Shofars blasting, Bend the Arc urges yes on Prop. 30

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on October 17, 2012

Bend the Arc is urging Jewish voters in California to rally behind Proposition 30.

Iran election highlights deepening power struggle

Published on February 28, 2012

Iran's parliamentary election this Friday is a potentially decisive battle in the struggle between political and religious hardliners, but it is unlikely to alter Tehran's stand on its deadlock with the West over its nuclear program.

Islamists seek to extend gains in Egypt run-off vote

Published on December 5, 2011

The Muslim Brotherhood's party will seek to extend a lead over hardline Islamists in run-offs in Egypt's parliamentary vote Monday, with liberal parties struggling to hold their ground in a political landscape redrawn by the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.

Calif. bill would prevent anti-circumcision ballot initiatives

Published on August 24, 2011

A bill that would prevent local communities in California from banning male circumcision was unanimously approved by the state senate's judiciary committee.

Proposed circumcision ban not merely a parochial concern

Published on June 23, 2011

Circumcision, or "brit milah," has long been the stuff of cheap jokes and comedy. But in recent weeks, what used to be nothing more than harmless fare has taken on a much more serious tone. So-called “intactivists” on the fringe left of American politics have pushed the radical notion that infant circumcision is an act of genital mutilation, so unacceptable in fact that it ought to be illegal.

Coalition sues to keep circumcision ban off S.F. ballot

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on June 22, 2011

The Jewish-led coalition working to defeat a San Francisco ballot measure that would ban circumcision there filed a lawsuit on Wednesday morning.

Circumcision Opponent Abandons Santa Monica Ballot Initiative

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on June 6, 2011

San Francisco to put circumcision ban on the ballot

Published on May 19, 2011

A measure seeking to ban male circumcision will appear on the November ballot in San Francisco. More than 7,700 signatures from city residents on a petition in support of the measure were approved as valid by city officials on Wednesday. At least 7,168 signatures were required, and more than 12,000 were submitted.

San Francisco circumcision ban likely for November ballot

Published on April 28, 2011

A proposal to ban circumcision in San Francisco looks likely for the November ballot. A group opposed to male circumcision told Reuters that it had collected more than enough signatures on petitions to qualify their proposal for the Nov. 8 vote this fall.

Illinois Supreme Court: Rahm Emanuel on Chicago mayor ballot

Published on January 27, 2011

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled today that Rahm Emanuel can stay on the ballot for mayor of Chicago, saying in a unanimous decision that he meets the state's residency requirements despite spending most of the last year as White House chief of staff.

Rahm Emanuel’s name back on ballot, for now

Published on January 25, 2011

The Illinois Supreme Court ordered Rahm Emanuel's name back on the ballot for Chicago mayor. A day after a state appellate court panel ordered that Emanuel's name be removed from the ballot because he had not lived in the city for a year before the election, as stipulated by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, the state's high court agreed to examine his appeal, based on already filed briefs, on an expedited basis. The court ordered that any ballots printed in the interim include his name, according to reports. Emanuel has spent the last two years living in Washington while serving as President Obama's White House chief of staff.

California: Caught in the weeds?

Published on November 1, 2010

Jews’ view of the pot initiative? Mixed

Published on October 27, 2010

Marijuana is everywhere. Smokers come from every walk of life — from the college student to the cancer patient, from the wealthy older couple to the heroin addict who started out just smoking weed.

Trauma System in Critical

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner
Published on October 31, 2002

Angelenos in need of emergency care are facing the threat of longer journeys to fewer facilities. Faced with a projected deficit in excess of $700 million in 2005, the L.A. County Department of Health Services has proposed to shut down two of its hospitals, increasing the burden on remaining hospitals countywide.

Judges Facing Judgment Day

By Mike Levy
Published on October 31, 2002

It is a simple enough question: yes or no? Voters on Nov. 5 will answer the question many times, and the independence of California's judicial system depends on the answer.

Justices for the California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal are appointed for 12-year terms by the governor. They are confirmed by a committee consisting of the chief justice of the Supreme Court, the attorney general and the presiding justice of the Court of Appeal. If a judge is appointed to serve the remaining term of a retiring or deceased judge, or when the judge has finished a 12-year term, the jurist must be approved in an election in order to remain on the bench.

Among the judges up for retention on the Nov. 5 ballot are a handful of Gov. Gray Davis appointees with close ties to the L.A. Jewish community.

Secession War: Both Sides Gearing Up

By Wendy J. Madnick
Published on May 30, 2002

Valley secession is finally on the ballot, and observers say the Jewish vote may well be a factor that tips the scale either for or against the biggest break away in U.S. history.

"We tend to constitute about 15 percent of local city voters in municipal elections," said statistician Pini Herman of Phillips & Herman Demographic Research. "Since we comprise about 5 percent of the population, that means we actually vote three times our numerical strength. It makes the Jewish community very important in the scheme of things."

Tight Races

By Rabbi Dov Fischer
Published on November 16, 2000

Initially, one cannot help but think that the surge of retired, elderly Jews to Florida, augmented by this year's Lieberman Factor, has redefined Florida politics into an Israel-style method of governance. While the rest of America was voting and deciding on Tues., Nov. 7, Florida was telling us - just as Israel runs under Barak - "Wait 48 hours, and then we'll decide." Two days later, as the last recount came in from Seminole County with Bush a nose ahead, Florida essentially told us, "Well, wait 48 more hours, and then we'll really decide." Even today, Nov. 17, with all the incoming mail ballots from those Floridian voters stationed out-of-state in the military and on campuses tallied, we still have the proverbial 48 hours and more. Recounts. Manual recounts. Just like Barak's Israel.

Voter Revolt

By Joyce Moed
Published on November 16, 2000

Alan David never gave his ballots a second thought after voting in dozens of presidential elections during the decades he lived in New York.

Butterfly Ballot Blues

By David Evanier
Published on November 16, 2000

Politicos and machers who had given heart and soul (and a lot of cash, in some cases) to their respective candidates saw conspiracy, fraud or betrayal in the ballot crisis in Florida this week. Feeling ran strong, but no one was willing to predict whether Bush or Gore would turn out to be president.

After the Election

By Marlene Adler Marks
Published on November 16, 2000

For a few strained hours last week, I was afraid we'd be witnessing the Jewish version of Elian Gonzalez, Part II. Could Jewish blood pressure withstand the tension of the Palm Beach vote taken hostage?

“Public Schools Are Today’s Door to Assimilation”

By Rabbi David Eliezrie
Published on October 26, 2000

The Jewish community, along with the rest of the citizens of California, have a chance to change the educational destiny of the their children in the upcoming election. Appearing on the ballot is a voucher initiative that will enable parents to choose the school that best fits the needs of their children.

Playing Favorites

By Susanna Crosby Perrin
Published on December 23, 1999

About six months ago, The Journal published a ballot asking readers to pick their LA Jewish favorites: delis, party places, bookshops, etc.

News of the Week

Published on May 20, 1999

Most of the people I know in Israel voted for Barak; a few preferred Netanyahu. But on the part of almost everyone, outcome aside, there was a tremendous sense of excitement, of participating in what felt like an intense moment of change.

Different Approaches to Zionism

Published on September 11, 1997

Kenneth Bob, a software executive from Long Island,N.Y., is registered to vote in this month's World Zionist Congresselections, but he's having a hard time deciding how to cast hisballot.