May 21, 1920
From the “Jewish World Abroad” column
A Blood Libel Trial in the Ukraine
Warsaw — A blood libel trial will soon take place at Rowno (a town in Ukraine occupied by Polish troops). A Jewess, Golda Giterman, is accused by the mother of a missing Christian girl of having killed her for ritual purposes. The origin of the charge is a statement by a fortune-teller, who pointed to the widow Giterman as the author of a ritual crime. The police are favorably inclined toward the blood libel theory, but the legal authorities discredit it. At the insistence of the latter the charges against the son and brother of the widow were withdrawn, and the widow herself was released on bail.
Jewish Scholar Superintending Shakespeare Celebration
The celebrations of the anniversary of the birthday of William Shakespeare which will take place at Stratford-on-Avon and throughout the country April and May this year will be under the personal control of Sir Israel Gollancz, who, besides being a prominent member of the community, is regarded as perhaps our finest Shakespeare scholar. It is largely due to Sir Israel’s efforts of the last few years that the study of Shakespeare has been increasing so rapidly.
Anti-Zionist Demonstration in Jerusalem
London — Lord Milner’s recent visit to Jerusalem was the occasion for an anti-Zionist demonstration in the streets of the Holy City. Many thousand Arabs, Moslems and Christians paraded through the streets and presented petitions to the American, French and Spanish consuls and the British military governor, protesting against the handing over of Palestine to the Jews.
Grand Rabbi Murdered in Morocco
Madrid —The murder of Grand Rabbi Abraham Cohn at Melilla, Spanish Morocco, on May 5th, is reported in a cablegram of that date, which further states that the grand rabbi was assassinated by a Jew who had recently embraced the Christian religion, and whose petition that he be permitted to return to the Jewish faith had been refused. The murder occurred on the steps of the synagogue.
May 26, 1950
From “Agents of Ex-Mufti Call for ‘Holy War’ Against Israel”
Tel Aviv — The Israel Government revealed in an announcement this week the recent formation in Syria and Lebanon by the agents of the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem of a “Military Organization for the Liberation of Palestine,” which seeks to mobilize and train Arab refugees for irregular military operations against Israel.
A pamphlet distributed in various Arab states calls on the “entire Palestine Arab people, especially the youth of military age, to join our ranks and be ready to join the Holy War.” The pamphlet is signed, “General Command, Military Organization for Liberation of Palestine.”
May 20, 1960
From “Rabbis Deplore Money Raising on Sabbath”
Deploring the practice of some Jewish groups in scheduling money raising functions on the Sabbath, the Board of Rabbis of Northern California this week adopted a resolution calling for an end to such “desecrations of the Sabbath” and to gambling under synagogue auspices.
The resolution, drafted by a committee headed by Rabbi Saul E. White, follows:
“The Board of Rabbis notes with deep concern a growing tendency of Jewish philanthropic organizations for scheduling fund raising functions on the Sabbath. We deplore this practice as a desecration of Jewish values.
“We also note with great apprehension that Jewish organizations are scheduling trips for members and friends to communities where gambling is the attraction. Though the profits to be gained are used for philanthropic purposes, we consider this a reprehensible practice. It is not only a Chilul Hashem—but also destructive of the good community to which we and our neighbors are dedicated.”
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