NEW YORK (JTA) — A federal court ruled that Holocaust survivors can sue the federal government for restitution for valuables confiscated by the U.S. Army from the "Gold Train."

A U.S. judge ruled Feb. 26 that the military's defense that the claims are too old is not valid and is seeking an accounting of the train's riches from the U.S. government in June.

The Gold Train carried a shipment of Jewish property seized by the Nazis that fell into U.S. hands at the end of World War II. Its cargo included everything from rings and watches to gold teeth.

Jewish GOP lawmaker joins Holocaust council

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the only Jewish member of the House Republican caucus, was named to the U.S. Holocaust Museum Council.

The appointment was made last week by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).

Cantor said he hopes to help advance the Washington-based museum's goals "to educate visitors about this unprecedented tragedy, to preserve the memory of those who suffered, and to encourage the museum's visitors to reflect on the questions raised by the events of the Holocaust."

Rabbi to head naval chaplaincy unit

WASHINGTON (JTA) — A rabbi was selected director of U.S. Navy Reserve chaplains.

Reform Rabbi Harold Robinson, a captain in the Navy Reserve Chaplaincy, was selected Tuesday by the naval chaplaincy board as rear admiral of the U.S. Naval Chaplains Reserve Force.

Robinson is expected to assume the post within six months, when the current rear admiral retires, according to Rabbi David Lapp, director of the Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Chaplains Council. Robinson, rabbi of B'nai Zion Congregation in Shreveport, La., is the third rabbi in history to attain this rank in the navy, following Reform Rabbi Bertram Korn and Conservative Rabbi Aaron Landes.

Synagogue bomber gets four-year term

NEW YORK (JTA) — A 22-year old man was sentenced to up to four years in a U.S. prison for his role in a failed Yom Kippur eve synagogue bombing.

Mohammed Alfakih was sentence Wednesday for throwing two Molotov cocktails at Congregation Adath Israel in the Bronx on Oct. 8, 2000.

One of his co-defendants, Mazin Assi, was convicted of attempted arson and weapons possession. He faces up to 22 years in prison when he is sentenced next month.