MOSCOW (JTA) — President George W. Bush plans to visit the Choral Synagogue in St. Petersburg on Sunday during his trip to Russia.
The visit is not on the president’s public schedule, but, according to sources, Bush told leaders of the United Jewish Communities who met with him at the White House last week that he was looking forward to the visit.
Bush signs law giving rabbis a tax break
WASHINGTON (JTA) — A tax break for rabbis and other clergy was enshrined into law.
President Bush signed a law Monday that ensures clergy will continue to get a “parsonage exemption,” which permits a member of the clergy to deduct a portion of earnings that are attributed to housing costs. Supporters say the exemption is particularly important in rural areas, where houses of worship would be less able to compensate for the exemption’s loss, making it harder to attract clergy.
N.Y. police receive bomb skills in Israel
NEW YORK (JTA) — Some members of the New York police force traveled to Israel to get training in preventing suicide bombings. The group is expected to return this week and then will provide training to other members of the force.
According to a high-ranking member of the city’s anti-terrorism task force, Islamic extremists may attempt to carry out a suicide bombing in New York.
Orthodox support anti-gay amendment
NEW YORK (JTA) — Orthodox Jewish groups in the United States support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as “the union of a man and a woman.”
Agudath Israel of America said the Federal Marriage Amendment, introduced May 15 in the U.S. House of Representatives, was needed because some courts have granted legal recognition to same-sex unions. The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism denounced the amendment, calling it a “stain on America’s promise of equal rights to all.”