Convention speaker

WASHINGTON — David Flaum, the chair of the Republican Jewish Coalition,  will address the GOP convention on the same night as presidential candidate John McCain. “Flaum’s participation in the GOP convention program is another example of the high priority the GOP gives to the issues of importance to the Jewish community and another indicator of the continued inroads the GOP is making amongst Jewish voters,” said the RJC’s executive director, Matt Brooks. Several polls suggest McCain could do better with Jewish voters than recent Republican candidates.

Hezbollah TV

MELBOURNE — An Arab member of Australia’s Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s anti-racism and anti-discrimination committee backed the right of a TV station banned in Australia to call Jews “the offspring of pigs and apes.” Roland Jabbour said it was reasonable for the Hezbollah-run, Indonesia-based al-Manar TV station, “in the context of the ‘crimes of the State of Israel,’ to portray Israeli rabbis as killing Christian children to use their blood in Passover meals.” Jabbar told the newspaper, The Age, that while he would not call Jews the offspring of apes and pigs, it was reasonable for al-Manar to do so. According to Jabbour, the station, which transmits by satellite, is popular among Arabic speakers in Australia.

Greening initiative

NEW YORK — The Conservative movement has launched a greening initiative in North America and Israel.  A project of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, the initiative kicks off with a solar Ner Tamid, or eternal light, for synagogues, and soy-based Shabbat eco-candles for home use. The candles have lead-free wicks and recyclable tins. A third prong is encouraging community support for carbon offset programs. The programs involve planting trees, cleaning rivers and performing other environmentally sustainable actions. The fourth component is using biodegradable building and food service supplies. A joint purchasing agreement is in place to help Conservative institutions buy such products in bulk instead of non-reusable plates, cups and utensils. “Being green is a Jewish imperative,” said Rabbi Charles Simon, the executive director of the men’s club federation.