Britannia Radio

FEATURED STORIES For Antwerp Jews, turns out diamonds aren't forever Antwerp's Jewish district has something of the feel of a modern shtetl. (Ben Harris) The transformation of the diamond business has brought to a close decades of job security during which virtually any Antwerp Jew could acquire work that reliably provided the means to support a vital Jewish life. Read more » Netanyahu: Israel ready for Syria talks Israel is ready for direct negotiations with Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Read more » FEATURED STORIES For Antwerp Jews, turns out diamonds aren't forever Antwerp's Jewish district has something of the feel of a modern shtetl. (Ben Harris) The transformation of the diamond business has brought to a close decades of job security during which virtually any Antwerp Jew could acquire work that reliably provided the means to support a vital Jewish life. Read more » Netanyahu: Israel ready for Syria talks Israel is ready for direct negotiations with Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Read more » EDITORS' PICKS He was such a nice Jewish boy (Sun-Sentinel) A look at how Scott Rothstein went from being a "very nice Jewish kid" to another alleged Bernie Madoff. Joe says no (Wall Street Journal) Joe Lieberman outlines his opposition to the public option on health care. Why did gunman shoot 13 in Israeli gay bar? (The Independent) A look back at an attack that rocked Tel Aviv. United Synagogue: The next generation (Courier Post) As leaders of Conservative synagogues meet in Cherry Hill, N.J., for their biennial convention, the movement is also bringing together what it hopes will be the next generation of movers and shakers. Dog meets rabbi (N.Y. Times) There may not be many Jews in Helena, Mont., but all you need is one to help a policeman communicate with his Hebrew-speaking dog. BREAKING NEWS American Jewish boxer Dmitriy Salita was stopped 1:16 into his World Boxing Association light-welterweight championship bout. The European Union is meeting in Brussels to discuss a Swedish proposal to divide Jerusalem and make east Jerusalem the Palestinian capital. Right-wing activists clashed with building inspectors and police as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the settlement construction freeze. J Street has endorsed congressional legislation imposing sanctions on Iran's energy industry. An Israeli naval cadet was killed during a diving exercise. Anti-Semitism and homophobia are on the rise in Europe, according to an annual study of social trends involving xenophobia. The World Bank said it will give the Palestinian Authority $64 million to build institutions in preparation for a state in two years. A Palestinian woman in Gaza died of swine flu. Chabad may not be able to erect a menorah as it traditionally does in one California town after the municipality introduced a new requirement. Dozens of Jewish teenagers blocked the entrance road to Jerusalem in protest of the settlement construction freeze. An Israeli civilian trying to enter the Gaza Strip by climbing a border fence was shot and killed by Israeli guards. Pro-Palestinian protesters broke through police barricades outside an Australia-Israel forum in Melbourne during an address by Israel's deputy prime minister. The Bostoner rebbe, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Horowitz, the first American-born Chasidic leader, has died. A Binghamton University graduate student from Saudi Arabia was charged with killing a professor emeritus in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies. Two missiles fired into southern Israel have been identified as advanced Russian-made rockets. The producer of "Inglourious Basterds" will discuss the topic of revenge at a Jewish Theological Seminary screening. A renowned Tel Aviv defense lawyer whose clients have included Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Olmert was appointed Israel's next attorney general. The South Africa Human Rights Commission upheld a hate speech complaint lodged by a Jewish group. Two Israelis were hospitalized in one of two anti-Semitic attacks in Moscow in the past week. The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life has received funding that will allow it to operate for another two years. A Polish-language guide to Chanukah will be distributed to Hidden Jews in Poland. Kosher pizza is now available in Ukraine.