Email hoaxers fail to disrupt

A hoax email which threatened to wreck Sunday’s Trafalgar Square rally is being investigated by police.

The email was sent out on Friday, shortly after Shabbat had started. Communal figures, who became aware of the email, believe it was timed so that Orthodox supporters who were planning to go would not see it until after Shabbat ended, and would not turn up.

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Charedi housing scheme launched

The dire housing problems of Britain’s Charedi community could be solved by an innovative scheme that is being studied closely by both national and local government.

A small steering committee in Stamford Hill, north London, which includes members of the Agudas Israel Housing Association, has been working on the creation of a community land trust (CLT).

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Survivors and Holocaust projects get cash injection

Just two weeks before Holocaust Memorial Day, survivors and educational projects in Britain have received a new financial boost from the Claims Conference.

The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, which works to secure compensation and restitution for survivors of the Holocaust, has allocated more than $2.6m for Nazi victim services in the UK for 2009, an increase of more than $100,000 from 2008.

The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), which distributes the money to UK survivors, has welcomed the increase.

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More space for worship advised

New housing developments should have a specific area set aside to create facilities for faith communities, according to a newly-published report.

Construction companies should be told that they must set aside half a hectare (1.23 acres) of empty land in developments to enable faith communities to erect their own buildings, said Cambridgeshire Horizons, the organisation which produced the report “Building for Faith in the Future” and which is responsible for identifying new communities in the East Anglian county.

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Miliband puts faith in democracy

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called on Israel “as a beacon of democracy” to help find a political solution to its conflict with Hamas.

He told MPs that Israel argued against accepting UN resolutions which saw equivalence between a democratic state and a terrorist organisation.

“There is and can be no equivalence,” said Mr Miliband. Hamas had shown itself over a number of years “ready to be murderous in word and deed”.

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Rabbis' letter shows agony over conflict

A newspaper letter signed by leaders of the UK’s two Progressive movements and the leading Jewish interfaith activist, revealed growing unease within the community over Israel’s military campaign.

Published in the Observer, it voiced concern that Israel’s actions could “strengthen extremists” while civilian casualties threatened to “undermine international support for Israel”.

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Students resolve to fight campus antisemitism

The National Executive of the National Union of Students has passed a complex resolution on the Gaza conflict which has been warmly welcomed by the leadership of the Union of Jewish Students.

As students all over Britain began the new winter term with the fighting in Gaza still heading the news, the NUS was well aware that its membership covers both sides of the divide.

The NUS President, Wes Streeting, made it clear that “we shouldn’t pretend that NUS can speak with one voice on the complexities of this conflict.”

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Pensioner dies after crash

A pedestrian has died after an accident with a car on Thursday.

Anthony Levy, 78, from Hendon, was involved in a collision with a VW people carrier in Golders Green Road, North West London. Mr Levy was taken to Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead suffering from a head injury but died in the early hours of Friday morning. An inquest at Hornsey Coroners’ Court was opened and adjourned.

Sgt Chris Osborne of the police Collision Investigation Unit has appealed for any witnesses to call either 020 8998 5319 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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