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Victims' Families
Sue Gun Makers

Jew Is VP On
Reform Ticket

Los Angeles/JTA — Families of the
victims of a white supremacist's 1999
shooting spree at the North Valley
Jewish Community Center in
California filed a lawsuit against gun
makers, saying they should be held
responsible for the incident.
The Aug. 9 lawsuit alleges that six
firearms manufacturers are liable for
"public nuisance and negligence," and
fail to take steps to prevent criminals
from obtaining guns.

New York/JTA — One of the feuding
wings of the U.S. Reform Party chose a
Jewish dot-com multimillionaire as its
vice presidential candidate.
The wing loyal to presidential candi-
date John Hagelin picked Nat
Goldhaber, founder of an Internet
direct-marketing company called
Cybergold, to round off the ticket.

Student Gives
Gore Web Address

New York/JTA — An Orthodox Jewish
college student gave the Democratic
presidential ticket a gift he bought five
http://vvvvw.gomlieber-
months ago
man.com.
The campaign was so happy to get
the domain name for the registration
price of $70, it promised University of
Maryland sophomore David Jackson he
would meet the candidates soon.
The site now mirrors the official cam-
paign site, wvvvv.algore2000.com .

—

Portland Has
Biggest Jewish Gain

New York/JTA — The largest population
increase of any Jewish community in the
United States in 1999 was reported in
Portland, Oregon, according to the 100th
edition of the American Jewish Year Book.
Portland's Jewish population
increased by 7,500, raising the city's total
to 25,000.
Total Jewish population in the
United States remained at 6 million,
with 46 percent of American Jews living
in the Northeast, according to the year-
book, which is published by the
American Jewish Committee.

B'nai B'rith
Teams With Frat

New York/JTA — B'nai B'rith
International and a Jewish college frater-
nity are forming a partnership. B'nai
B'rith will coordinate a networking
group for Alpha Epsilon Pi alumni.
The fraternity, which is located on
100 North American college campuses,
will in turn recruit new members from
the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization.

8/18

2000

32

News Digest

Wrong Focus
For Diplomat

Berlin/JTA — Germany's future ambas-
sador to Israel backed off remarks call-
ing for Jerusalem to become an interna-
tional city.
Rudolf Dressler, who will take his
post Sept. 1 and was*roundly criticized
in the German media for his original
stance, said that "this is not a matter for
an ambassador" to discuss. In an edito-
rial, the mass circulation Bild wrote,
"Should this diplomatic dilettante really
represent Germany?"

South African Jews
Expand Aid To Poor

Johannesburg/JTA — Tikkun, the
South African Jewish community's
social service agency, plans to expand.
Chief Executive Officer Herby
Rosenberg, told Jewish leaders that he
would accompany the group's chief
patron, former President Nelson
Mandela, to Sydney, Australia, to help
raise money.
Locally, Tikkun has increased part-
nerships in Cape Town. On an interna-
tional level, it has registered in New
York for federal tax-exempt status.
Craig Hummel, chairman of the
youth section, said the Jewish commu-
nity "must participate emotionally and
physically in the concerns of the com-
munity, bearing its pains and difficul-
ties.
"We can only ensure our future if we
involve ourselves with the economic,
social and educational development of
the majority of the people of this land."

Palestinian Drowns
Saving Boy

Tel Aviv/JTA — A Palestinian drowned
after he saved a 6-year-old Israeli boy
from drowning in the Sea of Galilee.

Omri Jadda, himself an inexperi-
enced swimmer, dove in when he saw
the boy struggling, and kept his head
above water until rescuers came. Israeli
legislators promised to help his pregnant
.wife and two children.

Shoah Movie
Earns Award

Los Angeles/JTA — A film about a
Japanese diplomat who issued thousands
of visas to Jews trying to flee the
Holocaust was named best documentary
at the Hollywood Film Festival Awards
Gala. Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness
chronicles Chiune Sugihara's life and
diplomatic career leading up to his deci-
sion as Japanese consul in Lithuania to
,disobey orders and write the visas.

Lieberman Book
A Bestseller

New York/JTA — Democratic vice
presidential candidate Joseph
Lieberman's recent book, In Praise of
Public Lift has reportedly skyrocketed to
No. 28 on the bestseller list of
Amazon.com , the giant online retailer.

Artifacts Scheme
Is Halted

Jerusalem/JTA — Israeli customs offi-
cials and archaeologists intercepted a
container at the Haifa port containing
artifacts apparently destined for sale
abroad.
The stash included 600 coins and
300 pieces of pottery. An Antiquities
Authority official said the artifacts date
from 3000 B.C.E. to 1000 C.E., and
were about to be loaded onto a ship
headed for the United States.

Shas Legislator
Creates Furor

Jerusalem/JTA — An Israeli Knesset
member from the Orthodox Shas Party
is being criticized for accusing Zionists
of abandoning Europe's religious Jews to
perish at the hands of the Nazis.
The Israeli daily Ma'ariv quoted leg-
islator Shlomo Benizri as saying Zionists
preferred to bring "another cow" for a
kibbutz rather than save an observant
Jew. His remarks came a week after the
spiritual mentor of Shas said the 6 mil-
lion who died in the Holocaust were
the reincarnated souls of sinners.

