obituaries Obituaries from page 72 Holland Opposes Import Ban On Israeli Products Kabbalah Teacher For A-List Celebs JTA Angeles Times. Berg founded the center in 1969. abbi Philip Berg, who brought The Internal Revenue Service opened the teachings of Kabbalah to a a tax evasion investigation into the cen- celebrity following that includ- ter last year, though it is unknown if the ed singers Madonna and probe is still being pursued, Britney Spears, has died. according to the newspaper. Berg, the founder of the The center, which is believed Kabbalah Centre in Los to have assets in the hundreds of Angeles, died Sept. 16, 2013, at millions, emphasized cash dona- \ a hospital in that city. He had tions from its members, accord- been ill since suffering a stroke ing to the Los Angeles Times. in 2004. Berg was 86. Born Shraga Feivel Gruberger His followers also included in New York, Berg was ordained Rabbi Phi lip Berg actors Demi Moore and as a rabbi in 1951. Ashton Kutcher. Berg had "Today we believe the Rav some 4 million students in Kabbalah has begun to share with us from above, centers all over the world, according to and we will all happily remain connected reports. to and inspired by the Ray's soul and his Berg spurred controversy by bringing vision," the center said in a statement. Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism that On Monday, students reportedly gath- is believed to be reserved for top Jewish ered outside the center upon hearing the scholars, to the masses. news of Bergs death. His widow, Karen, and two sons, He was to be buried the next day in Yehuda and Michael, have led the center the Israeli city of Tzfat, a center of Jewish since his stroke, according to the Los mysticism, according to reports. R ❑ JTA T he Netherlands opposes any kind of import ban on Israeli products, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said, though it must enforce European Union legislation on labeling settlement goods. "I would like to stress that the Netherlands opposes any type of import ban or the boycott of Israeli products," a Dutch official wrote in Rutte's name last month to the European Jewish Congress (EJC). The letter, obtained by JTA, was sent to EJC President Moshe Kantor in response to Kantor's letter to several E.U. heads of states, including Rutte, in which Kantor warned that labeling products from areas the European Union considers as illegal set- tlements was counterproductive to efforts to reach a peace settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians. Rutte's letter followed reports in July that several Dutch supermarkets were boycot- ting settlement goods, though the super- markets denied they had such a policy. In March, the Dutch government advised business owners to refrain from labeling products from the Golan Heights, West Bank and East Jerusalem as made in Israel. A decision last year by the EU Foreign Affairs Council to label settlement goods "obliges the Dutch government to fully and effectively enforce existing EU legislation," Rutte wrote. The council has yet to release practical guidelines on labeling. British Foreign Secretary William Hague struck a less conciliatory note in his reply to Kantor's letter. "I am afraid that I cannot agree with your concerns about EU labeling of settlement produce," he wrote. "The settlements are illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace" On Sept. 16, Kantor published a full-page ad in the Financial Times of London argu- ing against new EU guidelines prohibiting EU funding for Israeli projects in areas the European Union considers settlements. The ad said the guidelines singled out Israel for criticism and "serve to minimize the chances for lasting peace:' ❑ FUNERAL INFORMATION ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE OR TABLET -00 11:14 PM Verizon Ira Kaufman Chapel Once a funeral is planned, family and friends often need information quickly and easily. www.irakaufman.com/ 6 THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL I111401'g That is why we now have a fast mobile website version just a click away on your phone, wherever you are. Just visit www.irakaufman.com/mobile on your phone or tablet's browser. Easily, Simple and Fast: The Latest Technology A Click Away I amily, Faith & Communii ■ , Last 30 Days Benjamin Goodman IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL Sunday, Febuary 10, 2013, 11:00 AM Harold Cohen IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL Sunday, Febuary 10, 2013, 1:00 PM Betty Schwartz IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL Monday, Febuary 11, 2013, 2:00 PM THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL Bringing Together Family, Faith & Community 18325 W. 9 Mile Rd Southfield, MI 48075 • 248.569.0020 • IraKaufman.com 74 September 26 • 2013 Obituaries Goggle Contact