Dr. Jason Fenton, the youngest Machalnik, will speak Feb. 16 about the volunteers who fought for Israel’s independence in 1948
By ERIN ELLIOTT BRYAN / Community News Editor
When Dr. Jason Fenton was just 16 years old, he signed up to fight in Israel’s war of independence — lying about his age and his experience [...]

In this video, Minnesota Sen. Al Franken endorses marriage eqaulity. He notes that he and his wife, Franni, have been married for 36 years — “many of them happy.”
“I think everybody should be able to marry the person they love,” says Franken:

The video appears on the Web site of the Human Rights Campaign.

The Sabes JCC will host the eighth annual Celebration Showcase 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 at the Marriott Minneapolis West, 
9960 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka. Attendees can 
find everything needed to plan a special celebration.
There will be a wide selection of invitations, entertainment, photographers, DJs, caterers, venues and more. The event [...]

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators leading to full peace talks have ended with no progress, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said.
Abbas, following a fifth meeting between the sides, met Wednesday with Jordan’s King Abdullah before announcing that the exploratory talks were concluded.
He said he would discuss Feb. 4 with the Arab [...]

NEW YORK (JTA) — U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot by a gunman last January, announced that she will resign from Congress.
In a two-minute video (above) released Sunday, Giffords, D-Ariz., said she will step down as she continues her recovery.
“I have more work to do on my recovery, so to do what is best [...]

WASHINGTON (JTA) — The owner of the Atlanta Jewish Times apologized for an opinion column in which he counted President Obama’s assassination as among Israel’s options in heading off a nuclear Iran.
“I very much regret it, I wish I hadn’t made reference to it at all,” Andrew Adler told JTA on Friday.
He said [...]

A nonviolent revolutionary who inspired generations of political activists to speak out and confront injustice
By MORDECAI SPECKTOR
Marv Davidov, the most prominent face of the local peace movement, began his decades-long career as an activist for peace and social justice in 1961. He was part of a group of six young Minnesotans (including three [...]

Lew, an Orthodox Jew, is close to the community
By RON KAMPEAS
WASHINGTON (JTA) — @JewishWhiteHouse is back.
President Obama on Monday announced that Jack Lew, his director of the Office of Budget and Management — a Cabinet-level position — would replace William Daley as White House chief of staff.
Lew, 56, was chosen for his long [...]

Local community members are speaking out against Wreaths Across America, which they say needs to do more to respect the military’s religious diversity
By ERIN ELLIOTT BRYAN / Community News Editor
It started with an e-mail.
A few years ago, Stacey Dinner-Levin, of St. Paul, received an e-mail that had been passed on from co-workers. The [...]

Roitenberg Assisted Living Residence on the Ackerberg Family Sholom West campus will host two upcoming events.
• Dine and Dash will take place 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5 at Roitenberg Assisted Living, 3610 Phillips Pkwy., St. Louis Park. Guests can enjoy dinner and tour the facility. To make a reservation, call 952-908-1776.
• [...]