, the four umbrella bodies for Virginia’s Jewish communities said the order “leads us toward unnecessary religious clashes, demeans our Commonwealth’s Jeffersonian principles, and creates an unwelcoming environment for the Commonwealth’s Jewish citizens and other religious minorities.”

Jewish group responds to oil spill

Jewish Funds for Justice has set up the first Jewish Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster fund. “Workers and families are at risk of losing their livelihoods permanently,” said Simon Greer, Jewish Funds for Justice CEO and president. “We have an obligation to help the most vulnerable among us and to ensure that families have the support they need.” Tax-deductible donations to the new Jewish Funds for Justice Gulf Coast Disaster Recovery Fund can be made online at jewishjustice.org, by phone at (212) 213-2113, ext 3, or mailed to JFSJ, 330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY, 10001.

Jewish GOP, Dems sign civility pledge

WASHINGTON —The leaders of Jewish Democratic and Republican groups signed a pledge of civility. “Let our debate on the issues of the moment be thoughtful and reasoned,” reads the pledge initiated by the Anti-Defamation League and signed by Ira Forman, who directs the National Jewish Democratic Council, and Matt Brooks, who leads the Republican Jewish Coalition. “Let us look to our elected leaders for leadership, whether or not we support their policies. Let all of us, across the political spectrum, encourage advocacy that is vigorous; pointed but not personal or hostile.”

Iraq wants Jewish artifacts returned

WASHINGTON —An Iraqi delegation pressed the State Department for the return of Jewish artifacts found by U.S. soldiers in the flooded basement of Saddam Hussein’s secret police headquarters during the Iraq War, the Washington Post reported. The 3,500 artifacts include marriage licenses, Torah scrolls and Haggadahs were transported to the United States, where they have been stabilized but not fully restored. A vague promise was made to return the materials, once they were stabilized.

“They represent part of our history and part of our identity. There was a Jewish community in Iraq for 2,500 years,” Samir Sumaidaie, the Iraq’s U.S. ambassador, told the Post. Opponents, however, say that the documents belong to the Jews who fled Iraq and their descendants.

Union oppose Canada-Israel stamp

TORONTO — The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is refusing to put its stamp of approval on the first-ever postage stamp issued jointly by Canada and Israel, commemorating 60 years of bilateral relations between the two countries. Depicting a red maple leaf and blue Star of David, both comprised of human figures, the stamp is worth $1.70 in Canada and 4.60 shekels in Israel.

Denis Lemelin, national president of the postal union, said, “We are puzzled about the concept of shared values with a country that has consistently ignored United Nations and World Court decisions in regards to the ongoing Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. ... “