World ROUNDUP Gay Marriage Vote Debated New York/JTA — Orthodox leaders corn- mended and Reform leaders condemned the New York State Senate's vote to defeat a measure legalizing same-sex marriage. Agudath Israel of America and the Orthodox Union lauded the 38-24 vote against the bill on Dec. 2. "While we must always respect all individ- uals as created b'tzelem Elokim, in the image of God, Jewish teaching clearly opposes homosexual conduct and the legal recogni- tion of such relationships as being akin to traditional marriage the Orthodox Union said in a statement. The OU also said it must "respectfully repudiate those who misquote or misap- propriate Jewish law or thought in support of this legislation:' Agudah noted the work its members did in advocating against the measure. "When our community comes together to respond to challenges, good things happen': said Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel, the group's executive vice president. New York Reform leaders were disheart- ened by the vote. "This backward step is a deeply disap- pointing delay on the road to equality and a vote that is on the wrong side of history': said Rabbi Marc Gruber and Honey Heller, co-chairs of the Reform Jewish Voice of New York State, in a statement. "We know well that civil marriage can exist in harmony with respect for a diversity of religious beliefs on the issue of same-sex marriage they said. "Although the Reform Movement celebrates and supports the reli- gious sanctification of same-sex marriages, we respect the view of those faith traditions that hold differing views on this issue. That is why it is essential that civil marriage laws are not rooted in theology, but in the principle of equal rights." A.- 404. 41,0 8:00 PM TO MIDNIGHT ATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 SH AA RE SILENT AUCTION • RAFFLE • CASINO GAMES & TEXAS HOLD'EM TOURNAMENTS $36.00 with advance registration • 545.00 at the door $20.00 per 100 additional chips Includes Hors D'oeuvres & Open Bar EIV4 ti**.# $50.00 buy-in CASH PRIZES FOR FIRS; & SECOND PLACE • SHAARE cede t•& --te, Christian Views On Israel The Zionist Organization of America- art,Vt.E. 4! All proceeds go to Education & Youth scholarships and to help member families in crisis. • - • MICHIGAN LOTTER•INFOOIATICioN: - MILLIONAIRE4ARTY LICENSE# M52407 • ORG1211ZATION•ID# 10652% 32 December 10 • 2009 EU Strengthens RA.? Jerusalem/JTA — A classified report recom- mends that the European Union take steps to strengthen the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem. The report drafted by European consuls in east Jerusalem and Ramallah criticizes Israeli policy in eastern Jerusalem and calls on the European Union to protest it, reported Ha'aretz which obtained a copy of the secret report. : ZEDEK To Registcr. please contact Tobyc. Bono Of 243:357-5544 Or e - mail tbollo:shooroyzocick.org • Rothstein Pleads Not Guilty Ft. Lauderdale/JTA — Scott Rothstein, the disbarred South Florida lawyer accused of running a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme, has pleaded not guilty to U.S. charges of wire fraud and conspiracy. Rothstein entered his plea to U.S. Magistrate Judge Robin Rosenberg in federal court in Ft. Lauderdale on Dec. 2, according to reports. According to prosecutors, Rothstein's scheme started in 2005 to finance his 70- person law firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler PA. Investigators believe that he had a num- ber of co-conspirators, who helped propagate the fraud and to lure more unsuspecting investors. As part of the scheme, Rothstein told investors that they could buy stakes in pend- ing class action lawsuits and collect money when they were settled. His victims have already sued TD Bank, where Rothstein and his co-conspirators held more than 30 accounts. Jerusalem Documentary Set Jerusalem/JTA — Dreamworks Studios will produce a documentary series at Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center. The six-hour series, which will be made in cooperation with the Tel Aviv-based TTV Productions, is designed to showcase the social, political and cultural nuances that have long defined Jerusalem through the eyes of the hospital. The documentary, which will profile doc- tors and nurses in the hospital and follow six American doctors working at the hospital is scheduled to be released in 2011. Phil Rosenthal, the creator/executive pro- ducer of the hit television series Everybody Loves Raymond, will write the script, the hospital said. The documentary also will be written and produced by screenwriter Jeremy Garelick, who recently wrote the hit comedy The Hangover, and veteran Israeli producer Zafrir Kochanovsky. "Jerusalem is a place that demands to be explored through the medium of documen- tary filmmaking and we believe that medi- cine is a perfect conduit to do so',' Rosenthal said. "Shaare Zedek Medical Center has played a pivotal role in this city's modern development and it offers filmmakers a unique vantage to tell Jerusalem's story:' Michigan Region hosted National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel National Director David Blewett, left, to speak in its Education Series before 100 people on Dec. 2 at Adat Shalom Synagogue, Farmington Hills. He spoke on Christian views of the State of Israel "and brought us an insightful view of the current public policies passed at the general assem- blies of many Christian denomina- tions," said Pamela Lippitt, local ZOA executive director. "Attendees were urged to write to the Presbyterian Church (USA) in advance of its 2010 Assembly where it will be discussing a new Middle East statement." Blewett has led more than 20 Christian tours of Israel. He is the former executive director of the Southfield-based Ecumenical Institute for Jewish-Christian Studies and was vice president of Michigan's Holocaust Education Coalition. He is on the Advisory Council of the Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity in Israel.