Britannia Radio

Top Stories for Monday Oct. 20, 2008 Brian Hendler An Orthodox man speaks with party activists for mayoral candidate Arcadi Gaydamak at Jerusalem's Mahane Yehudah market on Oct. 17, 2008. With Jerusalem on the precipice, mayoral election seen as crucial With Jerusalem facing myriad problems, this year's mayoral race between an Orthodox rabbi, an enigmatic tycoon and a millionaire city councilman may determine whether Israel's capital city makes it or splinters, many say. More » 'Schlep' puts focus on Jewish seniors, race issue In a video urging young Jews to convince their grandparents to vote for Barack Obama, foul-mouthed comedian Sarah Silverman joined the chorus suggesting that older Jewish Floridians are reluctant to vote for a black candidate. But are many bubbes and zeydes getting a bum rap? More » Obama campaign won't debate RJC reps Barack Obama's campaign has decided that the best way to respond to the Republican Jewish Coalition's controversial advertisements is to shun the organization. More » In Moscow, art world meets Chabad There was an unusual addition to the champagne-sipping crowd at the launch of The Garage Center for Contemporary Culture in Moscow: Chasidic Jews. More » JTA Blogs & Elsewhere in the Media Political Tidbits An Obama effigy in an Ohio man's front yard has a Star of David atop Obama's head. McCain turned down an opportunity from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin to talk about Wright at a Jewish "tele-town hall meeting." RJC uses Hillary in new ads. Daniel Pipes: Obama would fail standard security screener for federal employees. (read more) Money, hate and Jewish values With Jewish concerns of an anti-Semitic backlash from the financial crisis on simmer -- the ADL recently announced some new items of concern from around the world -- Shmuley Boteach argues that the crisis should prompt Jews to re-evaluate priorities. (read more) Unwilling executioners More than half a century after a notorious massacre of Arab villagers by Israeli soldiers, Ha'aretz found some of the soldiers who refused to participate in the killings at Kafr Kassem and talked to them about why, and how. (read more) It's not just about Shalit In an editorial, The Jerusalem Post argues that public protests pressing the Israeli government to free captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit may do more harm than good. (read more) For more updates, visit JTA's blogs Election Central | The Telegraph | The Fundermentalist Breaking News John McCain and Joe Lieberman defended Sarah Palin during a conference call with Jewish leaders and supporters. Jews are backing Barack Obama based primarily on traditional identification with the Democratic Party, a new study finds. Tzipi Livni asked Israeli President Shimon Peres for an extension to form a new coalition government. Three new illegal outposts in the West Bank were removed by the Israeli army. Chinese laborers on Turks and Caicos released their remaining Israeli captives after an Israeli company agreed to pay lost wages. Danny Ayalon resigned as co-chairman of the Nefesh B'Nefesh aliyah organization. Israeli President Shimon Peres urged Pope Benedict XVI not to put off a visit to Israel over a disagreement about Pope Pius XII. Iran called its failure in a bid to win a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council an "obvious injustice." The Israeli head of Peace Now has been the target of death threats, an Israeli daily reported. Alfred Lilienthal, a longtime Jewish and anti-Zionist critic of Israel, died at 94.