MONTGOMERY, Ala. (JTA) — A U.S. judge ruled that a monument of the Ten Commandments must be removed within 30 days from the Alabama judicial building.

The judge ruled Monday that the 5,300-pound monument in the state capital violates the U.S. Constitution’s ban on government endorsement of religion.

Two Iranians face hate crimes charges

LOS ANGELES (JTA) — Two Muslims of Iranian descent face assault and hate crimes charges for allegedly attacking a Jewish man in Los Angeles.

According to witnesses, Dauod Mohammed Majid, 19, and Mohammed Hassan Aref, 22, were among a group of up to 15 who in September chanted “Kill the Jews” as they kicked the victim, who is also Iranian.

Anti-Semitic killer gets 10 to 20 years

PITTSBURGH (JTA) — A man who killed a Canadian rabbinical student because he looked Jewish was sentenced Nov. 13 to 10 to 20 years in prison.

Steven Tielsch received the maximum sentence for third-degree murder under guidelines in effect in April 1986, when Neal Rosenblum was shot five times after leaving a synagogue.

Prosecutors had sought a first-degree murder conviction at Tielsch’s fourth trial for the slaying. Three earlier juries were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

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