Iran Slams Canada
TEHRAN — The Iranian foreign ministry summoned Canada’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran “to voice Iran’s strongly worded protest over the country’s support for the Zionists’ crimes and atrocities in Gaza,” Iran’s official news agency reported. The Islamic Republic News agency said James Carrick was formally rebuked Jan. 20 in response to Canada’s recent vote against a UN Human Rights Council resolution condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza. The foreign ministry accused Canada of “double standards and selective approach in dealing with human rights.”
Starbucks Attacked
LONDON — Calls to boycott Starbucks, based on false claims that the company helped finance Israel’s military operation in Gaza, led to violent attacks on two of its cafés in London. The boycott calls have been circulating by e-mail and text message with the claim that Starbucks and McDonald’s were donating two weeks’ revenues to Israel. On Jan. 17, during an anti-Israel rally in London’s Trafalgar Square, rapper Lowkey attacked firms, including Starbucks, that he said have Zionist links. After the rally, two groups of a few dozen people each smashed the windows of two Starbucks cafés and looted the shops.
Bomb Left At Shul
FLORENCE — A rudimentary explosive device was found at the entrance of the Chabad House in Florence. The device, constructed from a small camping gas canister, was discovered during the day Jan. 17, but not reported to police until Saturday night after Shabbat. The Chabad House is located half a block from the city’s main synagogue. Reports said a paper fuse had been lit, but it burned out and no damage occurred. Tensions are high in Italy over Israel’s Gaza operation, with thousands attending an anti-Israel rally in Rome on Jan. 17.
Rabbi Criticized for Role in Prayer Service
NEWYORK — The main modern Orthodox rabbinical association says a prominent member violated its rules by participating in the National Prayer Service.
A Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) official told JTA that Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, spiritual leader of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York City, broke the group’s longstanding rules by participating in the service Jan 23 at the National Cathedral on the morning after U.S. President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
The RCA said that “participation in a prayer service held in the sanctuary of a church is prohibited. Any member of the RCA who attends such a service does so in contravention of this policy and should not be perceived as representing the organization in any capacity.”
The group isn’t seeking to sanction the rabbi, a source familiar with the case said, but, the source added, any RCA member can suggest that another member be brought before a disciplinary board for violating rules.
Rabbi Lookstein joined six representatives of various religious groups, including from Reform and Conservative Judaism, in reciting portions of a non-denominational prayer. Most of the service was non-sectarian, but there were a few Christian references.
Rabbi Lookstein said that “the people who spoke to me about it indicated it was an important contribution to the Orthodox community, because it is only right for the Orthodox community to be supporting the president in a visible way when he is being supported by representatives of the Conservative and Reform movements.”