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Republicans debate 10 Commandments

WASHINGTON (JTA)– Nearly all the Republican presidential candidates said during a debate in Iowa on Saturday that they support the idea of posting the 10 Commandments in public schools.

"No matter what a person's religion is, there's some inherent values in those great commandments," Texas Gov. George W. Bush said, backing the idea.

Conservative activist Gary Bauer pledged that if he wins, they would be posted not only in schools, but also in the Oval Office.

Arizona Sen. John McCain sidestepped the issue, speaking instead about how the Senate begins its proceedings every day with a prayer.

Russian immigrants do well, report finds

NEW YORK(JTA) — A new study on New York's approximately 400,000 Russian Jews reports that the immigrants are rapidly adjusting to American life and are increasingly likely to be employed, satisfied with life and strongly identified as Jews.

The study, conducted by a group of immigrant sociologists and the American Jewish Committee, reports that 82 percent of working-age Russian Jews who have been in the United States at least nine years are employed.

It also found that 67 percent of Russian Jews believe their Jewish identity is important and that the majority vote as Democrats or independents.

Gay synagogue gets grant from Ford

NEW YORK (JTA) — The world's largest lesbian and gay synagogue has received a $250,000 grant from the Ford Foundation.

In awarding the grant to New York's Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, the foundation cited the synagogue's history of theological and civic innovation and the achievements of its leader, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.

Rabbi plans lawsuit over car accident

WASHINGTON (JTA) — The director of the Mid-Atlantic Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, who was seriously injured in a car accident last year, has filed a $75 million lawsuit against the District of Columbia.

The lawsuit alleges that city officials failed to respond to complaints of a broken water main and icy conditions, which caused Rabbi Lynne Landsberg to crash. Landsberg, who suffered permanent brain damage, will never be able to return to her job, her attorney told the Washington Post.